The times., 1897-06-18
THE ANNEXATION TREATY
Presidents Message Sent With
Ii to the Senate.
THE REPORT OF MR.. SHERMAN
Union of the Hawaiian Territory
with the United States a Natural
aud Necessary Consummation-
Fitting Sequel to the Csange OF
Eyents-FuIl Text of the Treaty.

The following is the full text of the mes
sage sent TO the Senate by President Nc
Kinley, to accompany the Hawaiian an
nexation treaty:
To the senate of the United States:
1 transmit herewith to the Senate, in
order that, after due consideration, the
constitutional function of advice and con-
sent may be exercised by that body, "a
treaty for the annexation of the republic
of Hawaii TO the United states, signed in
this capital by the plenipotentiaries of the
party on the 9th of June instant.
For better understanding OF the subject
i transmit In addition report of the Sec
retary OF State, briefly reviewing the nego-
tation which has led to this important re-
suit.
The incorporation OF the Hawaiian
Islands into the body polite of the United
States is the necessary and fitting sequel
to the change of events which, from a
very early period in our history, has con-
trolled the intercourse and prescribed the
association of the United States and the
Hawaiian Islands. The predominance Of
American interest in that neghboTing
territory was first asserted in 1920, by
,ending TO the islands representative
agent of the United States. 1t found
further expression by the signature of
a treaty of friendship, commerce and Davi-
cation with the ling iii 1S26-the Fl rst
International compact negotiated by Ha-
waI Ii was slgnally announced in SAB
when the Intervention of the United
States caused the British government To
disavow the seizure of the Sandwich
Islands by a British naval commander,
and to recognize them by treaty as an
independent state, renouncing forever any
purpose of annexing the islands or eX-
erting a protectorate for them
In 1851 the cession of the Hawaiian
kingdorn TO the United States was for
mally offered, and although not then
accepted, this Government proclaimed IT'S
duty to preserve alike the honor and
dignity of the United States and the
safety of tie government OF the Hawaiian
Islands From this time until the oct
break of the war in 1861 the policy Cf
the United States toward Hawaii and
of the Hawaiian sovereignty toward the
United states was eXemplified by CON
tinued negotiations for annexation or Tor
a reserved commercial union. The latter
alternative was at length accomplished
by the reciprocity treaty of 1875, the
provisions of which Were rene wed and
expanded 10y the convention of 1884,
embracing the perpetual cession 10 tie
United States of the harbor of Pearl River
in the Island of Oahu.
In1SSS a proposal for the Joint guaranty
OF the neutrality of the Hawaiian Islands
by the United States, Germany ana Great
Britain was declined on the announced
ground that the relation of the United
States to the islands was sufficient for the
end in view. Inbrief, from l $50 to 1S93the
course of the United States toward the
Hawaiian Islands has consistently favored
their autonomous welfare with the eXclu-
sion OF III foreign influence save our own,
to the extent OF upholding eventual an
nexation as the necessary outcome of that
policy.
Not only is the union of the Hawaiian
territory of the United States no new
scheme, but it is the inevitable consequence
of the relation steadfastly maintained with
that nd-Pacifc domain for three-quar-
tiers of a century. Its accomplishment, de-
spite successive deniaIs and postpone
ments, has been merely a question of time.
While its failure in 1898, may not be q
cause of congratulation, it is Certainly a
proof OF the disintereStedneSS of the United
States, the delay of four years having
abundantly sufficed to establish the right
and the ability of the republic of Hawaii
to enter, as a sovereign contractant. upon
a conventional union with the United
States, thus realizing a purpose held by
the Hawaiian people and proclaimed by
successive Hawaiian governments through
some twenty years of their virtual de-
pendence upon the benevolent protection
of the United States. Under such cir
cumstanccs, annexation is not a change;
IL is consummatol.
The report of the Secretary of State ex-
hibits the character and course of the re-
cent negotiation and the features Of tie
treaty itself. The organic and admins
trative details Of incorporation are nee
essaIily left to the wisdom of the Con- |
gress, and cannot doubt, when the func- |
ton of the constitutional treaty-ipalins |
power shall have been accomplished, the |
duty Of the national legislature in the |
case will be performed with the largest |
regard for the interests of this r.ch in |
sular domain and for the welfare of the |
knlla bitants thereof
WILLIAM MCKINLEY,
Executive Mansion, Washington, June 16, |
1897.