The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-06
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
CessiOn of the Islands and Appoint
menf of EeGernI Commissioners.

CessiOn of the Islands and Appoint
ment of Federal Commissioners.
Pending the consideration by the Senate
Of the treaty signed June 16, 1897, by the
plenipotentiaries OF the United States and
of the Republic of Hawaii, providing for the
annexation of the islands, a joint resolution
to accomplish the same purpose by accept
ing the offered cession and Incorporating
the ceded territory into the Union was
adopted by the Congress and approved July
Z, 1893 1 thereupon directed the United
States steamer Philadelphia to convey Rear
Admiral Miller to Honolulu and intrusted
to his hand this important legislative act
to be delivered to the President of the re-
public of Hawaii, with whom the admiral
and the United States minister were author
lied to make appropriate arrangements for
transferring the sovereignty of the islands
to the United States. This was simply but
impressively accomplished on the 18th of
August last by the delivery of a certified
copy Of the resolution to President Dole,
who thereupon yielded up to the represent
ative of the government of the United
States the sovereignty and the public prop
erty of the Hawaiian islands.
Pursuant to the terms of the joint resolu-
ton, and in the exercise of the authority
thereby conferred upon me, 1 directed that
the civil, judicial and military powers there
tofore exercised by the officers of the gov
ernment of the Republic of Hawaii should
continue to be exercised by those officers
until the Congress shall provide a govern
ment for the Incorporated territory subject
70 my power TO remove SUCH ohcers and TO
I'LL vacancies. The President, officers and
troops of the republic thereupon took the
oath of allegiance to the United States, thus
providing for the uninterrupted continuance
administrative
functions of the annexed territory until
the Congress shall otherwise enact.
Following the further provisions of the
joint resolution, 1 appointed the Hons
Shelby NJ. Cullom, Of Illinois; John r.
Morgan, of Alabama; Robert r. Hit, of
Illinois; Sanford B. Dole. of Hawaii, and
Walter F. Frear of Hawaii, as commits
sioners to confer and recommend to the
Congress such legislation concerning the
Hawaiian islands as they Should deem nee
essary or proper The commissioners,
having fulfilled the mission confided to
them, their report will be laid before you
at an early day. 1t is believed that their
recommendations will have the earnest
consideration. due to the magnitude of
the responsibility resting upon you to
give such shape to the relationship of
these mid-Pacific lands to our home
Union as will benefit both in the highest
degree realizing the aspirations of the
community that has cast its lot with US
and elected to share our political her
the foresight of those who. for three
quarters of a century. have looked to the
assimilation of Hawaii as a natural and
inevitable consummation, in harmony
with our needs and in fulfllment with
our cherished traditions. The questions
heretofore pending between Hawaii and
Japan, growing or of The alleged mistreat-
ment of japanese treaty immigrants We're
/ am pleased to say, closed up before the
act of transfer, by the payment of a reason
able indemnity to the government of Japan.
Under the provisions of the joint reSolu-
ton, the existing customs relations of the
Hawaiian islands with the United States
and with other countries remain unchanged
until legislation shall otherwise provide
The consus of Hawaii here, and in foreign
countries, continue to fulfill their CONNER
cial agencies, while the United States con-
sulate at Honolulu is maintained for all
proper services pertaining to trade and the
revenue. It would be desirable that all
foreign consulS in the Hawaiian islands
should receive exequaturs from this gov
eminent.
The attention of Congress is called to
the fact that our consular officers. having
ceased to exist in Hawaii. and being about
to cease in other countries coming under
the sovereignty of the United States, the
provisions for the relief and transporta-
ton of destitute seamen in these countries
under our consular regulations will, in
consequence terminate. 1t is proper, there
fore, that new legislation should be enacted
upon this subject, in order to meet the
changed conditions.