The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-06-23
TO ANNEX HAWAII.
Treaty Signed In Washington and
Sent to the Senate.
synopsis Of President McKinley's
Message-Terms Of the Agree
nent - Japan Enters =
Protest.


| Washington, June 17.-In the great
diplomatic room of the state de-
| partment where four years and four
months ago, in the closing hours of the
Harrison administration, the first Ha-
waiian annexation treaty was signed,
only to be withdrawn from the sem
ate and thrown into pigeon hole, the
representatives of the governments of
the United States and Hawaii gathered
Wednesday morning and signed
treaty by the terms of which, if ratified,
the little island republic will become
part of the territory of the United
| States.
For the United States there were Sec
rotary Sherman, Assistant Secretaries
Day, Adee and Cridler, Private Secre-
tary Babcock and Assistant Private
Secretary Gaytree. On the Hawaiian
side were Minister Hatch, Lorrin A.
Thurston and w. A. Kinney, all for this
| particular occasion accredited as spe-
cial commissioners duly empowered to
negotiate treaty of annexation.
Protest from Japan.
Before the final signature of the docu-
ment the secretary of state was present
ed formal protest by the japanese
government, through it's legation here,
against the consummation of the agree
ment. The protest is understood to be
based on apprehension that the special
treaties now existing between Japan
and Hawaii, under which the japanese
enjoy advantages, will be affected in
juriously by complete annexation.
Treaty Reaches the Senate.
The treaty for the annexation of the
Hawaiian islands reached the senate
chamber at five o'clock Wednesday.
The senate at once went into executive
session, and as soon as the doors were
closed the message of President Nc
Kinley, accompanying the treaty, and
the treaty itself were read to the SEN
ate.
Synopsis of the Message.
The message of the president was not
a very long document. 1t dealt with MIS-
torical facts concerning the Islands ana
showed that the United States and HAWAII
yearly grow more closely bound to eacn
other. This was not really annexation, he
said, but continuation of existing rela-
lions with closer bonds between people
closely related by blood and kindred ties.
Since 1920, said the president, the pre-
dominance 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 these re-
lations had grown more firm by succeed
ing events. At the time the tri-partite
agreement was made for the government
of Samoa, he said, Great Britain and Ger
many wanted to include Hawaii in the
group over which protectorate was es-
tablished. but the suggestion was rejected
by the United States because this govern
ment held there already existed relations
between Hawaii and the United States
which placed the islands under the special
care of this country, and this government
could not allow any other country to inter-
fere in the affairs of Hawaii. The annexa-
ton of the islands, said the president. and
making them 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 government
of Hawaii offered to annex the islands to
the United States in 1851, but on account
| of what was deemed best policy the annex
alton was not accepted by this country.
He stated that the United States virtually
exercised a protectorate over the islands
| since the first American mission and guar
anteed the autonomy of the governments
of the group. The islands had been largely
settled by our own people and our people
were now interested in them. American
interests predominated and we had grown
to consider them under our own prOtec-
ton. The present treaty was in the light
of a contamination of what had practical
ly been in existence for years.
Referring to the treaty negotiated under
| the Harrison administration. President
! Mckinley said that the failure to accept
| the proffer of annexation in 1893 while not
q subject of congratulation was not wholly
without it's value, as it had demonstrated
| that the existing government could main
tain itsdf, and no question could be raised
of the authority of the present govern
ment to negotiate the present treaty or
of its right to yield the sovereignty of the
| Islands.
Provisions of the Treaty.
| The treaty provides that the government
| of the Hawaiian islands cede to the
United States absolutely and forever all
rights of sovereignty in and over the Ha
waiian islands and it's dependencies and
that these islands shall become an integral
part of the territory of the United States
| The government of Hawaii also cedes
to the United States all public lands. pub
| lie buildings and public property of every
description. Congress shall enact special
laws to govern the disposition of the lands
| in the Hawaiian islands. All revenue from
these lands shall be used solely for the
| benefit of the inhabitants of the Hawaiian
| Islands for educational and other public
| purposes. The Hawaiian islands shall be
admitted into the union as territory of
the United States. local laws to be passed
| by local legislature, but subject to the
approval Of the president. Until congress
| shall apply the laws of the United States
| to the islands, the present laws Of Hawaii
| are to govern the islands.
| The present treaties and laws governing
! Hawaii's commercial relations with for
| eign nations shall remain in force until
| congress shall take action. Further Inn
migration of Chinese laborers is prohib-
! tied pending congressional action and the
entry Of Chinese from Hawaii into the
| United States likewise is prohibited. The
! United States assumes the public debt of