The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-17
Signed and Communicated to the Sen
ate In Executive Session.
SUMMARY OF LEADING FEATURES
The Islands to Become u Territory of
900 to Re Assumed Ry This Gov.
ernnent t-WilI Meet with Strong
Opposition.
washington. June 16. 1897.

IihWaldl lSiinQS reached the SENATE
chamber at 5 O'Clock to-day The Sen
ate at once went into executive session
and as soon as the doors were closed the
message of President Mckinley, accom-
panyng the treaty, and the treaty itself
were read ct the Senate. They were at
tentlVeiy listened to. In one part Of the
chanDer there was Il group Of Senators
VINO VIII bitterly oppose the ratification
Of the treaty. Among them were Sena-
tors Gray, Mills, Pasco. White, Caffrey,
l'ettlgrew, and McEnery. AS soon as
the reading Of the documents were COM
peted, Seator Davis, chairman Of the
committee on Foreign Relations, moved
that the message and treaty be made
public Senator Gray objected to a
vote on the motion, and under the rules
single objection carried the motion
over until tomorrow. Senator Davis
gave notice that at the next executive
session he would press the motion for
publication as all the essential facts
ana an almost verbatim copy of the
treaty had been published In the press
Of the country
There was some discussion as to when
the treaty might be considered. and SEN
ator White asked If 1t was the intention
10 push 1t at this session, and upon the
reply being made that it was possible.
the California Senator said: II desire
TO announce that I am prepared to
stay mere oil summer to prevent the rat
lllcatlon or the treaty, which 1 consider
a very bad propositions"
III join you" said Senator Pettisrew
Of South Dakota M&. IL.
The message Of the President was NOT
a very long document 1t dealt with
historical facts concerning the islands
ana showed that the United States and
liaWatl yearly grew more closely bound
TO each other. This was not really an
neNation he said but q continuation
or existing relations with closer bonds
between people closely related by blood
and kindred ties. Since 1920, said thc
President. the Dredominance OF tho
united States had been known The
sehuinE or the first envoy there brought
me islands In closer relations with tho
United States, and those relations had
grown more firm by succeeding events
~ the tlme the tripartite agreement
was made for the government Of Samoa
he said, Great Britain and Germany
wanted TO include Hawaii in the group
over which protectorate was establish
ed, put the suggestion was rejected nv
me United States, which placed the is
lands under the especial care OF this
country, and that this government
Iou.u NOT aiioW any other country to
interfere IN the affairs Of Hawaii.
The annexation Of the islands e,,a
the PRESIDENT and making them a part
or the United States, was in accorda anca
Win the established policy Of this coun-
try.
The treaty was Signed at 9:2O o'clock
inns morning at the State Departmant
oy secretary Sherman. for the United
states. and Messrs Hatch. Ihnfston
and Kinney, for the Hawaiian govern,
ment. - -
Inc treaty proved to be a simple docu-
ment OF six articles based in It's essen
tlal details upon the treaty negotiated
by Hon. John w. Foster. during the ad-
ministration of President Harrison. The
islatus are ceded practically without
conditions, leaving the United States to
pursue It's own course with reference TO
Their mana cement. The first article
reads as follows:
The Government Of Hawaiian Islands
hereoS cedeS, from the date OF the ex-
change or the ratiioations Of this treaty,
absolute and without reserve to tha
United States forever all rights Of SOW
ereignty OF whatsoever kind in and over
the Hawaiian Islands and their deoon-
dencies, renouncing In favor OF the
united Unites every sovereign right of
which. as an independent nation. it IS
now possessed; and henceforth said Ha-
Wailan Islands shall become and be an
integral part OF the territory Of the
United Statea"
The Hawaiian Government ceded to
the United States the absolute owner
ship of all the public lands, public build
ings. ports harbors, Notifications. mill
tary and naval equipments and ali other
Government property. 1t Is specifically
provided, however. that the existing
laws OF the United States shall not an.
ply TO the public lands OF Hawaii. b1t
that special laws Shall be made from
time to time for their disposition, the
proceeds OF any sales of these lands to
be applied TO educational purposes in the
Islands
The islands are for the present to con-
stitute territory Of the United States
their local laws remaining in force until
new ones are enacted. a local leeisla
ture is provided for. but the veto power
Is vested entirely In the President OF the
United States. A commission Of five
persons, consisting OF three Americans
and Two HaWaiians. to be nominated by
the President and confirmed by the SEN
ate. is provided for the purpose Of for
mulating the mode Of government for
the islands.
The treaties Of the United States. with
other countries, are substituted for the
treaties Of Hawaii with the same coun-
tries in controlling the international re-
lauons of the islands. Further immi-
grafton Of Chinese laborers to the Is
hands Is prohibited and the laws restrict
iaE Chinese immigration to the United