River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-12-08
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
The President Recites the SituRtton
wIth Reference to the Islnnds.

Pending the consideration by the senate
Of the treaty signed June I6, 1897, by the
plenipotentaries of the United States and
OF the republic of Hawaii, providing for the
annexation Of the islands, joint resolution
TO accomplish the same purpose by accept
ing the offered concession and incorporat-
ing the ceded territory into the union was
adopted by the congress and approved
July Z, 1883 l JhereUpon directed the
United States steamer Philadelphia 10 con-
Vey Rear Admiral Miller to Honolulu, and
entrusted to his hands this important leg
islative act, to be delivered 10 the presi-
dent OF the republic of Hawaii, with whom
the admiral and the United States minis
ter were authorized to make appropriate
arrangements for transferring the soYer-
eighty of the islands 10 the United States
This was simply but impressiYely accom-
pliShed on the 18th of August, last, by the
ton 10 President Dole, who thereupor
yielded up TO the representative OF the gov
eminent of the United States the soFer-
eighty and public property of the Hawaiian
Pursuant to the terms of the joint resolu-
ton and in exercise of the authority there
by conferred upon me. / directed that the
civil, judicial and military powers there
tofore exercised by the officers of the gov.
continue to be exercised by those officers
until congress shall provide a government
for the incorporated territory, subject TO
my power to remove such officers and to fiji
vacancies. The president, officers and
troops of the republic thereupon took the
oath of allegiance TO the United States,
thus providing for the uninterrupted con-
tinuance of all the administrative and
municipal functions of the annexed terri
tory until congress shall otherwise enact.
Following the further provision OF the
joint resolution ] appointed Hon. Shelby
NJ. Cullom, of Illinois; John T. Morgan, OF
Alabama; Robert r. Hit, of Illinois, San
ford B. Dole, of Hawaii, and Walter F..
Grear, of Hawaii, as commissioners to con
fer and recommend to congress such legis-
lation concerning the Hawaiian islands Is
they should deem necessary 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 those
mld-BacifC 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 heritage, while, at the same time.
justfying the foresight Of those who for
three-quarters of century have looked to
the assimilation Of Hawaii as a natural
and inevitable contamination, in harmony
with our needs and in fulfllment of our
cherished traditions.
The questions heretofore pending be
tween Hawaii and Japan, growing out OF
the alleged mistreatment of Japanese
treaty immigrants. were, I am pleased to
say, adjusted before the act of transfer by
the payment of a reasonable indemnity tC
the government of Japan.
Under the provisions Of the joint resolu-
tion the existing customs relations Of the
Hawaiian islands with the United States
and with other countries remain I'M
changed until legislation shall otherwise
provide. The consuls of Hawaii, here and
in foreign countries continue to fulfll their
commercial agencies, while the United
States consulate at Honolulu is maintained
for all proper services pertaining TO trade
and the revenue It would be desira bic that
all foreign consuls in the Hawaiian islands
should receive new exequateurs 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 SOW
erttgnty OF the United States, the provi-
siOns for the relief and transportation Of
destitute American seamen in these CouU-
tries under our consular regulations Will
in consequence terminate. Il is proper
therefore, that new legislation should be
enacted upon this subject n order to meet
that changed condition.