The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-09
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.

BY Il special message dated the 16th
of June last, | laid before the senate of
the United States a treaty signed on
that day by the plenipotentiaries of the
United States and of the republic of
Hawaii. having for its purpose the in
corporation of the Hawaiian islands as
an integral part of the United States
and under its sovereignty. Thus re-
lieved the injunction of secrecy. although
the treaty is still pending before the
senate, the subject may he properly re-
ferred to in this message because of the
necessary action of the congress is re-
quired to determine by legislation many
details of eventual union should the
fact of annexation be accomplished, as
| believe it should.
While consistently disavowing from
an early period any aggressive policy of
absorption in regard to the Hawaiian
group, a long series of declarations
through three-quarters of century has
proclaimed the vital interest of the
United States in the Independent life
of the island and their commercial de-
pendence upon this country At the
same time it has been repeatedly
ed that in no event could the entity of
Hawaii statehood cease by the passage
of the islands under the domination or
influence of any power other than the
United States.
Annexation the Natural Sequence.
Under these circumstances the logic
of events requires that annexation, be-
fore offered but declined, should, in the
ripeness of time, come about as me
natural result of the strengthening ties
that bind us to those islands and be re-
allied by the free will of the Hawaiian
state. That treaty was unanimously
ratified without amendment by the sell
ate and president of the republic of
Hawaii on the 10th of September last
and only awaits the favorable action of
the American senate to effect the com
plete absorption of the islands into the
domain 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 adj
ministration, the quality and degree of
the elective franchise of the inhabitants.
the extension of the federal laws
to the territory; enactment OF
special laws to fit the con-
dtion thereof, the regulation, if Iced
he. of the labor system therein and all
similar matters the treaty has wisely
relegated to the congress. If the treaty
is confirmed, as every condition of dig
nifty and honor requires, the wisdom of
congress will see to it that. avoiding
abrupt assimilation of elements perhaps
hardly yet fit to share in the highest
franchises of citizenship and having due
regard to the geographical conditions,
the most just provisions for self-rule
in local matters with the largest political
liberties and an integral part of our ma
ton will be accorded to the Hawaiians.
No less is due to Il 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.
observation-disclosures Controversy.
The questions which have arisen be-
tween Japan and Hawaii by reason of
grating TO the islands under the Ha-
waiian-Japanese convention of 1889, are
in satisfactory stage of settlement by
negotiation. This government has not
been invited to mediate and. on the other
hand, has sought no Intervention in the
matter further than to evince its
kindlest disposition toward such
speedy and direct adjustment by the two
sovereign states in interest as shall COM
port with equity and honor. 1t is
gratifying TO learn that the apprehen-
sions ut first displayed on the part of
Japan lest the cessation of Hawaiian
national life through annexation might
impair privileges to which Japan honor
ably laid claim, have given place to con-
tidcnce in the uprightness of this govern
ment and in the sincerity of its purpose
TO deal with all possible Interior qucs-
lions in the broadcast spirit OF friendl-