The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-03
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
Minister Hatch Carries Important News
to Honolulu-HawaIian Senate to Coz.
vene-OuT Congress to be Called In Exua
Session.

San Francisco. September 1.-The steam
er Australia. from Honolulu direct. ar
rived today with the following Hawaiian
advces:
Francis NJ. Hatch. minister to Washing
ton, arrived August Goth with special in
formation which will require the atten-
tion Of both government and senate. AMI
a secret notice has already been isued to
the members OF the latter body calling
upon them to meet in extra session Sep
tember 9th to consider the question.
Meanwhile Hatch is in almost constant
consultation with President Dole and his
cabinet. The lawmakers will be asked TO
ratify the annexation treaty recently
signed in Washington and as a majority
of the members favor annexation, the
matter will be rushed through.
The reason for an extra session of the
senate is a matter of conjecture and
much curiosity is evinced. One senator
is authority for the statement that Min
lister Hatch brought word from President
Mckinley that he had resolved to call
congress two months earlier than usual
for the purpose of disposing of the treaty
before the regular session: and this theory
appears to find favor with other senator's.
Another matter to be considered by the
Hawaiian senate is that of rendering as
sistance to the executive in unravelinS
the japanese muddle. as ii is said that
Japan's acceptance of the offer of arbitra-
tion is so vague that the president and
his cabinet are in a Quandary. There are
rumors of split in the cabinet over the
question. and it is said that the interven-
ton of the senate is required to prevent
an open rupture.
The Hawaiian Star created a sensation
by the publication of a scheme. alleging
to have been backed by the sugar trust
to block annexation.
1t is said that call has been made for
mammoth demonstration September
14th against closer political union with the
United States. Senators Morgan and
Quay are expected to arrive from the
United States that day and the object Of
the anti-annexationists is to impress
them with the feeling upon the island.
The United States steamship Benning-
ton arrived from San Diego August oath,
after a run of nine days, and the Marion
is prepared to leave on the 26th for Mare
island.
Washington. September 1.-There is no
disposition among officials here to question
dispatches from Hawaii to the effect that
Minister Hatch hurried to Honolulu for
the special purpose of securing annexa-
ton action by the Hawaiian government
in advance of the meeting of our con-
gress. There is no rule in diplomatic
practice that would forbid Hawaii first
acting upon the treaty, and the treaty
itself does not indicate which government
is to take the initiative in the ratification.
While it is regarded as desirable in the
execution of the policy of President Nc
Kinley toward Hawaii, as laid down in his
message transmitting the treaty to con-
gress last June that the document shall
be ready in all respects for the action Of
the United States senate at it's next ses-
sion, it is not believed that the president
has any intention of calling a special ses
sion for the purpose of ratification. In
deed considering the fact that if the Ha-
waiian legislature acts with the greatest
promptnesAl upon the treaty, it can scarce
ly complete this action and return the
ratified convention to Washington before
October at the earliest, it would appear
to be unnecessary to advance the session
OF congress by such short space of time
as would intervene between that date and
the date upon which cOngrss meets l.:
regular session