The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
Tho Fruits of Fifty Years.

In transmitting to Congress the treaty
for the annexation Of Hawaii, the Presi-
dent well describes 1t as "the necessary
and fitting sequel" Of a long chain Of events
In our relations with the islands.
As long ago as 1854 WILLIAM L. MARCY,
that distinguished Democratic statesman, as
Secretary of State under President PIERCE.
and with the full support Of the Cabinet,
Instructed COMMISSIONS D. L. GREGG to
negotiate with the Hawaiian Government
q treaty for bringing the islands into
the Union as a Territory. The year
before, on Dec. l6, 1853, In a de-
spatcb to Mr.. MASON, our Minister at
Paris. Mr.. MARCY had expressed the
opinion that the control Of the Sand
witch Islands must sooner or later pass
from native hands. at seems to be
Inevitable" he said, "that they must
come under the control Of this Gov
ernment." Accordingly he authorized Mr..
GRECO to pay 800, 900 as a PEN
sion to the King and his chiefs. on an.
nexation, and to make other stipulations,
But when the agreement was drawn up the
proposed stipulations were altered in i'm.
portant particulars. Notably, Hawaii was
W oC u ohSS 10 bht~ ~ -
Territory. and that was deemed by ourGov-
eminent out Of the question; again, the
pensions had been Increased to 100000
o year, which was exorbitant.
Thus, although Secretary MARCY had
notified Mr.. GREGG that "this Govern
ment will receive the transfer Of the
Sandwich Islands, with all proper
provisions relative to the existing
rights and interests OF the people," the
actual demands caused a delay. These
demands, we may add, were at the time
ascribed to the zeal Of the Kings Foreign
Minister, a S~cotchman, who wanted to
make the best bargain he could for the
islands. At oil events, the result OF the
haggling was that while the treaty was
still under consideration, and not agreed to,
the King died, and his successor expressed
no desire to renew the project.
But the point for us Is that, more than
two score years ago, when our Pacific coast
settlement was In Its infancy, and when
many of the Pacific islands, since grabbed
by England, France, and Germany, were
still Independent, our Government. then In
the hands OF the Democratic party, prepared
TO annex Hawaii, after Its cession had been
IOTIndlly OucTtu W ub. Az thuU binics wv
the islands had received but q minute part
OF the development they now show, a de-
velopment which, apart from Hawaii's In
CREASED strategic Importance, strongly ap
peals TO us.
While the precedent Just recalled 10 Of
special interest for us to-day, 1t only con
formed to the general policy Of our Govern
ment before and since, the period OF the
Cleveland Administration alone excepted
Ten years earlier than the events inst Spoken
of Secretary LEGARE had officially an
nouncen That we were justified In preventing
by force the European acquisition Of Hawaii
Secretary DANIEL WEBSTER, too, pointed
out Ia 1912, under TYLER, and In 1851
under FILLMORE, that fve.sixths OF all tn
vessels that annually visited the SAINT wicl
Islands were American vessels, and tina
"the United States are more interestet
In the fate OF the islands and Of thei
Government than any other nation cal
be-" Under Gen. GRANTS Administration
Secretary FISH described the Sandwich Isl
Hnds as "an outpost, fronting n com
manding the whole Of our possessions Oh
the Pacific" GRANTS predecessor, Presl
dent JOHNSON. n his message Of Dec. 8
1858, recommending a reciprocity treat
which Mr.. SEWARD had negotiated, said
would prqg..e "a guarantee Of the good will
N fOrbearansS of AL nations, until III