Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-17
THURSDAY. JUNE IL, 1897
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.

The Hawaiian annexation treaty nego-
fiated between Secretary-of-State Sher-
man and the special commissioners
representing the Hawaiian Government
was signed yesterday morning and goes
TO the Senate. whose province 1t Is 10
ratify or reject 1t. Although there had
been I'm the air for some days rumors
of a revival of the Hawaiian annexa-
ton scheme. the object of annexation
at this particular juncture being 10 get
around certain complications the Ha-
xyajan reciprocity treaty had injected
into the tariff. the news that an an
nexation treaty had been actually draft
ed came upon the country pretty much
in the nature of a surprise.
We have referred to the scheme as
matter of Hawaiian annexation has been
frequently preached. and during the lat
ter part of Mr.. Harrison's administra-
ton and the first part Of Mr.. Cleve-
lands second administration 1t was a
burning question. on the 1ith of Febru-
airy. 1893. a treaty for the annexation
OF Hawaii was concluded between Mr..
Foster Secretary of state. and the COM
missioners of the Provisional Govern
ment of Hawaii and in his message
transmitting this treaty to Congress
Mr.. Harrison, among other things. said:
"Only two courses are open-one the es-
tablishment of protectorate by the
United States and the other annexa-
ton full and complete. / think the lat
ter course, which has been adopted in
the treaty, will be highly promotive of
the best interests of the Hawaiian peo-
ple. and is the only one that will ade-
quately secure the interests Of the
United States. These interests are not
wholly selfish. 1t is essential that none
of the other great Powers should secure
these islands. Such a possession would
not consist with our safety and the peace
of the world
This treaty was pending In the Senate
when Mr.. Cleveland came into office,
and on the 9th of March, 1898, he with
drew II. Subsequently. he sent a mes
sage TO Congress on Hawaiian affairs,
dated December Is. 1893. and devoted
largely to the military occupation of
Honolulu by the United States. which
act he unqualihedly condemned. In that
message Mr.. Cleveland, in one of his
several illusions to the treaty, said
"Belicving. therefore. that the United
0x.t. fl,n .fr
stances disclosed. annex the islands
without justly mourning the imputator
OF acquiring them by unjustifablt
methods. / shall not again submit the
treaty OF annexation to the Senate fol-
its consideration"
Taking II by and through on its history
30 far as the annexation question is a poll
teal question. it may be termed Republi
can-measure. The Democratic platforms o.
1892 and 1896 are silent regarding ii, bu
the Republican platform OF 1896 declare.
that 'the Hawaiian Islands should be con
trolled by the United States. and NJ
foreign Power should be permitted to in
terfere with them Republican paper,
inimical to the administration tarif
policy do not hesitate to charge that tn,
present treaty Is designed as a way gu
OF the hole the sugar-beet growers of thi.
country have put the administration into
and some of the Democratic papers de
nounco II as a job. at bottom of which
II a money scandal. To other papers tn,
most serious objection to annexation l,
the character Of the popuaation of Hawaii
According to the latest census, takei
within year, that population consists
of 100,0 20 souls, of whom the fuli-bioodet
natives number 81. 200. the Japanese 1900
the Chinese 1900. the Portuguese 5000
half-breed Hawaiians. 5000, with scat
tering Of Americans. English, Germans
etc. AS We understand 1t. all OF these
except. the Chinese and the japanese
may. should the treaty be ratified bccom,
/ citizens Of the United States. That tn,
objection TO, annexation on the score O
population Is q grave one is therefor,
apparent.
But. despite this. and notwIthstandIn,
the distinct Republican colorlng tn,
movemeDt has taken on. there are man,
Democrats who favor annexation as {
Z broad proposition. In one sense. there
-. Il Il not party question. Leadln,
omocrats and Republicans meet on tn,
nan sround that the islands shout,