The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-08
HAWAIIAN Annexation
The Senate Passes the
House Resolution.
The MAJORITY LARGE


Parties on the Question-Last of the
Appropriation Bill. Agreed to-Res-
olunOn of Thanks to Schley.
SENATE.
Washington, July 6.-The annexa-
tion of Hawaii is accomplished so far
as the legislative branch of the gov
ernment is concerned. Quite unex-
pectedly the resolutions providing for
the AMI >xation of the islands were
brought TO a vote in the senate late
this afternoon and they were passed
by the decisive vote of AZ to q.
Morril, of Vermont, was the only re-
publican who voted against the reso-
lutions, although Senator Thurston, of
Nebraska, and Senator Spooner, of
Wisconsin, were paired against them.
Six democrats-Messrs German, of
Maryland, McLaurin, Of South Caro-
lima, Money Of Mississippi Morgan
and Pettus, of Alabama, and Sullivan
Of Mississippi voted in favor of annex
alton. On the face of the vote cast
for the resolutions the treaty of an
nexation might have been ratified,
the resolutions having two-thirds
majority; but as the twelve pairs
would have been arranged on a basis
of two votes for one if the treaty had
been under consideration the vote of
the full senate on the treaty, on the
basis of today's vote would have been
sc to 33, not a sufficient number of
votes in favor Of the treaty to have
ratified it.
Early III today's session conferences
of the leaders on both sides of the
chamber were held and a tacit agree
ment was reached that vote should
be taken tomorrow or Friday, at the
latest. The opponents of annexation
practically had concluded their argu-
ments and as they had no desire to
keep the senate in session by purely
dilatory tactics they announced their
willingness that vote should be taken
as soon as Senator'S White, Pettigrew
and Allen had finished their speeches.
Neither Senator White nor Senator
Pettigrew spoke at great length, but
Senator Allen thought when he began
that his speech might occupy the re-
mainder of the day and a part of to-
morrow. However, he concluded, to
eliminate part of the matter he had
prepared, and at Ais o'clock p. M, he
completed his speech.
1t was evident instantly that a vote
was at hand. The word was passed
swiftly through the corridors and
committee rooms and in a few minutes
every senator at the capitol was in his
seat. The galleries filled rapidly and
members of the house of representa-
tives learning that a vote was to be
taken, came hurriedly to the senate
side of the great marble pile to witness
proceedings that will be historic.
The test vote came upon an amend
ment offered by Senator White of CAL
ifornia, substituting the treaty for the
resolutions 1t was offered with no
expection that it would be adopted
but merely to place the ideas and opin-
ions of the opponents of annexation
on record. 1t was rejected by a vote
of 40 to 20, indicating that the annex
ationists were strongly in the major
ity.
Amendment after amendment was
offered, but the advocates of the reso-
lutions stood solidly together, gaining
rather than losing on the successive
votes.
Finally at 5 O'Clock the resolutions
themselves in precisely the form in
which they were received from the
house of representatives were report
ed to the senate and the roll call be-
gan. Intense interest was manifested
by every spectator. Not a sound was
to be heard in the chamber except the
call of the clerk and the responses of
senator's. When the vice president
announced the vote by which the res
OlutiOnS were passed, a tremendous
wave of applause swept through the
galleries which the vice president
| made no effort to check. Those who
had advocated the resolutions express
ed their pleasure by shaking hands
i with one another and on all sides
evident belief was shown that the end
| had come. For a few minutes SO
| much good natured confusion existed
F! that the dignity of the senate was
| threatened but Vice President Hobart
quietly reminded senators that the
session was not yet at an end.
Early in the session Senator Petit
grew offered a resolution rendering
| the thanks of congress to Commodore
Schley and the men under him for
| gallant conduct in the destruction OF
the Spanish feet at Santiago.
1t occasioned some debate. Senator
Hale said no one knew who was en-
titled to the credit Of the great VIC
tory.
Senator Pettigred said he introduced