The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-08-19
Japan and the Annexation Treaty.

tending the negotiations Of the
treaty for the annexation of Hawaii,
and the more the deeds and words
OF those who have forced the ad.
ministration into hasty action, are
examined, the more suspicious APP
pears the scheme. 1t is well-known
that the conclusion of the treaty
was fastened by the cutlery that
Japan was preparing to take the
islands, and that therefore it became
the duty of the United States to
agree to immediate annexation, for
the protection of American interests
in the islands and for the defeat Of
the sinister purpose of japan. 1t
mas indeed come to this, that the
alleged ambition and greed OF Japan
is the only excuse that is offered for
the hurried and surprising act of
the administration. We have it on
excellent authority that Mr.. Sber.
mau himself had assured the Japa-
nese Minister again and again that
no treaty of annexation would be
concluded 10 haste or secretly; that
il such treaty we're eventually to
be concluded, there would be de-
cent interval for consultation and
for the proper adjustment OF all in
terests involved. In view Of what
has taken place, the Japanese Min
lister at Washington and his Gov
eminent seem to have the right TO
protest vigorously not only against
the sudden determination OF the
two contracting governments, and
against the failure OF the treaty to
protect the vested rights of the
Japanese in Hawaii, but against the
deception which Mr.. Sherman has
apparently practised. II will not
do to answer that Mr.. Sherman's
mind is in such state that his acts
are quite likely to conflict with his
words, for Mr.. Sherman has been
deliberately made the Governments
representative in transactions with
foreign powers, and we must be
bound by what he says as we'll as
by what he does.
If it turns out that Japan was
actually not intriguing for the isl
ands, or contemplating their seizure
no excuse whatever can be offered
for the hasty negotiation of this
treaty. The Government has be-
fore it, Is the world knows, paper
which has been called the protest
OF japan. That paper has not been
made public at the time Of writing,
but we have the highest assurance
that it contains no threat, but is
merely plain statement of facts,
which, when known, will necessarily
confound the scheming annexation
lists, who have been crying out that
the Japanese are coming" for the
purpose Of rushing the United
States into concluding the treaty
which is now pending before the
Senate. The so-called protest con-
tans an assurance, that has been
given more than once, that japan
has no designs whatever upon the
integrity of the Hawaiian Govern
ment. Mr.. Sherman had received
these assurances when he signed
the treaty, and il our information is
correct, the administration must
have known that the fear of a Japa-
nese invasion was mendacious in
vention worked up in Hawaii, and
repeated by the Hawaiian repre-
sentatives at Washington, for the
purpose of sustaining what all con-
cerned in the transaction evidently
believed would be surprising and
probably unpopular in the United
States.
The manner in which the feeling
against Japan appears to have been
worked up is interesting. The accu-
sation is that Japan has been colo