The herald., 1897-12-07
ANNEXATION
Unqualified Endorsement Of Annexa-
ton of Hawaii

BY special message delivered the 10th
day OF June last, ! laid before the Sem
ate of the United States treaty signed
that day by the plenipotentiaries Of the
United States and of the Republic of
Hawaii. having for it's purpose the In
corporation of the Hawaiian Islands as
an integral part of the United states
and under it's sovereignty. The Senate
having removed the injunction OF sec
recy, although the treaty is still pend
ing before that body, the subject may be
properly referred to in this message be-
cause the necessary action of the Con-
gress is required to determine by legisia-
ton many details of the eventual union,
should the fact of annexation be ac-
complished, as I believe it should be.
While consistently disavowing from
very early period any aggressive policy
of absorption in regard to the Hawaiian
croup. a long series of discussions
through three quarters of a century has
proclaimed the vital interest of the Unit
ed States in the independent life OF the
islands and their intimate commercial
dependency upon this country. AT the
same time it has been repeatedly assert
ed that in no event could the entity OF
Hawaiian statehood cease by the pas
sage of the island under the domination
or influence of another power than the
United States. Under these clrcum-
stances the logic of events required that
annexation, before offered but declined.
should in the ripeness of time coming
about as a natural result OF strength
ening the ties that bind us to those ISL
ands he realized by the free will of the
Hawaiian state.
That treaty was UNANIMOUSLY ratl-
fed without amendment by the Senate
and President of the republic OF Hawah
on the 10th of September last, and only
awaits the favorable action Oh the
American Senate to effect the complete
absorption of the islands into the do
mains of the United States. What the
conditions of such a union shall be, the
political relation thereof to the United
States. the character of the local admin
istration, the quality and degree OF the
elective franchise of the inhabitants,
the extension Of the Federal laws to the
territory or the enactment of special
laws to fit the peculiar condition thereon,
the regulation of the needs of labor
therein, are matters which the treaty
has wisely relegated to the Congress.
If the treaty is confirmed, as every
consideration of dignity and honor re-
quires, the wisdom of Congress will see
to it, that avoiding abrupt assimilation
of elements perhaps hardly yet fitted to
share in the highest franchises of citi-
zenship, and having due regard to the
geographical conditions, the most just
provisions for self rule in local matters
with the largest political liberties as an
integral part of our nation, will be ac-
corded to the Hawaiians.
No less is due to a people who, after
nearly five years of demonstrated ca
pacity to fulfill the obligations of self
governing statehood come of their free
will to merge their destinies in our body
polite.
JAPANESE COMPLICATIONS
The questions which have arisen be-
tween Japan and Hawaii by reason of
the treatment of Japanese laborers enl-
grating to the islands under the Ha-
waiian-Japanese convention of 1888
are in a satisfactory stage of settle
ment by negotiation. This government
has not been invited to mediate, and on
the other hand has sought no interven
tion in that matter, further than to
evince it's llindliest disposition toward
such a speedy and direct adjustment by
the two sovereign states in interest as
shall comport with equity and honor.
1t is gratifying to learn that the appre-
tensions at first displayed on the part
of Japan lest the cession of Hawaii's
national life through annexation might
impair privileges to which Japan hon.
orably laid claim, have given place to
faith in the uprightness of the govern
ment and sincerity of it's purpose to
deal with all possible ulterior questions