Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-12-08
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
The Senate Urged to Approve of the
Treaty.

Treaty.
By a special message dated the 10th
day Of June last, I laid before the senate
treaty signed that day by the plenipo-
tentiaries of the United States and Of the
republic 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 be-
fore that body, the subject may be prop
erly referred to in this message because
the necessary action of congress is re-
quired to determine by legislation many
details of the eventual union should the
fact of annexation be accomplished as
believe it should be.
While consistently disavowing from a
very early period any aggressive policy of
absorption in regard TO the Hawaiian
group, a long series of declarations
through three-quarters of a century has
proclaimed the vital interest of the United
States in the Independent life of the
islands and their intimate commercial de-
pendence upon this country. At the same
time it has been repeatedly asserted that
III no event could the entity of Hawaiian
statehood cease by the passage of the
islands under the denomination or in
fUence of another power than the United
States. Under these circumstances the
logic of events required that annexation
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 and be re-
allied by the free will of the Hawaiian
state.
Ratified by Hawaii.
That treaty was unanimously ratified
without amendment by the Senate and
President of the republic of Hawaii on the
10th OF September last and only awaits the
/ favorable action of the American senate
to effect the complete absorption of the
islands into the domain of the United
States. What the conditions of such a
union shall be, the political relation there
of to the United States, character of the
local administration, the quality and de-
gree of the elective franchise of the in
habitants, the extension of the federal
laws to the territory, or the enactment of
special laws to fit the peculiar condition
thereof, the regulation if need be- Of the
labor system therein, are all matters which
the treaty has wisely relegated to Con-
greSs.
If the treaty is confirmed as every con-
sideration of dignity and honor requires,
the wisdom of Congress will see to it, that
avoiding abrupt assimilation of events
| perhaps hardly yet fitted to share in the
| highest franchises of citizenship and hav-
| ing due regard to the geographical condi-
| lions, the most just provisions for self
! rule IN local matters with the largest pc
| litical liberties as an integral part of our
nation will be accorded to the Hawaiians.
No less is due to a people, who, after
nearly five years Of demonstrated capacity
! to fulfil the obligations of self governing
! statehood, come of their own free will to
merge their destinies in our body politic.
! Hawaii and Japan.
The questions which have arisen be-
| tween Japan and Hawaii, by reason OF the
treatment of Japanese laborers emigratins
to the islands under the Hawaiian Japan
csc convention Of 1888, 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 nc
Intervention in that matter further than
to evince it's kindliest disposition towards
such a speedy and direct adjustment by
the two sovereign states in interests as
shall comport with equity and honor.
1t is gratifying to learn that the appre-
tensions at first displayed on the past OF
Japan lest the cessation Of Hawaii's ma
tional life through annexation might i'm
pair privileges to which Japan honorably
laid claim, have given place to confidence
in the uprightness Of this government anC
in the sincerity Of its purpose to deal witt