Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1897-12-16
Such Will Be Rejection of
Hawaiian Treaty.
ISLANDS WILL TURN TO BRITAIN.
Foster Outlines the Situation-The United
States Will Then Have No Grounds on
Which to Objective VIII Lose Naval
Station and Trade.


tiated the first treaty annexing Hawaii
to the United States, and who has since
visited the islands and taken much in
terest in their acquisition, when asked
as to the status of the annexation ques-
ton, said
1.-The opponents in congress of Ha-
waiian annexatson will not have dis
posed of the question by voting against
and defeating this measure. They
must decide what shall be the policy
and conduct of the United States
towards the islands for the future.
Having refused the application of
the island government for incorpora-
ton into our Union, such an act nee
essarily carried with it the right of the
former to determine it's own political
destiny uninfiuenced by considerations
affecting the United States.
But such course would present
embarrassments to congress of no small
moment. During the last admins
tration of President Cleveland the
house of representatives resolved,
That foreign intervention in the politi-
cal affairs of the islands will not be re-
garded with Indifference by the govern
ment of the United States During
the same session the senate. by unani-
nous vote, went step further and de-
clared that, ANY intervention in the
political affairs of these islands by any
government will be regarded as an act
unfriendly to the United States These
utterances were in line with the policy
of our government for so years, but it
is possible and competent for congress
to change the policy of the government
at any time. Its rejection of annex
alton would in effect nulllfy the dec
laration, but there would still be
another serious embarrassment to be
disposed of, to wit, the reciprocity
treaty. 1t would be easy to annul the
commercial clauses of that convention,
and that would be in harmony with the
views long cherished by many of our
public men, but the political clauses of
that treaty present different question.
"They are two in number First,
stipulation on the part of Hawaii not
to lease, dispose of or create any lien
upon any port, harbor or other terri
tory to any other government and,
second, to grant to the United States
the exclusive right to Pearl River
harbor as coaling and naval station.
The first of these political clauses
might terminate with the treaty, and
after the rejection Of annexation 1t
would be inconsistent on our part to in
sist upon its maintenance. The second
clause, however, is held by the senators
who ratified the treaty to be a perma-
nent grant. The denunciation of the
reciprocity treaty would still leave us
with the grant of Pearl harbor. 1t is
the only place suitable for naval
station in those islands or anywhere
within radius of 1000 miles. What
ever may be the sentiment of the
American people as to annexation, I
doubt whether any considerable body
of them would approve of the sur
render of this very valuable station for
our growing navy and for which we
have paid so dear price in our reci-
procity arrangement. And yet with
the rejection of annexation, we must
look forward to the certainty of its
eventual surrender, as our occupation
would be impossible with the islands
under the dominion of powerful gov
eminent.
even if rejected by the United
States it will not be difficult for the
present Hawaiian government to sue
cessfully maintain itself as against
local opposition. For many years be-
fore it was established the administra.
ton of the islands had been in the con-
troll of the foreign residents, the native
rulers being mere puppets in their
hands. The property interests, which
are almost exclusively held by the
white residents and foreigners, will
control the government so long as it
maintains its independence. But it is
plain the islands cannot long maintain
their autonomy. The most threaten
ing present danger is from Japan.
That country may be perfectly sincere
in its declaration that it does not seek
the annexation of the islands, but the
current of events, if not checked, will
lead inevitably to that result. The
operation Of the existing immigration
treaty, as interpreted by Japan, will
soon bring about the supremacy of the
japanese in the islands. The authori-
ties of the republic and the empire are
now at issues as to this treaty. 1t re-
quires no prophet to foresee which con-
struction of it will prevail, if the ISL
ands are not annexed to the United
States or some other power.does not in.
terfere.
"But I do not think the islands will
pass under the dominion of Japan. If
the people of American origin now in
control of the government are rejected
by congress they will, in my opinion,
turn to their kinsmen, the English and
Canadians. They have learned from
the colonial history of Great Britain
that wherever the British flag goes
there follows equal taxation, Just and
impartial administration of the laws.
and honest and orderly government,
While have no information as to the
purposes of the present Hawaiian rulers,
feel sure that when it is finally de.
termined that they are not to be an
nexed TO the United States they will