The herald., 1897-09-23

SENATORS
Have Ratified the Treaty of
Annexation
THE OPPOSITION CONTINUES
LEADERS HOPE TO BLOCK THE
H~rvrrrr
THE OPPOSITION CONTINUES
LEADERS HOPE TO BLOCK THE
SCHEME
Good Reasons to Believe That Japan
Is Importing Soldiers to Fight
Against Annexation


Against Annexation
Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 22.-The
steamer City Of Peking, which arrived
in port last evening and was at once
placed in quarantine, brought advices
from the Hawaiian Islands up to and
including the 14th inst. The Senate con-
vened on September 5th, but, owing to
the death of ex-senator G. Rhodes, Pres
ident Of the Legislature, adjourned until
the following day. The session on the
9th lasted less than two hours, but in
that time the annexation treaty was pre-
sented and ratified without dissenting
vote. Commenting upon the unprece-
dented haste of the upper chamber, the
Luso, newspaper, the organ of the Por-
tuguese residents, of September 18th,
said: 1.-THE Senate Of the Republic of
Hawaii has unanimously ratified the con-
vention which cedee Hawaii to the United
States, not only with all mercantile pro-
perty with doubtful title, but also tying
up privileges which about $4,000 voters of
the Portuguese colony enjoy and have en-
toyed and which can only be recovered
if the Congress of the United States from
a sense of justice and equity shall con-
cede to us the privileges to which we have.
right. The session was closed on the
10th, to be convened again on next
March in regular session"
Despite the action of the Senate, the
opponents Of annexation are continu-
ing their fight and the leaders of the
movement express the utmost confidence
in their ability to defeat annexation.
Before the Peking left call had been
issued for an immense mass meeting
to be held on the 18th, and the indications
were that 1t would be one of the largest
ever held in the islands. Some Of the
annexationists hoped to be able to have
Senator Morgan address the meeting
with the object of changing the senti-
ment of the natives, but there was little
likelihood of their plan meeting with sue
cess.
The steamship Australia. having on
board United States Senator John T.
Morgan Of Alabama, congressman A. s.
Berry, J. G. Cannon, H. c. Loudenslager
and J. A. Tawney, arrived at Honolulu
on the 18th. They were accorded warm
welcome. Senator Morgan stood the
voyage exceedingly we'll and was in ex-
cellent health. The Hawaiian Star Of
the following day published this inter-
view with him:
II have nothing of definite nature
to say to the newspapers now, as must
first have an opportunity to study the
situation from new point Of view. You
may say that am predisposed in favor
of annexation. have been an annexa-
tionist practically for thirty years, prac
tically since the subject was first agi-
tated."
The Luso, the organ of the Portuguese
residents, in published articles shows
the alarm with which that section of the
population regards annexation. 1t says:
"If the annexation should be complet-
ed, which we DOUBT, the Portuguese COL
ony as political factor ceases to exist,
because in the foreign press, both here
and in the United States, it has been in
dicated with sufficient clearness that
they fear the influence of the Portuguese
vote in case this privilege should be con-
ceded to them.
Independence and a good government
of Hawaii mean prosperity for the COL
ony but annexation without the privi
leges which we speak of means ruin"
The delegates, who were chosen to
the American Union party convention,
have completed their platform, which
was to be presented for adoption at the
convention to be held on the evening of
the 18th.
The platform, as arranged, was short
and applied solely to island affairs One
of the planks pledged the party to an
nexation, first, last and all the time.
T. B. Murray had issued call for
meeting of the American League on the
14th. 1t was the purpose 10 reorganize
the league. Mr.. Murray had announced
his determinat tion to retire from the pre-
sidency.
The Hawaiian annexation treaty,
which was submitted to the United States
Senate on June 18th, but has not yet
been acted on, provides for the cession
to the United States Of all rights of SOW
ereignty over the islands and all public
land and property.
Under it, the islands would consti-
tute a Territory of the United States
with a local Legislature subject to
veto power, invested in the President
All the treaties of the United States
with other countries would be substi-
tuted for those now in force with Ha-
waii The further immigration of Chi
nese to the islands is to be prohibited
and our laws on the subject are to be ex-
tended to Hawaii The treaty provides
for the assumption by the United States
of the Hawaiian public debt of 4.0OO,-
600. The document will. probably, come
up for consideration. rejection or ratifi-
cation by the Senate when Congress
meets in December.
From advices brought under date Of
the 14th inst. the following particulars
were obtained:
The Hawaiian Senate met in extra
session on the Sth inst. When the Sem
ate was called to order the Presidents
message urging ratification Of the treaty
was read, as was also protest on behalf
of the Hawaiians who opposed the meas
ure.
Both papers were referred, with the
text Of the treaty to the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee for consideration. On
the following day that committee re-
ported favorably and upon recommen-