The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-22
UNANIMOUS
Is Hawaii for Union With the United
States.


San Francisco Sept 22.-The steamer
City of Pekin which arrived in port
last evening and was at once placed in
quarantine, brought adVlceS from the
Hawaiian islands up to and including
the 14th inst. The senate convened on
September 8, but owing to the death of
ex-senator G.. Rhodes, president of the
legislature, adjourned until the follow
ing day The session of the ninth last
ed less than two hours but in that time
the annexation treaty was presented
and ratified without dissenting vote.
Commenting upon the unprecedented
basis of the upper chamber, the 1uso,
newspaper organ of the Portuguese
residents, of September 13. said:
The senate of the republic of Ha-
waii has unanimously ratified the con-
Vention which cedeS Hawaii to the Uni
ted States, not only with all mercantile
property with doubtful title, but also
tying up privileges which about 5000
voters of the Portuguese colony enjoy
and. have enjoyed and which can only
be recovered if the congress of the Uni
ted States from a sense of justice and
equity. shall concede to us the privi-
lege to which we have a right. The
session was closed on the 10th, to be
convened again next March in regular
session.
Despite the action of the senate, the
opponents of annexation are continuing
their fight and the leaders of the move
ment express the utmost confidence in
their ability to defeat annexation.
Before the Pekin left a call had been
issued for an immense mass meeting to
be held on the 18th, and the indications
were that it would be one of the largest
ever held in the islands. Some of the
annexationists hoped to be able to have
Senator Morgan address the meeting
with the object of changing the senti-
ment of the natives, but there was lit
tie likelihood of their plan meeting with
success. The steamship Australia, hav-
ing on board United States Senator
John T. Morgan of Alabama, Congress
men A. S. Berry, j. G. Cannon, H. c.
Loudenslag ger and J. A. Tawney arriv-
ed in Honolulu on the 18th. They were
accorded a warm welcome. Senator
Morgan stood the voyage exceedingly
well and was in excellent health. The
Hawaiian Star of the following day
published this interview with him:
Il have nothing of a definite nature
to say to the newspapers now, as L
must first have opportunity to study
the situation from new point of view.
You may say that am predisposed in
favor of annexation, have been an
annexationist practically for 80 years,
ever since the question has been agi-
tated.'
The following translation of an ar
ticIe published in the Iuso, the organ of
the Portuguese residents, shows the
alarm with which that section of the
population regards annexation:
If perchance the annexation should
! be consummated, which we doubt, the
Portuguese colony as political factor
| ceases to exist, because in the foreign
States, it has been indicated with suf-
ficient c1earness that they fear the in
euf1nce of the Portuguese vote in case
this privilege should be conceded to
htem. Independence and a good gov
ernment of Hawaii means prosperity
| for the colony, but annexation without
the privilege which we speak of means
ruin
The delegates who were chosen to the
American Union party convention have
completed their platform which was to
| be presented for adoption at the con-
vention to be held on the evening of
| the 18th.
The platform as arranged was short
and applied solely to island affairs. One
| of the p1ankS pledged the party to an
nexatiOn, first, last and all the time.
T. B. Murray has issued a call for a
meeting Of the American League on the
18th. 1t was the purpose to recognize
| the League. Mr.. Murray has announc-
| ed his determination to retire from the
presidency.
The Hawaiian annexation treaty
which was submitted to the United
| States senate on June 16, but has not
yet been acted on, provides for the ceS-
| sion to the United States of all rights
| of sovereignty over the islands and all
| public land and property Under it the
i islands would constitute a territory of
| the United States with a local legisla-
ture, subject to a vote vested in the
president.
| All the treaties of the United States
with other countries would be substi-
| tuted for those now in force with Ha-
| waii. The further immigration of Chi
| nese to the islands is to be prohibited
| and our laws on the subject are to be
extended to Hawaii. The treaty pro-
vides for the assumption by the United
| States of the Hawaiian public debt of
| S4 600 900. The document will probably
/ come up for consideration, rejection, or
| ratification by the senate when con-
| gress meets in December.
|