The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-17
treaty and Message Sent to the
e. Senate by the President.
Several Senators Are Opposed
to Scheme.
Argues That islands Are q Part Of
United States

OF Hawaii to the senate late yesterday
afternoon. Accompanying the treaty
was a message giving the reasons Of the
administration In the premises. M i.
The treaty was signed yesterday morn
ing by Secretary Sherman and the Ha-
waAian representatives. Senators Gray
OF Delaware and Mills Of Texas are the
only members OF the foreign relations
committee openly opposed to It. but the
opposition In the senate will be strong
enough, apparently, to prevent It's rati-
fication at this session, although II Will
probably be ratified In the end.
Already the forces Of the two sides Of
the question are preparing for the con-
test over ratification. which II is well
understood. will be stubbornly waged
from the beginning. The friends OF the
treaty now say that there will be de-
c1ded effort to secure ratification dur
ing the present session Of tho senate, and
some Of them 30 80 far as to say that II
will not even wait upon the tariff bill,
but that the ratification will be urged In
stead or action upon the existing reel
procfty treaty. They realize. however.
that the opposition will be 30 strong as
to render this program doubtful Of exc
cution. ~
The meYsase Of the president was not
. very lSkg document. It dealt with
historical facts concerning the islands
and showed that the United States and
Hawaii yearly drew more closely bound
to each other. This was not really an
nexation, he said, but q continuation of
existing relations with closer bonds be-
tween the people closely related by blood
and kindred tieS.
Since 1920, said the president, the pre-
Commence Of the United States had been
known. The sending Of the first envoy
there brought the islands in closer rela-
tions with the United States, and those
relations had grown more firm by sue
ceeding events. At the same time the
trlpartile agreement was made for the
government of Samoa, he said. Great
Britain and Germany wanted to include
Hawaii In the group over which pro-
tectorate was established, but the sug-
gestion was rejected by the United
States because this government held
that there already existed relations be-
tween Hawaii and the United States
which placed the islands under the es-
pecial care OF this country. and that
this government could not allow any
o( Hawaii. The annexation Of the ISL
anas, said the president, and making
til q part OF the United States was in
accordance with the established policy
OF this country.
The president called attention to the
fact that legitimate and existing gov
eminent OF Hawaii offered to annex the
islands to the United States In 1851 but
on account Of what was deemed best
policy. the annexation was not adopted
by this country. He stated that the
United States virtually exercised q pro-
teotorate over the islands since the Rrst
American mission and guaranteed tho
autonomy Of the governments OF the
group. The islands had been largely
settled by our own people. and our peo-
pie were now interested In them. Ameri-
can interests predominated, and we had
grown to consider them under our pro-
lection. The present treaty was in the
light OF a consumation of what had
practically been In existence for years.
Referring to the treaty negotiated un-
der the Harrison administration, Presi-
dent Mckinley said that the failure to
accept the proffer OF annexation in 1898,
while not subject of congratulation,
was not wholly without it's value as it
had demonstrated the existing govern
ment could maintain itself, and no Ques-
tion, 1t is believed, was raised of the
authority OF the present government to
negotiate the present treaty or OF its
right to yield the sovereignty Of the
islands.
tv The Treaty.
The treaty proved to be simple docu-
mcnt OF six articles, based In It's essential
details upon the treaty negotiated by
Hon. John w. Foster during the ad-
ministration Of President Harrison. The
islands are cedcd practically without
conditions, leaving the United States to
pursue It's own course with reference to
their management. The FIRST article
reads as foilows: ...if. s...ft...
"rhe government Of the Hawaiian isl-
ends hereby cedes, from the date OF tho
exchange Of the ratifications Of this
treaty, absolutely and without reserve
to the United States forever all rights
and sovereignty OF Whatsoever kind I'm
and over the Hawaiian islands and their
dependencies, renouncing I'm favor Of
the United States every sovereign right
OF which as an independent nation II In
now possessed. and henceforth said
Hawaiian islands shall become and be
an integral part OF the territory OF the
United States"
The Hawaiian government cedes to
fhe United States the absolute owner
ship OF all the public lands public build
ings. ports. harbors, fortincations. mill
tary and naval equipments. and all
other government property. II Is spcci-
fically provided. however. that the ex-
listing land laws Of the United States
shall not apply to the public lands OF
Hawaii. but that special laws shall be
made from time to time for ther dis
position, the proceeds OF any sales OF
these lands to be applied to educational
purposes In the islands. The islands
are for the present TO constitute terri
tory Of the United States. their local
laws remaining In force until new ones
are 60 be enacted. A local legislature In
provided for. but the veto power In
vested entirely In the President OF the
United states. A commission OF Ave
persons, consisting OF three Americans
and two HawaiIans. 20 te nominated