The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-18

exercised by that body. q treaty for the an
nexation of the republic Of Hawaii to the
United states, signed in this capitol by the
pienlpotentiaries of the parties on the 10th
ing Of the subject trahslnst, m hit In ssdItios, IA /
report of the secfetary 81 State, briefly VI re-
viewing the negotiation which has led to this
important result. The incorporation of the
Hawaiian islands into the body polite of the
united States is the necessary and fitting Sc
quel to the chain of events which from a
very early period of our history has controlled
tne intercourse and prescribed the association
or the United States and the Hawaiian
islands. The predominance Of American inter
ests In that neighboring territory was first
asserted in 1920 by sending to the islands
d representative agent Of the United States
1t found further expression by the signature
OF treaty of friendship commerce and nav
lgation with the king in 1S26-the first inter-
national compact negotiated by Hawaii 1t
was slgnally announced in 1843, when the in
prevention of the United States caused the
BRUSH government to disavow the seizure
or the Sandwich islands by a British naval
commander, and to recognize them by treaty
as an Independent state, renouncing forever
any purpose of annexing the islands or ex-
g erGlng a protectorate over them. In 1851 the
cession of the Hawaiian kingdom to the
united States was formally offered, and
although not then accepted, this government
proclaimed its duty to preserve alike the
honor and dignity Of the United States and
Islands. . ''''-'' VI 'A'' IL" " ''i''n
From this time till the Outbreak of the
war in 1861 the policy of the United States
towards Hawaii and of the Hawaiians' sover-
eign toward the United States was exempli-
ned by continued negotiations for annexation
or FOR reserved commercial union. The lat
ter alternative was at length accomplished
by the reciprocity treaty of 1875, the pro-
visions Of which were renewed and expanded
by the convention of 1884, embracing the per-
petual cession to the United States of the
harbor Of Pearl river in the Island of Oahu
In 1883 proposal for the joint guaranty of
the neutrality of the Hawaiian islands by the
United States, GERMANY and Great britain
was declined on the announced ground that
the relation Of the United States to the islands
was sufficient for the end in view In brief
from 1870 to 1893 the course of the United
States toward the Hawaiian islands has con-
slStently favored their autonomous welfare
with the exclusion of all foreign influences
save our own to the extent of upholding even
tuai annexation as the necessary outcome Of
that policy.
Not only is the union of the Hawaiian
territory to the United States no new scheme
but 1t is the inevitable consequence of the
relation steadfaStly maintained with that mid
Pacific domain for three-quarters of a century.
us accomplishment, despite successive denials
and postponements, has been merely a ques-
tlon or time. While its failure in 1893 may
not be cause Of congratulation, it is GER
ta1nly proof of the disinterestedneSs Of the
United States, the delay of four years hav-
ing abundantly suf6ced to establish the right
and the ability of the republic of Hawaii to
enter, as a sovereign contractant upon
conventional union with the United States
thus realizing a purpose held by the Hawaiian
people and proclaimed by successive Hawaiian
governments through some seventy years OF
their virtual dependence upon the benevolent
protection of the United States.
Under such circumstances annexation is
not change; it is a consummation The
report Of the secretary of state exhibits the
character and course of the recent negotia-
ton, and the features of the treaty itself. The
organic and administrative details of incor-
poration are necessarily left to the wisdom
OF the congress, and l cannot doubt, when
the function of the constitutional treaty max
Ing power shall have been accomplished, the
duty Of the national legislature In the case
will be performed with the largest regard
for the interest of this rich insular domain,
and for the welfare of the inhabitants there
or William Mckinley.