The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-01
PRESIDENT SHOWS THE STEP TO
BE A CONSERVATION.
An Able Exposition of Events for
Eighty Years Which Have Led to the
Present Position of Affairs.

! WASHINGTON, June 16.-The fol-
lowing is the Presidents message in
Producing the Hawaiian Reciprocity
treaty:
II transmit herewith to the Senate,
in order that after due consideration
the constitutional function of advice
and consent may be exercised by that
body, a treaty for the annexation Of
the Republic of Hawaii to the United
States, signed in this Capital by the
Plenipotentiaries of the parties on the
10th of June. For the better under
standing of the subject, | transmit,
in addition, a report of the Secretary
of State, briefly reviewing the nego-
tiations which have led to this i'm
portant result.
"The incorporation of the Hawaiian
islands into the body polite of the
United States is the necessary and
fitting sequel to the chain of events
which from a very early period of our
history has controlled the intercourse
and prescribed the associations of the
United States and the Hawaiian isl
ands. The predominance of American
interests in that neighboring terri
tory was first asserted in 1920 by send
ing 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 announc-
ed in 1S43. when the intervention of
the United States caused the British
Government to disavow the seizure of
the Sandwich islands by British
naval commander. and TO recognize
them by treaty rs an Independent
State, renouncing forever any purpose
of annexing the islands or eXerting a
protectorate over them.
''In 1851 the cession of the Hawaiian
Kingdom to the United States was
: formally offered, and although not
then accepted, this Government pro-
claimed its duty to be to preserve
; alike the honor and dignity of the
United States and the safety of the
, Government of the Hawaiian islands.
"From this time until the outbreak
of the war in 1861, the policy of the
United States toward Hawaii and the
Hawaiian Sovereign toward the Unit
ed States was exemplifed by contnu-
ed negotiations for annexation, or
for reserved commercial union. The
latter alternative was at length ac-
complished by the reciprocity treaty
of 1875, the provisions of which were
renewed and expanded by the conven-
ton of 1884, embracing the perpetual
cession to the United States of the har-
Dor of Pearl river in the island of
Oahu.
"In 1888 proposal for the joint
; guaranty of the neutrality of the Ha-
waiian islands by the United States,
Germany, and Great Britain was de-
clined on the announced ground that
the relation of the United States "a
the islands was sufficient for the end
in view. In brief, from 1920 to 1893
the course of the United States to
ward the Hawaiian islands had con
sistently favored their autonomous
welfare with the exclusion of all for
eign influences save our own to the
extent of upholding eventual anneXa'
: ton as the necessary outcome of that
policy.
"Not only is the union of the Ha.
waiian territory to the United States
no new scheme, but it is the inevitable
consequence of the relation steadfast
ly maintained with that mid-PaciiiC
domain for three-quarters of cen
tury. It's accomplishment, despite
successive denials and postponement
has been merely a question of time
While its failure in 1898 may not be 4
cause of congratulation, it is certainly
proof of the disinterestednes of the
United States, the delay of four year,
hdNlilS dbuhudhNiJ SuhlNSd W tShdpilSi
the right and ability of the Republic
of Hawaii to enter as sovereign con
tractant upon a conventional unior
with the United States, thus realizing
, purpose held by the Hawaiian people
and proclaimed by successive Hawai-
ian Governments through some seven
ty years of their virtual dependence
upon the benevolent protection of the
United States.
"Under such circumstances, annexa
tion is not a change; it is a cousum
nation. The report OF the Secretary
Of State exhibits the character ant
/ (Contipued on Pare Fve.)