The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-12-09


not be referable to the central govern
ment for decision, shall be submitted TO
the courts.
That the government OF Sagasta has
entered upon course from which recess
sion with honor Is impossible can hardly
be questioned; that in the few weeks IL
has existed ii has made earnest OF the
sincerity OF its professions is undeniabie.
shall not impugn Its sincerity, nor
should impatience be suffered TO embar-
rass 1t I'm the task 1t has undertaken. II
Is honestly due to Spain and to our friend
ly relations with Spain that she should
be given reasonable chance 70 realze
her expectations and to prove the assert
ed efficiency of the new order OF things
to which she stands irrevocably commit
ted She has recalled the commander
whose b: Ital orders infiamed the Amer
ican mind and shocked the civil world:
She has modified the horrible order or
concentra ton and has undertaken TO care
for the helpless and permit those who de-
sire to resume the cultivation of their
fields to do 80, and assures them OF the
protection of the Spanish government in
their lawful occupations. She has just
released the Competitor prisoners. who
were sentenced to death, and who have
been the subject Of repeated diplomatic
correspondence during both this and the
preceding administration.
Not a single American citizen Is now
under arrest IN confinement in Cuba
OF whom this government has any knowi-
edge. The near future will demonstrate
whether the Indispensable condition OF
righteous peace, just alike to the Cubans
and to Spain, as well as equitable to all
interests so intimately involved In the
welfare of Cuba. is likely to be attained.
If not. the exigency Of further and other
action by the United States will remain TO
be taken. When that time comes the
action will be determined In the line OF
indisputable right and duty. 1t Will be
faced without misgiving or hesitancy in
the light of the obligation this government
owes to Itself. to the people who have
confided to it the protection Of their in
terests and honor and to humanity.
Sure of the right, Keeping free from all
offense ourselves. actuated only by up
right and patriotic considerations. moved
neither by passion nor selfshness. the
government will continue its watchful
American citizens and will abate none of
it's efforts to bring about by peaceful
agencies a peace which shall be honora-
ble and enduring. II it shall hereafter ap-
pear to be a duty imposed by Our obliga-
tions to ourselves. to civilization and hu-
manity TO intervene with force. IL shall
be without fault on our part and only
because the necessity for such action will
and approval OF the civilized world
Crges Annexation Of Hawaii.
BY a special message dated the 18th
day OF June last / laid before the seLa:e
a treaty signed that day by the plenipo-
tentiaries Of the United States and O; the
republic of Hawaii having for Its purpose
the Incorporation Of the Hawaiian islands
as an integral part OF the United States,
and under its sovereignty The senate.
having removed the injunction Of secrecy.
although the treaty is still pending before
that body, the subject may be properly
referred to in this message because the
necessary action of the congress is re-
quired to determine by legislation many
Iaf lie Of ffa t.i yrr1inY ct1n
fact of annexation be accomplished as
l believe It should be.
While consistently disavowing from q
very early period any aggressive policy
group, a long series of declarations
through three-cuarterS OF 4 century
has proclaimed the vital interest o. the
United States in the independent life OF
The islands and their intimate CONNER
cial dependence upon this country. At
the same time it has been repeatedly as
serted that in no event could the entity
of Hawaiian statehood cease by the
passage OF the islands under the dom;rl-
ton or influence of another power than
the United States. Under these circuTa-
stances the logic of events required that
annexation. heretofore offered but de-
clined. should in the ripeness of time
come about as the natural result OF the
strengthening ties that bind US to those
islands. and be realized by the free will
Of the Hawaiian state. The treaty
was unanimously ratified, without amend
ment. by the senate and by the republic
Of Hawaii on the 10Th of September last.
and only awaits the favorable action ot
the American senate to effect the cora
plet. absorption of the islands into the
domain Of the United States. What the
conditions of such union shall be, thv
l.oiitical relation thereof of the United
States, the character OF the local admin
istration the quality and degree of elect
I'VE franchise of the inhabitants, the eX
tension of the federal laws 20 the terri
tory or the enactment OF special laws
to fit the peculiar condition thereof, the
regulation if need be of the labor system
therein. are all matters which the treaty
has wisely relegated to the congress.
If the treaty is confirmed. as every con-
sideration of dignity and honor requires,
the wisdom of congress will see TO 1t that.
avoiding abrupt assi.nila ton of elements
perhaps hardly yet fitted to share in the
ing due regard to the geographical condi-
tions, the most just provisions for sell
rule in local matters, with the larses
political liberties as an integral part o:
Hawaiians. No legs is due to people
who. after nearly fifty years OF demon
strated capacity to fulfill the obligations
Of self government statehood, come Of
their own free will to merge their desu-
MES In our body polite.
The questions which have arisen be
tween Japan and Hawaii by reason OF the
treatment OF Japanese laborers etnfyTat-
ng to the Islands under the Hawaiian
Japanese convention of 1888 are in a sat
sfactory state of settlement by nego-
tiation. This government has not beer
uvitsd to mediate. and, on the other hand
has sought no intervention in that matte.
further than to evince It's kindliest dis
position toward such d speedy and direct |
adjustment by the two sovereign states
as shall comDort with equity and honor.
1t Is gratifying to learn that the appre-
tensions displayed on the part Of Japan
lest the cessation OF HawaHs national
life through annexation might impair
privileges to which japan honorably laiI
claim have given place to confidence IL
the uprightness OF this government anf
in the sincerity OF purpose TO deal with
Ill possible Interior questions in tls |
aroa6ess spirit OF frtendliness.
Az TO the representation Of this gov
-rnment to Nicaragua. Salvador ant
f'osta Rica. / have concluded that VIM
Merry. confirmed minister Of tbs
United States to the states OF Nicaragua
salvador and Costa Plea, shall proceeC
o San Jose. Costa Rioa. and there tenn
oorariiy establish the headquarters OF the
Cnited States to those three states. j
COX this action for what I regarded as |
ihe paramount interests of this country
1t was developed upon an investigation |
by the secretary OF state that the govern |
ment Of Nicaragua. while not unwilling |
20 receive Mr.. Merry in his diplomatic |
quality. was unable to do 60 because OF |
the compact concluded June 20, 1885 |
whereby the republic and those OF Saliva
dor and Honduras, forming what is known
a 1ro2 rAnnhIjc 0f Central 4