The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-01-08
AS TO HAWAII.
Its Annexation May Be by Act Of
Congress-,

Especial Dispatch to the Boston Herald
WASHINGTON, D. C.-The Hawaiian
Annexation Treaty may be aban-
doned very soon and the fight for
annexation m AIDE on a joint resolu-
ton, in view of the great doubt as
to getting a two-thirds vote in the
Senate for the ratification OF the
treaty. There has been decided
change OF sentiment since the extra
session, aud the more sagacious men
among the annexationists realize
that their cause is. not nearly as
strong in the Senate as it was at the
extra session.
They are saying that the sugar
trust has converted some senators,
and that some OF the southern
Democrats have been affected by
the fear of adding to our dark
skinned population and to the e1-
penses Of the naval establish ment.
Ia view OF the fact that Hawaiian
sugar is now free Of duty, the sugar
interest opposed to annexation,
which would prevent the imposition
of a duty upon it, is really that Of
the growers and not that of the re.
finers, but the annexationists can
make more out of the sugar trust
cry, Just as they are endeavoring to
do with the talk about British and
Japanese opposition.
The Republican managers have
not decided yet whether the Hawai-
ian treaty shall be pressed indefinite
ly or dropped within week, hut
some effort will probably be made
to get vote or it before it is drop
ped. The abandonment OF the
treaty would be such blow to the
whole enterprise that it's friends are
DESTROYS to avoid it. They fear that
the abandonment of the treaty
would make it more difficult to get
majority for joint resolution Of
annexation. Still, they are hopeful
that they will be able to carry the
Joint resolution in an event
This was the method pursued
with the admission Of Texas, which
led to the war with Mexico. Texas
then claimed to be an independent
power, as Hawaii does to-day. The
process of congressional and diplo-
matte action which was then pur-
sued is Of interest for its bearing upon
the present case. 1t is described in
the annual message of President
Polk to Congress on December 2,
1916, in the following terms:
sin pursuance of the joint resolu.
ton OF Congress for annexing Texas
to the United States, my predecessor
elected to submit the first aud
second sections of that resolution to
the republic Of Texas as an overture
on the part of the United States for
her admission as state into our
Union. This election | approved,
and, accordingly, the charge q af-
flares OF the United States in Texas
presented these sections OF the reso-
lutions for the acceptance Of that
republic. The executive govern
ment, the Congress and the people
of Texas, liz convention, have sue
cessively complied with all the
terms and conditions OF the joint
resolution. A constitution for the
government of the state Of Texas,
formed by convention OF deputies,
is herewith laid before Congress
1t is we'll known also that the people
OF Texas, at the polls, have accepted
the terms OF annexation and ratified
the constitution The terms of an
nexation which were offered by the
United States having been accepted
by Texas, the public faith of both
parties is solemnly pledged to the
compact OF their union. Nothing
remains to consummate the event
but the passage of an act by Con
gress to admit the state OF Texas
into the Union upon an equal foot
ing with the original states"