The herald., 1897-06-18
M'KINLEY's MESSAGE
Recommending the Annexation Of the
Islands

CHICAGO, June 1.-THE following is
the full text of the message sent to the
senate by President Mckinley yesterday
to accompany the Hawaiian treaty:
I transmit herewith to the senate, in,
order that after due consideration of
the constitutional function of advice and
consent may be exercised by that body,
a treaty for the annexation of the repub-
lie of Hawaii to the United States, signed
in this capital by the plenipotentiaries
of the parties on the 10th of June. For
the better understanding of the subject,
I transmit, in addition, report of the
secretary of state, briefly reviewing the
negotiations which have led to this i'm
portant result
The Incorporation of the Hawaiian
Islands into the body polite of the
United States is the necessary and fit
ing sequel to the chain 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
predominance of American interests in
that neighboring territory was first as
serted In 1920 by sending to- the islands a
representative agent of the United
States. 1t found further expression by
the signature of treaty of friendship,
commerce and navigation with the
king in 1S26-the first international COM
pact negotiated by him with any. 1t
was signally announced in 1S43, when
the intervention of the United States
caused the British government to dis
avow the seizure of the Sandwich islands
by British naval commander, and to
recognize them by treaty as an inde-
pendent state, renouncing forever any
purpose of annexing the islands or ex-
erting protectorate over them. In
1851 the cession of the Hawaiian king
dom to the United States was formally
offered, and although not then accepted,
this government proclaimed it's duty to
preserve alike the honor and dignity of
the United States and the safety of the
government of the Hawaiian islands.
From this time until the outbreak of the
war in 1861, the policy of the United
States toward Hawaii and of the Ha-
waiian sovereign toward the United
States was exemplified by continued ne
gotiations for annexation or for re-
served commercial union. The latter
alternative was at length accomplished
visions of which were renewed and ex-
parded by the convention of 1884 en-
bracing the perpetual cession to the
United States of the harbor of Pearl
river in the island of Oahu. In 1883 a
proposal for the joint guaranty Of the
neutrality of the Hawaiian islands 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 to-
ward the Hawaiian islands had con-
sistently favored their autonom well
fare with the exclusion of all foreign
influences. save our own, to the extent
of upholding eventual annexation as the
necessary outcome of that policy.
Not only is the union of the Hawaiian
territory to the United States no new
scheme, but it is the inevitable conse-
quence of the relation steadfastly main
tanned with that mid-Pacific domain for
three-quarters Of a century. Its ac-
complishment. despite successive de-
malls and postpon ement, has been mere
ly a question of time. While it's failure
in 1898 may not be cause of congratu-
lation, 1t Is certainly proof of the dis
interestedness of the United States, the
delay of four years having abundantly
CONTINUED on Page Three.)