River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-12-09
ANNEXATION or HAWAII.
dignity aud Honor Require Confirm
ntion of the Treaty.

BY a special message dated the 10th day
treaty signed that day by the plenipo-
taries of the United States and of the re-
public Of Hawaii having for It's purpose the
Incorporation OF the Hawaiian Islands as
an integral part OF the United States and
under its sovereignty. The senate having
removed the injunction OF secrecy, although
the treaty is still pending before that popy,
the subject may be properly referred e IN
this message because the necessary action
OF the congress IS required to determine by
LEGISLATION many details of the eventual
IniOn should the fact of annexation be ac-
complished, as / believe i sh9ud be,
very early period any aggressive policy Of
absorption in regard TO the hawaiian
group, long series OF declarations through
three-quarters of century mas proclaimed
the vital interest Of the United States in the
independent life of the Islands ana their
intimate commercial dependence upon TINS
country At the same time IL has been re-
peatedly asserted that in no event could the
entity Of Hawaiian statehood cease by tile
passage OF the Islands under the domina-
tion or influence OF another power than the
United States. Under these circumstances
the logic Of events required tnat anheXa d5
ton, heretofore offered but declined, should
in the ripeness Of time come about as the
natural result Of the strengthening Ties
that bind us TO those islands, ana be real
lied by the free viii Of the liaWiian state.
That treaty was unanimously rauned
v-ithout amendment by the senate and pres
fdent of the republic of Hawaii on the 10th
of September last, ana only awaits the Ia
vorable action Of the American senate TO
Islands into the domain of the United states.
What the conditions of such a union shall
be- the political relation thereof TO the
United States, the character Of the local
almiuistra ton, the quality and degree OF
the elective franchise of the inhabitants.
the extension of the federal laws to the
territory or the enactment or special laws
to tit the peculiar condition thereof, the reg
ulatfOn IL need he OF the labor system
therein, are an matters which the treaty
has wisely relegated to the congress.
should lie Confirmed
II the treaty is confirmed as every con-
sidera ton OF dignity and honor requires,
the wisdom OF congress VIII see to II that,
avoiding abrupt assimilation of elements
highest franchises Of citizenship, and haV-
Ing due regard TO the geographical condi-
tions, the most just provisions for self-rule
ia local matters with the largest political
liberties an integral part of our nation,
will he accorded to the Hawaiians. No
less is due to a people who. after nearly
five years of demonstrated capacity TO full
hll the obligations Of self-gOVerning state
hood. come OF their own free will to merge
their dcstinies in our body polite.
The questions which have arisen between
Japan and Hawaii by reason Of the treat
ment OF japanese lahOrers emigrating 10
the Islands under the observation-disclosures
convention of 1855 are in a satisfactory
stage Of settlement by negotiation This
government has not been invited to medi-
ate, and on the other hand has sought no
Intervention in that matter further than
to evince its kindliest disposition toward
such a speedy and direct adjustment by the
two sovereign states IN interest as shall
Comport with equity and honor II IS
gratifying 10 learn that the appre Extensions
a first displa Fed on the part OF japan
lest the cessation of Hawaifs national life
through anne atiOn might impair priv
leges TO which Japan honorably laid claim,
have given place to confidence ~ the
uprigltness OF this government and in tie
sincerity Of its purpose TO deal with a.
possible Interior questions IN the broadest
spirit of f.Ieudliuess.