The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-12-11
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
Dignity and Honor Require Confirm
nlion of the Treaty.

By a special message dated the 10th day
Of June last, | laid before the senate n
treaty signed that day by the plenipo-
taries of the United States and of the re-
lublic OF Hawaii having for It's purpose the
incorporation OF the Hawaiian Islands as
an integral part Of the United states and
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 acton
of the congress Is required TO determine by
legislation many details or the eventual
union should the fact of annexation be ac-
complished as | believe Ii should be.
While consistently disaNowing from a
very carly period any aggressive policy OF
absorption in regard TO the Hawaiian
group. long series Of declarations through
three-Guart ers of a century has proclaimed
the vital interest of the United States In the
independent life of the islands ard their
intimate commercial dependence upon this
country. At the same time IL has been re-
peatedly asserted that In no event could the
entity of Hawaiian statehood cease by the
passage OF the islands under the DONNA
ton or influence of another power than the
United States, Under these circumstances
the logic OF events required that anneXa,
ton, heretofore offered but declined, should
in the ripeness Of time come about as the
natural result of the strengthening ties
that bind ms to those islands. and be real
ICED by the free will Of the Hawiian state.
That treaty was unanimously ratified
without amendment by the senate and pres
idont of the republic OF Hawaii on the lgih
Of September last, and only awaits the ia
vdrable action OF the American senate TO
effect the complete absorption Of the
Islands into the domain Of the United states.
What the conditions Ct such a union shall
be- the political relation thereof TO the
United States, the character Of the local
administration. the quality and degree Of
the elective franchise Of the inhabitants
the extension CT the federal laws 10 the
territory or the enactment Of special laws
ulauon II need be Of the labor system
therein, are all matters which the treaty
has wisely releGated to the congress.
should &c Confirmed.
II the treaty is confirmed, as every con-
sderation of dignity and honor requires
the wisdom OF congress will see to il that.
avoiding abrupt assimilation of elements
perhaps hardly yet fitted 10 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 political
liberties as an integral part Of our nation,
VIII be accorded to the Hawaiians. No
less is due to a people who, after nearly
h hxe years OF demonstrated capacity to full
nj the obligations of self-governing state
hood, come of their own free will to merge
their destinies in our body polite
Inc questions which have arisen between
Japan and Hawaii by reason of the treat
ment OF japanese laborers emigrating to
the Islands under the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sc
convention OF 1888 are In a satisfactory
stage or 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 evnce its kindliest disposition toward
such speedy and direct adjustment by the
two sovereign states In interest as shall
comport with equity and honor. 1t is
gratifying to learn that the apprehensions
at first displayed on the part of Japan
lest the cessation of Hawaii's national life
through annexation might impair privi-
leges to which Japan honorably laid claim
have given place to confidence in the
uprightness of this government and in the
sincerity of its purpose to deal with all
possible Interior questions in the broadcast
spirit of friendlines "a