The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-11-25
ANNEXATION Is PREDICTED BY
SEATTLE'S LEADING PAPER.
Strong Reasons Given-Natural Course
Importance to the Coast-Advant-
ages-Distance and Protection.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer.)


treaty with the United States, by the
terms of which the island republic
should be formally annexed to this
country. That peaceable revolution
took place on January II, 1898, and
within two days thereafter the com
missioners appointed to negotiate the
treaty took their departure for the
United States. They reached WASH
ington City on February ?, were re-
ceived with the utmost cordiality by
President Harrison, and negotiations
were promptly entered into. a treaty
providing for annexation by the
United States of the island group was
prepared, formally signed on February
A. and submitted to the Senate for
ratification the following day. Before
the Senate acted upon that treaty, Mr..
Cleveland took Office as President, and,
on March 0, he withdrew the treaty
from consideration of the Senate, and
the whole scheme of annexation fell
through.
Since that time the provisional gov
eminent of Hawaii has become merged
into a constitutional republic, which
has successfully defended itself from
domestic insurrection, and has been
formally recognized by all the leading
countries of the world. The desire for
annexation to the United States is,
however, as stong among the people
of Hawaii as it was when the monar-
chy was first overthrown. In fact, it
is the earnest desire of almost the en-
tire body of the white inhabitants of
Hawaii that their country may be an
neXed to the United States.
With the Inauguration of President
Mckinley, it is certain that negotia-
tions for annexation will be renewed.
The Republican party is committed to
the policy of annexation, not only by
its platform declarations, but by the
public record which nearly every Re
publican leader has made on the sub
ject during the past four years. Mr..
Cleveland's course in withdrawing the
annexation treaty from before the
Senate was far from meeting with the
appreciation of his party. In fact,
quite Il number of the Democratic sen
ators, who will hold their seats
throughout the session of the next
Congress, have declared themselves rs
strongly in favor of annexation, so
that there is little doubt that if new
treaty be negotiated it will be rati-
fed by the Senate by substantial
majority.
The Hawaiian islands are at present
governed by men of American birth or
ancestry. BY far the greater portion
of their commerce is with this coun-
try, both imports and exports. Their
distance from the leading seaport cit
portions of Alaska, and the means of
communication are very much more
frequent. While not yet ripe for
statehood the island republic has po-
tentialties for growth which will re-
suit in comparatively brief period
in giving it the full population neces-
sary to permit it to take its place in
the sisterhood of states. In the mean
time, territorial form of government
could readily be framed, adjusted to
the peculiar conditions which prevail
there.
In every respect, the arguments in
favor of annexation far outweigh those
which can be urged againt it. The
states of the Pacific have peculiar
interest in urging this matter upon
the prompt attention of the coming
administration. Our commercial re-
lations with Hawaii are close. We are
interested in the growth and eXpan-
sion of the island community, because
thereby is created better market for
our own products, and better source
of supply for tropical products which
we are compelled to import. In addi-
tion to this the prospect of the adj
mission into the Union of another
state, having interests in common with
our own, will be factor of consider
able Importance in adding to the po-
ltical weight and prestige of the Pa
cific coast states.
The only serious objection which is
urged against annexation is the pos
sible expense attendant on the estab-
fishing of territorial government
and in the protecting of territory so
far from our shores. There is some
thing a trifie ridiculous about this
argument, in view of the fact that for