The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-07
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.

By special message, dated the 18th day of
June last, laid before the senate treaty
signed that day by the plenipotentiaries Of the
United States, and of the republic of Hawaii,
having for its purpose the Incorporation of
the Hawaiian islands as an integral part OF
the United States and under its sovereignty.
The senate having 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 action of the congress is required
to determine by legislation many details of
the eventual union should the fact of anneXa-
ton be accomplished, as l believe it should
be.
While consistently disavowing from very
early period any aggressive policy OF absorp
ton IN regard to the Hawaiian group, q long
series of declarations through three-quarters
OF century has proclaimed the vital interest
OF the United States, in the independent life
or the Islands and their intimate commercial
dependence upon this country. At the same
time it has been repeatedly asserted that in
no event could the entity, of Hawaiian state
hood cease by the passage OF the ISLANDS un-
der the dominatonGor influence Of another
power than the United States. Under these
circumstances the logic of events required
that annexation heretofore offered, but de-
c.ined. should in the ripeness of time come
about as the natural result of the strengthen
ing the ties that bind US to those islands,
and be realized by the free will OF the Ha-
waiian state.
That treaty unanimously ratified with
out amendment by the senate and president
of the republic ofoHaWaii on the 10th of
September last and only awaits the favorable
action of the American senate to effect the
complete absorption of the islands into the
domain of the United States. What the con-
ditlons OF such 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 of the federal
laws to- the territory, or the enactment of
special laws to fit the peculiar condition
thereof the regulation, if need be, of the
labor system therein, are all matters which
the treaty has wisely relegated to congress.
If the treaty is confirmed as every con-
sideration of dignity and honor requires, the
wisdom Of congress will see to it, avoiding
abrupt assimilation of elements perhaps
hardy yet fitted to share in the highest
franchises of citizenship and having due re-
gard to the geographical conditions, the most
just provisions for self-rule in local matters
with the largest political liberties as an in
-tegral part of our nation viii be accorded
to the Hawaiians No less is due to a people,
who after nearly five years of demonstrated
governing statehood come OF their own 1ree
will to merge their destinies in our fooy
polite.
: The questions which have arisen between
Japan and Hawaii by reason of the treatment
OF Japanese labOrers emigratng to the lslands
under the Hawaiian-J Japanese convention CT
1888 are in a satisfactory stage of settle
ment by negotiation. This government has
not been invited to mediate and on the other
hand has sought no intervention in that mat
ter further than to evince its kindliest diSF99-
sition toward such speedy and direct ad-
iustment by the two sovereign states IN III
terest as shall comport with equity and
honor It is gratifying to learn that the
apprehensions at first displayed on the pat
of japan lest the cessation of AaWaii ma
tional life through annexation might impair
privileges to which Japan noa orab;y lad
claim have given place to confidence in tie
uprightness of this government and IN TIE
sincerity of it's purpose to deal with all pos
sible Interior questions in the Droadest spirit
frin irnS