The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-12-08

perty of American citizens, and will
abate none of its efforts to bring about
by peaceful agencies q peace which
shall hereafter appear to be duty inn
posed by our obligations to ourselves.
to civilization and humanity to inter-
vene with force, II shall be without fault
on our part and only because the ne
cessty for such action will be so clear
as to command the support and ap-
proval of the civilized world.
THE ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
BY a special message dated the 10th
day of June last. laid before the Sem
ate a 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 SOW
ereignty. 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 de-
termine by legislation many details OF
the eventual union should the fact OF
annexation be accomplished. as I be-
lieve 1t should be.
While consistently disavowing from a
very early period any aggressive policy
of absorption in regard to the Hawaiian
through three-quarters of century,
has proclaimed the vital interest of the
United States in the Independent life OF
the islands, and their intimate CONNER
cial dependency upon this country. At
the same time. IL has been repeatedly
asserted that in no event could the
entity of Hawaiian statehood cease by
the passage of the islands under the
domination or influence of another
power than the United States. Under
these circumstances, the logic of events
required that annexation, heretofore
offered but declined. should in the ripe
ness of time come about as the natural
result of the strengthening ties that
bind us to those islands, and be realized
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
the 10th of September last, and only
awaits the favorable action Of the Am
erican Senate to effect the complete alb
sorption OF the islands into the domain
of the United States. What the condi-
tions Of such a union shall be- the politi-
cal relations thereof to the United
States. the character of the local admin
istration, 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 there
Of the regulation II need be OF the labor
system therein, are all matters which
the treaty has wisely relegated to the
Congress.
If the treaty is confirmed. as every
consideration of dignity and honor re-
quires the wisdom of Congress will see
to 1t that. avoiding abrupt assimilation
Of elements perhaps hardly yet fitted to
share in the highest franchises of citi-
II n. H. n -.
geographical conditions. the most just
provisions for self-rule in local matters
with the largest political liberties as
an integral part of our nation, will be
accorded to the Hawaiians No less Is
due to a people who. after nearly five
years of demonstrated capacity fulfill
the obligations of self-gverning state
hood, come of their free will to
polite.
merge their destines i'm our body
The questions which have arisen be-
tween Japan and Hawaii by reason of
the treatment of Japanese laborers emil
grating to the islands under the Ha-
waiian-Japanese convention of 1883, are
| in satisfactory stage of settlement by
negotiation. This government has not
been invited to mediate, and on the
other hand has sought no intervention
in that matter, further than to evince
its kindliest disposition toward such a
speedy and direct adjustment by the two
sovereign states in interest as shall
comport with equity and honor. 1t is
gratifying to learn that the apprehen-
sions at first displayed on the part of
| Japan lest the cessation of HawaiYs ma
| tional life through annexation might
| impair privileges to which Japan hon.
orably laid claim, have given place to
confidence in the uprightness of this
| government. and in the sincerity of its
purpose to deal with all possible ul-
terror questions in the broadest spirit OF
| friendliness.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR INTERNA-
TIONAL. BIMETALLISM.
Under the provisions Of the act Of
| Congress, approved March g. 1897. for
| the promotion OF an international
agreement respecting bimetallsm. ap-
| pointed on the 14th day Of April, 1897.
| Hon Edward o. Wolcott, Of Colorado;
| Hon. Adlai Il. Stevenson, of Illinois.
| and Hon. Charles J. Paine. OF Massa-
| chusetts, as special envoys to represent
the United States. They have been
| diligent in their efforts to secure the
| concurrence and cooperation Of Euro
| pean countries in the International set
| tlement of the question, but up to this
| time have not been able to secure an
| agreement contemplated by their mis-
| sion.
The gratifying action of our great sis
ter republic of France, in joining this
| country in the attempt to bring about
| an agreement among the principal conf
mercial nations OF Europe. whereby a
fixed and relative value between gold
| and silver shall be secured, furnishes
assurance that we are not alone among
the larger nations of the world In real
izing the international character of the
| problem and in the desire of reaching
some wise and practical solution of IT,
| The British government has published
a resume of the steps taken jointly by
| the French ambassador in London and
the special ENJOYS OF the United States,
with whom our ambassador at London
actively co-operated in the presenta-
ton of this subject to her majesty's
| government. This will be laid before
Congress. Our special ENJOYS have not
made their final report, as further nego-
tiations between the representatives Of
this government and the governments
OF other countries are pending and in
contemplation. They believe that
doubts, which have been raised In GER
tain quarters respecting the position of
maintaining the stability of the party
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