Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1897-12-07
humanitarian

and has not failed to receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration. But
should such a step be now taken when 1T
is apparent that a hopeful change has
supervened in the policy Of Spain toward
CuJas \ new government has taken
office in the mother country. It's pledged
in advance TO the declaration that all the
effort in the world cannot suffice to main
tain peace in Cuba by the bayonet; that
vague promises Of reform after subjuga-
ton afford no solution Of the insular
problem that with a substitution OF
commanders must come change OF the
past system of warfare for one in har-
mony with new policy which shall no
longer aim to drive the Cubans to the
horrible alternative of taking to the
thicket or succumbing in misery" that
reforms must be instituted in accordance
with the needs and circumstances of the
time, and that these reforms, while de-
signed to give full autonomy to the colony
and to create a virtual entity and self
controlled administration, shall yet con-
serve and affirm the sovereignty of Spain
by Just distribution of powers and bur
dens upon a basis of mutual interest un-
tainted by methods of self expediency.
The first acts Of the new government
lie in those honorable paths. The policy
of cruel rapine and determination that so
long shocked the universal sentiment of
humanity has been reversed. Under the
new military commander broad Glenn
ency is preferred. Measures have already
been set on foot to relieve the horrors of
starvation The power of the Spanish
armies, it is asserted, is to be used not to
spread ruin and desolation, but to pro-
tect the resumption of peaceful agricul-
tural pursuits and productive industries.
That past methods are futile to force a
peace by subjugation is freely admitted
and that ruin without Cancellation must
inevitably fail to win for Spain the fidel-
ity of eontented dependency.
Not a single American citizen is now in
arrest or confinement in Cuba, of whom
this government has any knowledge.
The near future will demonstrate whether
the indispensable condition of righteous
peace, just alike to the Cubans and to
Spain, as well as equitable to all our in
terests so intimately involved in the well
fare of Cuba, is likely to be attained. If
not, the exigency of further and other
action by the United States will remain
to be taken. When that time comes that
action will be determined in the line of
indisputable right and duty. 1t will be
faced, without misgiving or hesitancy in
the light OF the obligation this govern
ment owes to itself, to the people who
have confided to it the protection of their
interests and honor, and to humanity.
Sure of the right, keeping free from all
offense ourselves, actuates only by up
right and patriotic considerations, moved
neither by passion, nor selfishneSs, the
government will continue its watchful
care over the rights and property of
American citizens, and will abate none
of its efforts to bring about by peaceful
agencies "a peace which shall be honorable
and enduring. If it shall hereafter ap-
pear to be duty imposed by our obliga-
tons to ourselves, to civilization and to
humanity to intervene with force, 1t shall
be without fault on our part, and only
because the necessity for such action will
be so clear as to command the. support
and approval of the civilized wolSd.
Annexation of Hawaii Recomme ii ded.
By IA special message dated the 10Th day
OF June last, l laid before the senate a
treaty signed that day by the plenipoten-
tiaries of the United States and of the re-
public of Hawaii, having for it's purpose
the incorporation of the Hawaiian Islands
as an intc raj part of the United States,
and uIuer its sovereignty. The senate,
having removed the injunction of secrecy,
although the treaty is still pending before
that body, the subject may be properly
referred to in this message, because the
necessary action of the congress is re-
CURED to determine by legislation many
details of the eventual union should the
fact OF annexation be accomplished, as L
believe it should be.
While consistently disavowing from
very early period any aggressive policy OF
absorption in regard to the hawaiian
group, Il long series OF declarations,
through three-quarters of century, has
proclaimed the vital interest of the United
States in the independent life of the ISL
lands, and their intimate commercial de-
tendency upon this country. At the same
time, it has been repeatedly asserted that
In no event could the entity CT Hawaiian
statehood cease by the passage of the ISL
i H. Hoo TIA -
another power than the United States.
Under these circumstances the logic of
events required that annexation, hereto
fore offered but declined, should in the
ripeness of time come about as the nat
ural result of the strengthening ties that
bind us to those islands, and be realized
by the free will of the Hawaiian state.
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 sem
ate 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 relations
thereof to the United States, the character
Of the local administration, the quality
and degree of the elective franchise of the
Inhabitants 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 delegated to
the congress.
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 ele-
ments perhaps hardly yet fitted to share
in the highest franchises of citizenship,
and having due regard to the geographi-