The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-06-25

the Treaty to the Senate.
The following is the text of the mes
sage s,nt to the Senate by President Nc
hinley to accompany the Hawaiian
treaty:
To the Senate of the United States:
transmit herewith to the Senate, in order
that after due consideration the constitu-
uonai function of advice and consent may be
exercised by that body. a treaty for the an
nexation of the Republic of Hawaii to the
United States. signed in this capital by the
plenipotentiares of the parties on the 10th
of June instant. For the better understand
ing of the subject transmit in addition, a
report Of the Secretary of State briefly re-
viewing the negotiation which has led to this
Important result.
The incorporation of the Hawaiian Islands
Into the body polite of the United States is
of events which. from Il very early period
OF our history. has controlled the intercourse
ana prescribed the association OF the United
states and the Hawaiian Islands. The pre-
dominance of American interests in that
neighboring territory was first asserted in
$50 by sending to the islands Il representa-
tive agent OF the United States 1t found
further expression by the signature of :.
treaty Of friendship, commerce and nayiga-
tion with the King in lS2G--the first inter
was signay announced in 1913, when the
intervention of the United States caused the
British Government to disavow seizure of
the Sandwich Islands by Il British naval
commander and to recognize them by treaty
as an independent state, renouncng forever
any purpose of anneXin;s the Islands or exert
Ing protectorate over them.
In 1S5l the ccSSiun of the Hawaiian King
dom to the United States was formally offer
ed, and. although not then accepted, this
Government proclaimed its duty to preserve
alike the honor and dignity of the United
States and the safety Of the Government OF
the Il, Hawaiian Islands. From this time IN
til the outbreak of the war in 1861 the policy
OF the United States toward Hawaii and Of
the Hawaiian sovereignty toward the Uni
ted States was cxemplitied by continued ne
gotiations for annexation or for Il reserved
commercial union. The latter alternative
was az length accomplished hy the reciproc-
ity treaty Of 1879 the provisions of which
Wcr" renewed and expanded by the conven-
ton OF 1881. embracing the perpetual ces-
sion 10 the United States Of the harbor of
iearl River IN the Island of Oahu. In 1855
4 proposal for the Joint guaranty of the neu-
trality of the Hawaiian Islands by the Uni
ted states Germany and Great Britain was
relation cf the United States to the islands
was sufficient for the end in view
In brief, from 1920 to 1893 the course of
me United States toward the Hawaiian ISL
ands has, consistently favored their autono-
nous welfare. with the exclusion of all for
eign influences save our own to the extent
Of uphoiding eventual annexation as the
necessary outcome of that policy
Not only is the union of the Hawaiian ter
ritory 10 the United States no new scheme
but 1t is the inevitable consequence of the
relation steadfastly maintained with that
mid-Pacifc domain for three-ouarters of a
century. Its accomplishment, despite sue
cessive denials and postponements has been
merely Il question of time. While its failure
in 1893 may not be cause of concratuln-
ton. il is certainly Il proof of the disntcr-
estedness Of the United States. the DELAY of
four years having ahundanty suficed to es-
tnbish the right and the ability of the Re
public of Hawaii to enter, as a sovereign
contractant. upon Il conventional union with
the United States. thus realizing 4 purpose
held by the Hawaiian people and proclaim
cd by successive Hawaiian governments
through seventy years of their virtual inde-
pcndcncc upon the benevolent protection of
the United States. Under such circum-
stances, annexation is not change; it Is a
consummatiOn.
The report of the Secretary OF State ex-
h!bitS the character and course of the re-
cent negotiations ana the features of thc
treaty itself. The organic and admnistra-
tive details of incorporation are necessarily
left to the wisdom of the Congress- ana /
cannot doubt, when the function of the CON
sritutiona trcaty-making power Shall have
been accomplished, the duty of the national
legislature III the case will be performed
with the largest regard for the interest of
this rich insular domain and for the welfare
OF the inhabitants thereof
WILLIAM lL'KINLEY.