Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-12-09
Condensed Report Of the Most Important Document Sent to
Congress Since the Close Of the Civil War.

4
and timeliness merit. Meanwhile, there
| may be just ground for disquetude in
1 view of the unrest and revival of the
/ old sentiment of opposition and preju-
dice to alien people, which pervades cer-
! tain Of the Chinese provinces. AS IN the
| case OF the attacks upon our citizens
| in Szechuan and at Kutien In 1885, tho
| United States minister has been instruct
| ed to secure the fullest measure Of pro-
lection, both local and imperial, for any
| menaced American interests, and to de-
mand, in case of lawess injury to person
| or property, instant reparation appro-
pirate to the case War ships have been
stationed at Tien-Tsin for more ready OBJ
| servation of the disorders which have
| invaded even the Chinese capital. so as
| to be in position to act should need
arise, while a guard of marines has been
sent to Peking to afford the minister the
same measure of authoritative protection
as the representatives of other nations
have been constrained to employ"
Annexation of Hawaiian Islands.
Referring to Hawaii the president has
the following to say: @s ..-
Pending the consideration by the sem
ate 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 ISL
ands, q joint resolution to accomplish
the same purpose by accepting the Offer
ed cession and Incorporating the coded
territory into the union was adopted by
the congress and approved July Z. 1888.
I thereupon directed the United, States
steamer Philadelphia TO convey Rear Ad-
miral Miller to Honolulu, and intrusted
to his hands this important legislative act
to be delivered to the president Of the
Republic of Hawaii, with whom the adj
miral and the United States minister were
authorized to make appropriate arrange
ments for transferring the sovereignty
of the islands to the United States This
was simply but impressively accomplish
ed the 18th of August last by the deliv-
cry Of a certified copy of the resolutions
to President Dole, who thereupon yield
ed uR to the representatives of the gov
ernmeht Of the United States the sover-
eighty and public property of the Ha-
waiian islands. Pursuant to the terms of
the joint resolution and In exercise of
the authority thereby conferred upon me.
T directed that the civil. judicial and
military powers heretofore exercised by
the officers of the government of the Re-
public of Hawaii should continue to be
exercised by those officers until congress
shall provide government for the incor-
porated territory subject tony power to
remove such officers and to I'LL vacan-
cies The president. officers and troops
Of the republic thereupon took the oath
of allegiance to the United States, thus
providing for the uninterrupted contin-
uance of all the administrative and mu
nicipal functions of the annexed territory
until congress shall otherwise enact.
''Following the further provision Of the
joint resolution. I appointed Shelby NJ.
Cullom of Illinois, John 7. Morgan of Ala
bama, Robert r. Hit Of Illinois, Sanford
B. Dole of Hawaii and Walter +. Grear
Of Hawaii as commissioners to confer
and recommend to congress such legisla-
ton concerning the Hawaiian islands as
they should deem necessary or proper
The commissioners having fulfilled the
mission confided to them. their report
will be laid before ye,u at an early day.
It is believed that their recommendations
win have the earnest consideration due
to the magnitude OF the responsibility
resting upon you to give such shape to
the relationship Of those mfd-Pacific ISL
ands 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 heritage. WHILE at the same
time, justifying the foresight Of those
who for three-quarters of a century have
looked to the assimilation of Hawaii as
a natural and inevitable contamination.
in harmony with our needs and in full
fillment of our cherished traditions. The
questions heretofore pending between Ha-
vail and Japan growing out of the al
legged mistreatment Of Japanese treaty
immigrants were, I am pleased to say,
adjusted before the act Of transfer by
the payment Of a reasonable indemnity to
the government of Japan. Under the
provisions Of the joint resolution the
existing customs relations of the Ha-
waiian islands with the United States and
with other countries remain unchanged
until legislation shall otherwise provide
The consuls of Hawaii here and in 9TH
err countries, continue to fulfill their COM
mercial agencies. while the United States
consulate at Honolulu Is maintained for
all proper services pertaining to trade
and the revenue. 1t would be desirable
that all foreign consuls in the Hawaiian
islands should receive new exequaturs
from this government The attention of
congress is called to the fact that our
consular offices having ceased to exist
in Hawaii and being about to cease in
other countries, coming under the sover-
eighty of the United States, the provis-
ions for the relief and transportation of
destitute American seamen in these coun-
tries under our consular regulations will
in consequence terminate. 1t is proper,
therefore, that new legislation should be
enacted upon this subject. in order to
meet that changed condition. r
Total Casualties Of tho War.
Referring to the number Of casualties
| during the war, he says: Nj
1.-THE total casualties in killed and
| wounded In the army during the war was
| as follows: officers killed. %; enlisted
men killed. 257; total, $50; officers wound
ed. 113; enlisted men wounded, 1,464; total.
| 1877. Or the navy: Killed, II: wounded,
/ g.: died as result of wounds, l. inyalided
| from service, 6; total. 81. 6s,!
ut will be observed that while our navy
was engaged in two great battles and in
| numerous perlous undertakings in block
| AIDES and bombardment, and more than
/ fifty Thousand of our troops were trans
! ported to distant lands and engaged in
| assault and siege and battle and many
| sk,rmishes in unfamiliar territory, we
! lost in both arms Of the service a total of
1,66S killed and wounded; and in the en-
! tire campaign by land and sea we did
not lose a gun or flag or a transport
or a ship. and with the exception OF the
crew of the Merrimac, not soldier or
sailor was taken prisoner. Aug. Z. forty.
six days from the date of the landing OF
Gen. Skaters army in Cuba, and TWEEN
| ty-one days from the surrender Of San
4 tiago, the United States troops COM
menced embarkation for home and our
entire force was returned to the United
States as early as Aug. q. They were alb
sent from the United States only two
4 months It is fitting that I should bear
i testimony to the patriotism and devotion
Of that large portion Of our army which,
4 although eager to be ordered to the pos.
Of greatest exposure, fortunately was not
A required outside Of the United Suites
They did their whole duty, and, like their
comrades at the front, have earned the
i gratitude Of the nation. In like manner
4 the officers and men Of the army and
Of the navy who remained in their de-
partments and stations Of the navy, per
Z forming most important duties connected
with the war, and whose requests for as-
signment in the field and at sea It was