The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-17
The Document Signed and
Sent to the Senate.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
HE DESIRES ANNEXATION OF
HAWAII.
MANY SENATORS OPPOSE THE TREATY

MANY SENATORS OPPOSE THE TREATY
Hawaii to Cede All Rights Of Sovereignty to
the United States and this Country to
Assume Her Public Debt Not
Exceeding S4,OO0,00O.
Washington, D. c., June 16.-The
treaty for the annexation of the Hawai-
ian islands reached the Senate chamber
at 5 o'clock to-day. The Senate at once
went into executive session and as soon
as the doors were closed the message
of President Mckinley, accompanying
the treaty and the treaty itself, were
read to the Senate. They were atten-
tatively listened to. In one part of the
chamber there was group of Senators
who will bitterly oppose the ratification
of the treaty. Among them were Sena-
tors Gray, Mills, Pasco, White, Caffery,
Pettigrew and McEnery. As soon as the
reading of the documents were completed
Senator Davis, chairman of the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations, moved that
the message and the treaty be made
public. Senator Gray objected to vote
on the motion, and under the rules
single objection carried the motion over
until tomorrow Senator Davis gave
notice that at the next executive session
he would press the motion for pubhca-
ton as all the essential facts and an
almost verbatim copy of the treaty had
been published in the press of the coun-
try.
There was some discussion as to when
the treaty might be considered and
Senator White asked if it was the in
tention to push it at this session, and
upon the reply being made that it was
possible, the California Senator said: Il
desire to announce that | am prepared
to stay here all summer to prevent the
ratification of the treaty, which l con-
slider a very bad proposition"
s'I'll join you," said Senator Pettigrew,
of South Dakota.
The message of the President was not
a very long document. 1t dealt with
historical facts concerning the islands
and showed that the United States and
Hawaii yearly grew more closely bound
to each other. This was not really an
nexation, he said, but continuation of
existing relations with closer bonds be-
kindred ties. Since 1920, said the Presi-
dent. the predomnence of the United
States had been known. The sending
of the first envoy there brought the
islands in closer relations with the Uni
ted States, and those relations had grown
more firm by succeeding events. At the
time the Triparite agreement was made
for the government of Samoa, he said,
Great Britain and Germany wanted to
include Hawaii in the group over which
a protectorate was established, but the
suggestion was rejected by the United
States because this government held that
there already existed relations between
Hawaii and the United States which
placed the islands under the especial
care of this country, and that this gov
ernment could not allow any other coun-
try to interfere in the affairs of Hawaii.
The annexation of the islands, said the
President, and making them part of
the United States was in accordance
with the esta blished policy of this coun-
try.
The President called attention to the
fact that legitimate 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 annexation was
not accepted by this country. lie stated
that the United States virtually eXer-
cised a protectOrate over the islands since
the first American mission and guaran-
teed 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
protection The present treaty was IN the
iiobt of consumation Of what mad
practically been in existence for years.
Referring to the treaty negotiated un-
der the Harrison administration, Presl-
dent Mckinley said that the failure to
accent the proffer of annexation IN 1875,
while not a subject of congratulatlon,
was not wholly without its value, as 1t
had demonstrated that the existing gov
ernment could maintain itself, and no
question could be raised OF the authority
of the present government to negotiate
the present treaty or of its right to yield
the sovereignty OF the islands.
Senator Davis, chairman OF the Sen
ate Committee on Foreign Relations, is
a very ardent annkxationist and the
treaty in his hands will be pushed with
vigor. While he will not attempt to have
it considered if it interferes with the
tariff bill, which has the right of way
over everything now, he will have early
action in committee, SO that the treaty
will be taken up whenever opportunity
offers.
While there is a very large sentiment
in favor of ratification it will be neces-
sary to convince a number Of Senators
whose votes are necessary that the treaty
is a proper measure, as these Senators