The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-06-25
sPEoIAL MEssAeE
What Prsaident Mckinley Has to Say About
she Hawaiian Annexation Treaty.

What PRECEDENT lIe ialnlST Has 20 say ABol1
the Hawaiian Annexation Treaty
washington, June 1s.-Ths message
sent to the senate by President McKin-
ley about Hawaii is as follows;
% the Senate OF the United States:
I transmit herewith to the senate, In order
that after due Consideration the constitutional
function Of advice and consent may be exer-
eLssd by that body, 8 treaty for tue annexation
OF the republic Of Hawaii to the United States,
signed in this capital by the pienipotentiaries
Of the interested parties on the 18th Of June
inst For the better understanding Of the sub
ject, transmit, in addition, a report Of the
secretary Of state, briefly reviewing the nego-
tiatiOns which have led to this important re-
sult
The incorporation OF the Hawaiian islands
into the body polite Of the United States is the
necessary and fitting sequel to the chain Of
events which from 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 neighOoring terTi-
tory Was first asserted In 1870 by sending to the
Islands representative agent Of the United
States, 1t found further expression by
the signature Of q treaty OF friendship.
commerce and navigation with the king in 1925
the first international compact negotiated by
Hawaii It was signallv announced in 1913
when the intervention Of the United States
caused the British government to disaVoW the
seizure OF the Sandwich Islands by q British
naval commander, and to recognize them by
treaty as an independent state, renOuncing for
ever any purpose OF anneXing the islands OF
eXerting 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 duties to preserve alike tho
honor and dignity Of the United states and the
safety Of the government OF the Hawaiian is
lands. 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 exsmpli1ed by continued
negotiations for annexation or for a reserved
commercial union. The latter alternative was
at length accomplished by the reciprocity
treaty Of 1875, the provisions Of which were re-
neWed and expanded by the convention Of 1884
embracing the perpetual Cession to the United
States OF the harb0r Of Pearl river in the island
OF Oahu. In 1888 proposal for the joint guar
anty Of the neutrality Of the Hawaiian islands
w buD G44lCu 9LdLCSf GtLMdAN Hlu " tat
Britain was declined upon the announced
ground that the relations 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 Ha-
Waiian islands has consistently favored their
| autonomous welfare with the exclusion Of all
! foreign influences save our own to the extent
| OF upholding eventual annexation as the neces-
/ orfnoT1n oF fhnt V7o1forr Not Onl fc
union Of the Hawaiian territory to the United
States no new scheme, but it is the inevitable
| consequence Of the relation steadfastiy main,
! tanned with that mid-Paciic domain for three
| quarters Of a century. Its accomplishment, de-
! spite successive denials and poStponement, has
! been merely a question Of time
! While its failure in 1898 may not be a cause
for cOngratulatiOn, it is certainly proof Of the
! disinterestedness Of the United States, the de-
| lay OF four years having abundantly suficed tC
| establish the right and ability OF the republic
! OF Hawaii to enter as q sovereign cOntractan
| upon conventional union with the UniteC
! States, thus realizing q purpose held by tht
! Hawaiian people and proclaimed by successive
! Hawaiian governments through some 20 year.
| Of their virtual dependence upon the beneVO
! lent protection Of the United States Undel
! such circumstances annexation is not q change
! It is q cOGsummatiOn,
! The report Of the secretary Of state exhibits
the character and course Of the recent negOtia
tons and the features Of the treaty itself. TIT
/ organization aHd administrative details Of in
corporation are necessarily left to the wisdom
Of the congress, and cannot doubt when the
/ functions Of the constitutional treaty-malinl
| power shall have been accomplished, the dut
OF the national legislature in the case will b.
performed with the largest regard for the in
terests Of this rich insuiar domain and for tn
welfare Of the inhabitants thereof.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY,
! Executive Mansion WASHINGTON June Is 1897