The times., 1897-06-18

framed by the representatives OF the
electors OF the islands, administered by
an executive council, not chosen by suf-
srage, but self-appointed, was succeeded
by an elective and parliamentary regime,
and the ability of the new government
to hold--as the republic OF Hawaii an
Independent place in the family of aov-
ereign states, preserving order at home
and fulfilling international obliga sions
abroad, has been put to the proof.
Recognized by the powers OF the earth,
sending and receiving ENJOYS, enforcing
resnect for the law and maintaining peace
within its island borders Hawaii sends to
tile United States, not commission repre-
senting Il successful revolution, but the
accredited plenipotentiary of constituted
and firmly established sovereign State.
However sufficient may have been the
authority OF the commissioners with whom
the United states Government treated In
1898, and however satisfied the President
may then have been of their power to
offer the doInain of the Hawaiian Islands
TO the United States, the fact remains
that what they then rendered was IL
territory rather than an established gov
ernment, a country whose administration
had been cast down by a bloodiess but
complete revolution, and a community in
a state of political transition.
Now, however, the republic OF Hawaii
approaches the United States as an equal,
and points for its authority to that pro-
vision of Article 32 OF the Constitution
promulgated July "a, 1894, whereby
the President, with the approval of the
Cabinet, is expressly authorized and en-
powered to make treaty OF political OF
commerce. union between the Republic of
HAWAI- and the United States OF America,
subject to the ratification OF the Senate.
The present negotiation is, therefore, as
has been said, not a mere renewal OF the
tender OF Hawaiian territory made in 1898,
but has responded to the purpose declared
in the Hawaiian constitution, and the con
ferences of the plenipotentiaries have
been directed to weighing the advantages
OF the political and the commercial union
alternately proposed, and relatively con-
sidering the scope and extent thereof.
II soon appeared TO the negotiators that
a purely commercial union on the lines OF
tn. German Zollverein could not satisfy
the problems of the administration In Iia-
waii and OF the political associations be-
tween the islands and the United States
Such a commercial union would On the
one hand deprive the Hawaiian govern
ment of it's chief source of revenue from
customs duties by placing its territory in
a relation of free exchange with the ter
ritory of the United States, its m ain mar
ket OF purchase and supply, while on the
other handit would entail upon Hawaii the
maintenance Of au internal revenue sys-
tern oii a par with that of the United
States or else involve the organization Of Il
co, responding branch of our revenue sery-
ice within a foreign jurisdiction.
We have had with Hawaii since S75 "A
treaty Of commercial union, which practi-
cally assimilates the two territories with
regard to many OF their most important
productions, and excludes other nations
from enjoyment OF its privileges, yet, al
though that treaty has outlived other less
favored reciprocity schemes, its pernia-
ncncy has at times been gravely yinIperiic,l.
Under such circumstances, 10 enter upon
the radical experiment of a complete coin-
mercial union between Hawaii and the
United States as Independently sovereign,
without assurances ofpermauencyandw with
perpetual subjection to the vicissitudes OF
not to be thought of.
Turning then to the various practical
forms of the political union, the several
phases of prOtectorate, an offensive and
defensive alliance and national guaran-
tee were passed in review. In all OF these
the independence of the subordinated state
is the distinguishing feature, and with il
the assumption by the paramount state OF
responsibility without domain. tt /; dis
parity of the relative interests and the
distance separating the two countries
could not fail to render any form OF pro-
tective association, either unduly burden
some, or illusory in its benefits, so far as
the protecting state is concerned, while
any attempt to counteract this by tribu
tary dependence or a measure OF suzerain
control would be a rctrograde movement to-
ward a feudal or colonial establishment
alike inexpedent and incompatible with
our national policy.
There remained, therefore, the annexa-
ton Of the islands and their complete ab-
sorption into the political system CT the
United States as the only solution satisfy
ing all the given conditions and promis-
ing nermanency and mutual benefit. Tue
present treaty has been framed on that
basis, thus substantially revert'ng to the
original proposal of S93, and neces-
salily adopting many of the features OF
that arrangement. AS to most of these,
the negoti ators have been constrained |
and limited by the constitutional powers
of the Government of the United States |
As in previous instances, when the United |
States has acquired territory by treaty, IL |
has been necessary TO preserve all the or |
ganic provisions for the action of Con- |
gress. II this was requisite in the ca Sc |
of the transfer TO the United States Of n |
part OF the domain of titt.lar sovereign, |
as in the cession OF Louisiana by France, |
CT Florida by Spain, or of Alaska by |
Russi a, it is the more requisite when |
the act Is not cession, but union, In |
volving the complete Incorporation of an |
alien sovereignty into the body polite OF |
the United States.
For this the only precedent of our po
litical history is found in the uncompleted |
treaty concluded during President Grants /
ton, November 80, 1869, for
the annexation OF the Dominican Republic |
10 the United States
Following that example, the treaty now
signed by the plenipotentiaries of tEe
United States and the Republic of Hawaii
reserves To the Congress of the United |