Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-10-01
ANNEX ALTON or HAWAII.
Urges the scurte to Accomplish the
nton


Bv a special message dated the 10Th day
of June last. ! laid before the senate OF
the United states 4 treaty. signed that day
by the Ilenipot"ntiar.es of the United
States ana CT In" public of Hawaii. hav-
ing for its purpose the Incorporation OF
the Hawaiian islands as an integral part
OF the United States and under its COW
ereiEnty. The senate having removed
The injunction of secrecy, although the
treaty Is still pending before mat body,
me subject may he properly referred to
IN this message, as the necessary action
of congress is required 10 determine by
legislation many details of the eventual
union. should the fact of annexation Be
accomplished, as | believe it should be.
While consistently disavowing from .
very early period any aggressive policy
IF absorption in regard to the Hawaiian
group, IL long series of discussion through
three-Guarters of a century has pro-
claimed the vital interest of the United
States in the independent life of the
islands and their intimate commercial de-
tendency upon this country. AT the same
time it has been repeatedly asserted that
in no event could the entity of Hawaiian
statehood cease by the passage of the Is
lands under the domination or influence Oh
another power than the United States.
Under these circumstances the logic OF
events required that annexation, before
ness of time, come about as the natural
result of Strengthening the ties that bind
us to those islands and be released by the
free will of the Hawaiian state.
That treaty was unanimously ratified
without amendment by the senate and
president of the republic of Hawaii on tho
10th of September last, and only awaits
the favorable action of the American SEN
ate to effect the complete absorption of the
islands into the domains of the United
States. What the conditions OF such q
union shall be, the political relation thereof
to the United States, the character Of the
local administration. the quality and de-
gree OF the elective franchise of the in
habtants, the extension of the federal
laws to the territory or the enactment Of
special laws to fit the peculiar conditions
thereof, the regulation and needs OF la bo1
therein, the treaty has wisely RELOCATED to
congress.
If the treaty Is confirmed, as every con-
sderation of dignity and honor requires
the wisdom of congress will see to 1t that,
avoiding abrupt assimilation of clements
perhaps hardly yet fitted to share in the
highest franchises of citizenship, and hav-
ing due regard to the geographical con-
ditions. the just provisions for self-rulo
in local matters with the largest political
liberties as an integral part of our natiou
will be accorded to the Hawaiians.
nearly five years of demonstrated capacity
to fulfill the obligations of self-govern-
ing statehood, come of their free will to
merge their destinieS in our body polite.
The Dispute With Japan.
The questions which have arisen betweeD
Japan and Hawaii by reason of the treat
ment of Japanese laborers emigrating to
the islands under the observation-disclosures
convention of 1888. are in a satisfactory
stage of settlement by negotiation. This
government has not been invited to medf-
ate and on the other hand has sought no
intervention in that matter further thar
to evince its kindliest disposition towar0
such speedy and direct adjustment be.
tween the two sovereign states in interest,"
as shall comport with equity and honor.
1t is gratifying to learn that the appre-
tensions at first displayed on the part Of
Japan lest the cessation of Hawaii's ma
tional life through annexation might inn
pair her privileges, TO which Japan prop
erly laid claim, have given place to up.
Righteousness in the government and sim
certify Of its purpose to deal with all pos.
sible Interior questions in the broade0e
spirit of friendliness.