The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-18
The Presidents Message as
Sent to the Senate.
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
OF STATE.
THE TREATY EXPLAINED AT LENGTH

The President Claims That Annexation is the
Inevitable Consequence Of the Relation
Steadily Maintained Between the Two
Countries For Nearly Century.
Washington, June 1.-THE following
is the full text of the message sent to the
Senate by President Mckinley to ac-
company the Hawaiian treaty:
ITO the Senate of the United States:
II transmit herewith to the Senate,
in order that, after due considerable
the constitutional function of advice and
consent may be exercised by that body.
a treaty for the annexation Of the re-
public Of Hawaii to the United States,
signed in this capital by the plenipoten-
tiaries of the party on the sixteenth Of
June instant.
"For better understanding Of the sub
ject I transmit in addition, report of
the Secretary of State, briefly reviewing
the negotiation which has led to this i'm
portant result.
"The incorporation of the Hawaiian
Islands into the body polite of the Uni
ted States is the necessary and fitting
sequel to the change of events, which
from a very early period of our history,
has controlled the intercourse and pres
eribed the association of the United
States and the Hawaiin Islands. The
predominance of American interest in
that neighboring territory was first as
serted in 1920, by sending to the islands
a representative agent of the United
States. 1t found further expression by
the signature of a treaty of friendship,
commerce, and navigation with the King
in 1S26-the first international compact
negotiated by Hawaii. 1t was signally
announced in 1S43, when the interven-
ton Of the United States caused the
British government to disavow the seiZ-
ure Of the Sandwich Islands by British
Naval commander, and to recognize them
by treaty, as an Independent State, re-
nouncing for ever any purpose Of annex
ing the islands or exerting protectorate
for them. In 1851 the cessiOn of the
Hawaiian kingdom to the United States
was formally offered and although not
then accepted, this government proclaim
ed its duty to preserve alike the honor
and dignity Of the United States and the
safety of the government of the Ha-
waiian islands. From this time until the
outbreak Of the war in 1861, the policy
of the United States toward Hawaii
and of the Hawaiian island sovereignty
toward the United States was exemplifed
by continued negotiations for annexatio
or for a reserved commercial union. The
latter alternative was at length accom-
plished by the reciprocity treaty OF 1875,
the provisions of which were renewed
and explained by the convention of 1884,
embracing the perpetual cession to the
United States of the harbor of Pearl
river on the island of Oahu. In 1888
a proposal for the joint guaranty Of the
neutrality Of the Hawaiian islands by
the United States, Germany, and Great
Britain was declined ON the announced
ground that the rela tions of the United
States to the islands was sufficient for
the end in view. In brief, from 1920 to
1898 the course of the United States to-
ward the Hawaiian islands has consis-
tently favored their autonomous welfare
with the exclusion Of all foreign inf1u-
euce save our own, to the extent of up
holding eventual annexation as the nee
essary outcome of that policy.
Not only is the union of the Hawaiian
territory Of the United States no new
scheme. but it is the inevitable conse-
ouence of the relation steadfastly main
tanned with that mid-Pacifc domain for
three quarters of century. Its accom-
nlishment, despite successive denials and
postponements has been merely a ques-
ton of time. While it's failure in 1893 may
not be a cause of congratulation, it is
certainly a proof Of the disinterestedness
of the United States, the delay of four
years having abundantly suffced to es-
tablish the right and the ability of the
republic of Hawaii to enter, as a sover-
eign cOntractant, upon conventional
union with the United States, thus real
izing purpose held by the Hawaiian peo-
ple and proclaimed by successive Ha-
waiian governments through some tWen-
ty years of their virtual dependence upon
the benevolent protection of the United
States. Under such circumstances, an
neAdtioh 10 hol cndnge, IL 10 Son
summa ton.
The report of the Secretary Of State
exhibits the character and course of the
recent negotiation and the features of the
treaty itself. The organic and admins
trative details of incorporation are neces-
sarily left to the wisdom of the Con-
gress, and / cannot doubt, when the
function of the constitutional treaty
making power shall have been accom-
plished, the duty of the national legisla-
ture in the case will be performed with
the largest regard for the interests Of this