Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-12-09

humanity. -,
Sure of the right. keeping free from all
Offence ourselves, actuated only by up
right and patriotic considerations. moved
neither by passion or selfshness, the gov
eminent will continue its watchful care
over the rights and property OF American
citizens. and will abate none Of its efforts
to bring about by peaceful agencies
peace which shall be honorable and en-
during. If II gall hereafter appear to he
a duty impose by our obligations TO our
selves, to civilization and humanity, 20
intervene with force, ii shall be without
fault on our I.trt, and only because the
necessity fer such action will be so clear
as to command the support and approval
of the civilized world.
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
BY a special message dated the 10th OF
June last | laid before the senate treaty
signed that day by the plen 'potentiartes
the United States and of the republic OF
Hawaii, having for its purpose the incor
poration of the Hawaiian islands as an
integral part Of the United States and un
der. its sovereignty. The senate having
removed the injunction of secresy, al
| though the treaty Is still pending before
| that body the subject nav be prop ~ "
referred 10 in this message because the
necessary action of che congress il re-
/ quired to determine by legislation many
| details of the eventual union, should the
/
| believe IL should be.
! While consistently disavowing from a
very early period any aggressive policy
! Of absorption in regard TO the Hawaiian
| group. long series Of declarations
through three-quarters Of a century has
/ proclaimed the Vital interests of the
| United States in the independent life of
the islands and their intimate CONNER
| cial dependence upon this country. Al
| the same time IL has been repeatedly as
| serted that In no event cuuld The ell
! tity Of Hawaiian statehood cease by
/ the passage Of the islands under the
| domination or influence of any power
| than the United States. Under these
| circumstances the logic Of events re-
quired that annexation heretofore Of
| fered but declined should in the ripeness
of time come about as the natural result
/ Of the strengthening ties that ond Us 10
those Islands and be realized by the free
| will of the Hawaiian state.
That treaty was unanimously ratified
without amendment by the senate and
| president Of the republ or Hawaii on
the 10th Of September last, and only
awaits the favorable action OF the Amer
ican senate to effect the complete absop-
ton of the islands into the domain of the
! United States. What the conditions Of
such union shall be. the political rela-
ton thereof to the United States. the
character OF tine local dNIllllSlIAlloh, the
quality and degree of the elective fran
chise Of the inhabitants, the extension of
the federal laws TO the territory or tho
enactment Of special laws to fiji the pc
cuiar condition thereof, the regulation.
II need be. OF n labor system therein, are
all matters which the treaty has wisely
relegated to the congress If the treaty Is
confirmed. as every consideration OF dig
nifty and honor requires the wisdom OF
congress will see to.it that avoiding alb
rupt assimilation Of elements perhaps
hardly yet fitted TO share In the highest
franchises Of citizenship, and having due
regard to the geographical conditions, the
most just provisions for self-rule In local
matters, with the largest political liher-
ties as an integral part of our nation
Will be accorded TO the Hawaiians No
less is due a people, which, after nearly
five years of demonstrated capacity to
fuldll the obligations OF self-governinE
statehood. come OF their own free viii 10
merge destinics In our body polite.
our special ENJOYS have not made their
final report as further negotiations a.
tween the representatives, of this govern
ment and the governments of other couu-
tries are pending and IN contemplation
They believe that doubts which have boon
raised In certain quarters respecting the
position of maintaining the stability OF
the parity between the metals and kim
tti 'NA 'iAi'st1Nii0 may SNA nc 7oAFNtl ny Abt-
Their negotiations Meanwhile It gives me
satisfaction to state that the special en-
Noys have already demonstrated their
ability and fitness TO deal with the subject.
and ii IS TO be earnestly hoped that their
labors may result in an internadonl
agreement which viii bring about recog-
milton of both gold and silver as money
upon such terms and with such safeguards
as win secure the use OF both metals upon
a has which shall work no injustice to
any q IS of our citizens.
RECIPROCITY.
In order to execute as early as possible the
provisions Of the third and fourth Sec
tons of the revenue act approved July a.
1897 | appointed the Hon. John A. Kasson
Of Iowa a special commissioner plenipo-
Tertiary to undertake the requisite ncgo-
tiations with foreign countries desiring
TO avail themselves OF these provisions
The negotiations are now proceeding with
several governments both European ana
American. II is believed that by a care
full exercise of the powers conferred ~
that act some grievances Of our own and Of
other countries i'm our mutual trade reia-
tions may he either removed or largely al
leviated, and that the volume of our
commercial exchanges may be enlarged
with advantage to both contracting par-
ties Most desirable from every stand
point of national interest and patriotism
Is the tu0It 10 eNtenu our foreign com
merce. To this end our merchant marine
should be improved and enlarged. We
should do our fun share OF the carrying
trade OF the world: we do not do il now
We should be the laggard no longer. The
inferiority Of our merchant marine IS just
~ humiliating to the national pride. The
government by every proper constitution I
al means should aid in making our ships
familiar visitors at every commercial port 4
of the world. thus opening up new ana +
valuable markets to the surplus products (
Of the farm and factory.
SEALING QUESTION
The efforts which had been made during +
the two previous years by my predecessor I
to secure better protection Of fur seals in 4
The north Pacific ocean and Boring sea 4
We're renewed at an early date by this ad- (
ministrauou and have been pursued with I
sarnestness. Upon my invitation the
governments of Japan and Russia sent
delegates to Washington and an interna-
tional conference was held during tn,
months of October and November lasr
wherein it was unanimously agreed that
under the existing regulations this species
Of useful animals was threatened with ex-
tinction and that an international arrea