The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-18
ANNEXATION MESSAGE
Full Text Of the Presidents Message Accom-
panying the Hawaiian Treaty,
HISTORY OF PREVIOUS NEGOTIATIONS
I'lIe incorporation OF the Hawaiian
tho United States tic Natural
Result of the Policy OF This
Government.
Washington, June II. 1897.

Washington, June II, 1897.
The following is the full text Of the
message sent TO the Senate yesterday by
President Mckinley, to accompany tic
Hawaiian treaty:
10 the Senate Of the United States:
| transmit herewith to the Senate. in
order that, after due consideration, the
constitutional function of advice and
consent may be exercised by that body,
a treaty Tor the annexation Of the Repub-
lie of Hawaii to the United States,
signed IN this capital by the plenipoten-
tiarics of the parties on the 10th Of June
instant.
For the better unders tanding of the
subject I transmit In addition, Il report
or the Secretary OF State, briefly review
ing the negotiations which led to this
important result
The incoporat ton Of the Hawaiian Is
lands into the body polite OF the United
States is the necessary and fitting Sc
quel to the change of events which from
a very early period Of our history, has
controlled the intercourse and pre-
scribed the association of the United
States and the Hawaiian Islands.
The prcdominance OF American in
terests in that neighborng territory was
first asserted in 1920. by sending to the
islands representative agent Of the
United States. 1t found further express
oioi ~ lilc VI Il treaty Ol
friendship, commerce and navigation
with the King In 1S26-the first interna-
tional compact negotiated by Hawaii
1t was signally announced In 1913,
when the intervention of the United
States caused the British government to
disavow the seizure of the Sandwich is-
lands by Il British naval commander,
and 10 recognize them by u treaty as
an independent State, renouncinG for
ever any purpose Of anneXing the islands
or eSerting Z protectorate over them.
In 1851 the cession Of the Hawaiian
Kingdom to the United States was
formally offered, and although not then
accepted. this government proclaimed its
duty to preserve alike the honor and dig
nifty Of the United States and the safe
ty OF the government Of the Hawa iIan
Islands. From this time until the out
break OF the war in 1861, the policy Of
the United States toward Hawaii and
of the Hawaiian sovereignty toward the
United States was eNempltied by con-
tinued negotiations for anneXnt ton or for
4 reserved commercial union. The latter
alternative was at length accomplished
by the reciprocity treaty Of 1876, the pro-
visions OF which We're renewed and ex-
panded by the convention of 1854, en-
bracing the perpetual cession to the
United States of the harbor of Pearl
river IN The Island cf Oahu.
In 1883 4 proposal for the joint guaran-
ty Of the neutrality Of the Hawaiian Is
lands by the United States, Germany
and Great Britain was declined on the
announced ground that the relation of
the United States to the islands was
sufficient for the end In view In brief,
from 1920 TO 1898 the course OF the
United states toward the Hawaiian Is
lands has consistently favored their au-
tonomouS welfare with the exclusion OF
all foreign influence save our own, to the
| .ta,1t -,p 80
as the necessary outcome Of that policy
Not only is the union Of the Hawaiian
territory to the United States no new
scheme, but 1t IS the Inevitable conse-
quence OF the relation steadfastly main
tanned with that mld-Paciflc domain for
thrce-Quartc-s OF Il century. It's accom-
plishment, despite successive denialS and
postponements, has been merely a qucs-
ton Of time While It's failure in 1898
may not be a cause Of congrat ton,
1t is certainly proof OF the dislnterest-
cdness OF the United States. the delay of
four years having abundantly sufIiccd 10
esta blish the right and the ability Of the
Republic or Hawaii 10 enter, as a SOW
ereign contractant, upon q. conventional
union with the United States, thus real
izing a purpose held by the Hawaiian
people and proclaimed by successive Ha-
wai!an governments through some TWEEN
ty years OF their virtual dependence
upon the benevolent protection of the
United States. Under such circum-
stances, annexation is not change; 1t is
q cOnSumma ton.
The report Of the Secretary Of State
exhibits the character and course Of the
recent negotiation and the features of
the treaty itself. The organic ana ad-
mnist-ative details Of Incorporation are
necessarily left to the wisdom OF Con-
gross and 7 cannot doubt, when the
function of the constitutional treaty
making power shall have been accom-
plishcd. the duty of the National Legis-
lature In the case Will be performed with
the largest regard for the Interests OF
this rich inSuar domain and for the
welfare OF the inhabitants thereof.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
WILLIAM M'KINLCY,
Executive Mansion.
Washington June 16, 1897.