The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-14
Tae @essenger.
ABLE MEN ON HAWAIIN ANNEX
ALTON

II strong opposition in the senate to
xkke Hawaiian annexation treaty. It Is
mt strong enough to divide the MEM
HErs, but there are enough probably to
Rrevent the t~wo-thirds vote necessary
IN pass 1t. We shall be very glad in
decd il the bad measure shall be de-
aeated. We regard it as a very danger
Gus step without proper justification,
with far reaching consequences, and as
Rettfng a precedent that may nvofve
0pr country in intermindable difficult
M In the years ahead. II the demo-
Gratis help the republicans to pass the
hill they deserve to be repudiated to
u man by all conservative, patriotic
members of the party.
We referred lately to the views Of
Rt. Hon. James Bryce, member OF
the British parliament, and a states
man OF ripe judgment, a writer Of dis
4Snguished ability, n a calm, fair
headed observer and tudent. He Is in
4he fulness Of a high mental prime. hav-
ing beer born in 1898. He was educated
at the universities of Glasgow and Ok
kord- He Is a lawyer, a man Of af-
fairs, the author of several able works,
among them that very remarkable his
rDry. 1.-The Holy Roman Empire" pub
Eished before he was twenty-five, and
The American Commonwealth" re-
hest work ever written upon American
sxlhorlas and men of letters as the very
best work evr yritten upon American
institutions. He has written other able
works. In The New York Forum for
December there is a paper from his
practical and able pen upon 1.-The Pol
ICY of Annexation for America" We
~ish every public official In Washing
Ton would study this pregnant essay.
We would be glad if all editors would
give it a patient, careful reading. 1t
would BE we'll for the country if all
fairly Intelligent electors could read
IL 1t is calm, clear, full but not very
hong. 1t shows a more perfect mastery
Of the subject than any of our Ameri-
can politicians or electors or magazine
contributors have shown. 1t is a wise,
conclusive statement Of objections to
the annexation craze that has taken
possession of political cranks and dem
agogues. We doubt if any man who
seriously favors this mania is a safe
man enough to be trusted with public
office.
TIE Messenger several times present
ed some Of the objections to this recent
passion for %annexing foreign territory
and bringing into the American union
the ~off-scourings of creation. While
there are many men in the congress
who will vote tomorrow, or at any
time, for restricting the ballot, or ap-
plying a very rigid test to foreign i'm
migration so as to limit it, they will with
the most brazen inconsistency advo-
cate the annexation of islands that
MiH introduce into the American union
q large class of most undesirable voters,
a class without the slightest qualifica-
lions for American citizenship. But let
MS turn to Mr.. Bryce's paper. But
before doing so, let us first mention
another paper in the same number Of
The Forum, on the "UncOnstitutiOnali-
ry of the Hawaiian Treaty" 1t is by
the venerable and able x-Chief Justice
Daniel, Agnew Of the supreme court Of
Pennsylvania. He ia a republican and
opposed to the treaty because sit is
unconstitutional, unwise, and danger
GUS" These propositions he makes
good. If the treaty is a violation Of
organic law, is unconstitutional, how
dare any senator support it, and how
dare the president to so far forget the
sacred instrument as to be a party to
x4lch a treaty? Justice Agnew says
shat there is no express power in the
constitution to acquire and incorporate
u foreign territory and people into the
Union. Precedents are cited to justify
the annexation Of Hawaii. Precedent
does not amend the constitution.
Amendment requires a vote of two
thirds of congress-, and three-fourths
of the senate. Consent Of the senate
alone is not enough. Precedent belongs
To the leges o s%criptas; it has no
force except by usage and consent, and
Enust be precisely in point. There is no
precedent to justify the admission by
treaty of Hawaii. The purchasers of
Louisiana, Florida and Alaska are
cited; but these are not in point. A
purchase authorized by the constitution
gan be justified only by an ~overruling
necessity for the national safety. To
warrant the exercise of a power not
found in the constitution, the necessity
must be clear and imperative. With
out this it is a violation Of the oath of
~Dffice. The life of the Constitution is
~as sacred to the people as natural life
Is to the individual" The able jurist
goes into the consideration, at some