Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-03

| formulated and brought nearly to q con-
summation under a previous republican
administration, yet when the subject was
| again taken UP by the present administra-
| ton 1t was found that difficulties and OBJ
| stacies Of a serious nature had been
! created by delay. These obstacles were
\ of such a nature that it required most del
tcate diplomatic treatment to remove them
| in order that the question Of annexation
| might be taken up where it was left of,
and considered with view to prompt and
satisfactory conclusion. The details of the
diplomatic communications between the
United States and Hawaii and Japan and
| the United States, bearing upon the SUBJ
ject of annexation, cannot be given.
This much may be said, however that
all of the objections raised by Japan to
| the ratification of a treaty of annexation
were met in such manner as to overcome
them, and to leave the situation entirely
| satisfactory to both the United States
government and shat Of japan. When the
history of this whole transaction shall be
written the student of such history will
discover that the most embarrassing and
delicate questions in diplomacy were met
and treated in manner to reflect credit
upon the minds that directed and con-
Quoted the negotiations. At this time,
hence, the question of annexation Is IN
perfect shape for the consideration OF Con-
gTess, and the establishment of relations
between the Hawaiian Islands and the
United States that should have been con-
summated years ago, in view of the great
Importance of those islands to the COM
plete protection of the interests of the
United States in the Pacific ocean and on
the Pacific coast.
Annexation Having Regard for the
Future.
The present administration has taken the
me st statesmanlike view of the value of
these islands. 1t has at no time treated
the subject from the standpoint of the
present, although it may be said that at
the present time conditions are such as to
suggest to the thinking mind the great
Importance, IL not the absolute necessity,
of those islands belonging TO the United
States, in order to assure that condition OF
things necessary to our commercial and
personal welfare. 1t is not hazarding too
much to soy that the administrator which
directs the negotiations to successlui IS
cue. annexing the Hawaiian Islands to the
United States, will receive within the next
half century the credit of having accom-
plished for the people of the United states
a greater thing than the purchase OF
Alaska, and equal in Importance to any
other one thing achieved by any admins
tration during the last half century.
The Judgment and the acts of the present
administration respecting the Hawalah Is
lands have been controlled solely by con-
siderations that affect the future. 1t is be-
lieved that the Importance OF the hawaiian
group to the United States will become
more apparent as the greatness Oh the
United States increases commercially ana
otherwise. All of the international dif1cul-
ties in the way of a ratification OF a treaty
between the government OF HAWAII ana the
government of the United States for the an
nexation of the islands have been removed;
and it remains with Congress to determine
whether the fruits of the wise acton OF the
Mckinley administration shall be gathered
for the benefit of the people of the country
or not.
Peace the Guiding Star.
The history of the diplomatic work of the
administration in connection with Cuba Is
so fresh in the minds of the people that it
is hardly worth while to elaborate upon
this point 1t should be said, nevertheless.
that all the difficulties which have been met
and overcome by the Mckinley admnistra
ton are not fully known to the public, and
therefore not fully appreciated by the peo-
pie of the United States. The guiding star
of the present administration in directing
diplomatic intercourse with Spain has been
that of peace. At no time has the admin
istration ever lost sight of the imperative
necessity of maintaining in the largest
sense and degree the honor and the rights
of the American people individually and
collectively At no time has the cool, de-
liberate judgment of the administration
been subordiEated to sympathy. Yet. 1t
may be said that sympathy has been no.
where more active or pronounced than in
the administrative mind and heart, on ac-
count of the sufferings which have been
entailed by the mode of warfare conducted
in the Island of Cuba up to the time Of the
change in the ministry of Spain.
The demands of the administration upon
Spain were couched in plain and emphatic
language respecting the necessity of chang
ing the mode of warfare in Cuba so as more
nearly to conform to civilized methods.
Spain gave heed to the demands and sug-
sestions of the United States, and
promptly as possible inaugurated a change.
The change in the method Of conducting
warfare in Cuba, however, did not relieve
the distress and suffering incident to the
methods that had previously prevailed. To
meet this condition of things, President
Mckinley made an appeal to the people of
the United States, with view to supply
ing the needs of starving and dying people
in that island, and set in motion the ma
chinery necessary for the prompt and eff
fectual distribution of supplies furnished in
response to his call.
Accomplished Through Diplomacy.
Through the diplomatic pressure brought
to bear upon Spain, the revocation of the
decree declaring an embargo on tobacco
was effected; the liberation of all American
citizens imprisoned in the island was
brought about, and the granting of en-
larged autonomy by Spain to Cuba was
promptly secured. At the same time the
claims of United States citizens for losses
sustained at the hands of either party in
Cuba have been presented to the Spanish
government with due notice that they will
be pressed for settlement. All this has
been accomplished by firm diplomatic
policy in such manner to uphold our
dignity and maintain our honor as great
and independent nation.
The efforts of the administration to bring
about much7needed reform in the regula-
lions governing the seal fisheries in the
Boring sea, while not wholly successful,
are yet not without valuable results. A
perfect understanding covering the whole
question involved was arrived at between
the United States, Russia and Japan. The
terms of this understanding contain the
very highest idea Of comfy between ma
tons, and enforce lesson upon the entire
civilized world Of commercial wisdom and
foresight. 1t cannot be gainsaid that the
protection Of the seal herds, independent of
all selfish consideration, is of the utmost
importance as d question in economy
The British government declined to at
tend a conference with the other countries
Interested in fur seal hunting, and subse-
quently declined to accede to the conven-
ton signed by Russia, Japan and the
United States. Yet it may be safely said
that the efforts Of the United States have