The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS
FIRST REAL MESSAGE


to the cortes That Sener Sagasta en-
tered upon a courss from which recess
sion with honor is possible can hardly be
questioned. In the few weeks 1T has ex-
listed. 1t has made earnest official pro-
fessions that are desirable. do MT I'M
pugn his sincerity non should anything
be sufficient to embarrass 1t in The end
it has assumed. We owe it to Spain and
all our friendly relations with Spain that
she should be given opportunity to real
lie her expectations and to tsst the new
order of things to which she stands ire
vocably committed. She has recalled the
commander whose brutal orders lnflamed
the American mind and shocked the CIV
ilized world. She has modified the hor-
rible order of concentration and under
taken to care for the helpless and permit
those who desire to resume the Guilt
walton of their fields to do so and assures
them OF the protection of the Spanish
governm mt in their lawful occupations.
She just released the Competitor pa'iss-
oners, heretofore sentenced TO dsath and
who have been the subject of frequent
diplomatic correspond nee during this and
the preceding administration Not a sin-
gle American prisoner is now under ar
rest or in confinement in Cuba of whom
this government has any knowledge.
Should Publication Fail
If pacIfcagion fails other means viii
have to be resorted to. When that time
comes that a nation will be determined in
the line of indisputaIble right and duty.
1t will be faced W.T. houIt misgiving or
hesitancy in the light of the obligation
this government owes to itself and the
xxr1,n 1oxr 4n,o
protection of their interests and honor,
and to secure the right of keeping free
from all offense ourselves, actuated only
by rightful and patriotic decisions and
no selfish design. The government will
continue its watch over the rights of life
and property of Americans and will
abaite none of It's means to bring about
by peaceful agency peace which shall
be honorable and enduring. If it shall
hereafter appear to be duty imposed
on ourselves, to humanity and civiliza-
tion, to intervene, it shall be without
fault on our part am donly because the
necessity for such action will be so Gear
as to demand the support and approval
of the civilized world.
Annexation of Hawaii
By a special message dated June 16,
last, laid before the senate of the Unit
ed States a treaty signed that day by
special ENJOYS of the United States and
the republic of Hawaii, having for its
purpose the annexation of the Hawaiian
islands as an integral part of the United
States under it's sovereignty. Though
the treaty Us now pending before the
senaie 1t may be referred to here as
congress must determine by legislation
If the actual union should be accom-
plished as l believe 1T should be. While
consist entity drsavowing from a very
early period any policy of absorption in
regard to the Hawaiian group a long
series of declarations through three
quarters of century has proclaimed the
vial interest of the United States in
the independent life of the islands and
their commercial dependenc upon this
country. AT the same time Ut has re-
peatedly asserted that in no event could
the entirely of Hawaiian statehood cease
by the assuming of the islands under
the dominance OF any other power than
the United States. Under these circum-
stances the logic of events required that
annexation offered, but declined, should
in the rfpeness of time come about as
the natural result of the Strengthening
ties IflttL Dllll us 10 those lSldllusS allN
be realized by the free will of the Ha-
waiian stale.
That treaty wigs unanimously ratified
without amendment by the senate of
the republic of Hawaii. on the 18th of
September last, and only awaits the ia
vorabIs ACTON of the American senate to
complete the absorption of the islands
into the dominion of the United States
g,a oh vt
shall be, the political relations thereof
10 the United States. the character of
the local administration, the quality and
degree of the elective franchises of the
inhabitants, the extension of the federal
laws to the territory or the enactment of
such laws to fit the peculiar condition
therefor the regulation of the labor sys-
tenn there, If needed, and the other mat
tiers Is relegated to congress. 1t should
be confirmed as every principle of dig
nifty and honor requires 1t. Having due
regard to the rights of franchise and to
the geographical conditions, the most
just provision for local government and
an integral part of our government
should be accorded to The Hawaiians.
No less is due 10 a people who after
nearly five years of demonstrated ca
pacity to fulfill the conditions of self
government, of their own free will now
ask to merge their destinies with our
own.
Complications arising bsitween Hawaii
and japan on account of the immigra-
tdon of Japanese labor to the islands are
in satisfactory state of settlement by
negotiations. This government has not
tnterfersd, and on the other hand has
sought no intervention in that matter
other than to evince it's kindly wishes
at the completion of the matter in an
honorable manner. Ut Is gratifying to
aearn that the apprehensions at first