The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-07-20
The Philadelphia Ledger Qrd

The Philadelphia Ledger (lrd.
Rep.) says:
1T has beer shown that the Hawaii
ans were unjustly deprived OF self,gov-
ernment BY handful Of American con-
spirators in league with the American
minister, Stevens, who overswed the
natives by landing United States
troops. The reasons for the anxiety
of President Dole and his accompllces
to hand the islands over to this coun-
try is their keen appreciation of the
fact that the natives are apt at any
moment to rise and expel the usur-
pers, and that they would have SO
risen long ago but for the fear OF
American intervention on behalf OF
Dole.
eThe resolution adopted by Senate
and House is almost word for word
the same text as is found in the trea-
" of annexation, which is still pend
ING, but which could not command
the necessary two-thirds vote. Con-
gress may make laws, pursuant to the
Constitution, for the government OF
our own nation, but it has no constl-
tutional warrant to make any law
binding on foreign nation. Inter
national agreements or conventions
are properly matters Of treaty, to be
initiated by the President and to be-
come effective by the consent OF two
thirds of the Senate. The House Of
Representatives has no authority IN
the premises whatever, and yet IN
violation OF the Constitution, it has
taken the initiative in the present res
olution of annexation, which IS to all
intents and purposes a treaty. And
if we can annex Hawaii by resolution,
with the consent of its de facto Gov
ernment, but in opposition to the will
of its native population, 50 also by
resolution we can annex Ireland, with
or without the sanction OF Great Brlt-
ain or the inhabitants of Ireland. II
plebiscite were held il Hawaii the
natives would quite unanimously vote
against annexation. Of the entire
population of 10000, white, brown
and yellow, it is improbable that
5000 are in favor of the surrender Of
the islands to the United States.
The resolution passed by Congress
proposes to annex Hawaii as terri
tory. There is no precedent for such
course, and il the opinion Of able
LAWYERS no warrant for it in the Con-
stitution. Texas it IS true, was ad-
nitted to the Union by act Of Con-
gress, but it came in as State, and
| Congress has the power to admit
States, but no power is delegated to
tito annex foreign territory. Why did
rot the advocates of Hawaiian annex
alton propose to admit Hawaii as a
State, and cite Texas as precedent?
Simply because they knew the peo-
pie would be appalled, at the thought
of giving statehood to the monsrel
population of these islands, most OF
them pagans and incapable OF appre-
ciating our civilization or our instltu-
tions, and yet once Hawaii is brought
under the American flag the schem-
ing for its admission as a State will
begin. The sugar trust might con-
fdently count upon it for two Sena-
tors, and experience demonstrates that
the trust usuIly works its own sweet
will with Congress. Besides, the exl-
gencies of party might at any time
constrain Congress to clothe Hawall
with statehood in order to promote
party ends. For many years this has
been the sole motive underlying the
admission Of States, and there is not
the remotest probability that Hawaii
would prove ar exception. In 1875
the control of the electoral college
turned on one vote. It is not pleas
ing to contemplate the possibility IN
the near future Of Honolulu deciding
the balance of power between the
cold standard and free silver.
''We regard the passage OF the res
olution as great misfortune to the
nation--a misfortune that may coun-
terbalance the great victories won by
Dewey and Schley.''