The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-04-23
The Hawaiian Disgrace.

II has at last become apparent
that the Hawaiian annexation can.
not be- carried out under the form
OF treaty and it is now proposed to
accomplish the outrage by joint
resolution, which can be passed by
majority vote. There can be nc
question that the constitutional me-
thod OF making such an annexation
is by treaty, and the advocates OF
this action have conceded this by
undertaking to make treaty and to
have it ratified in the usual way
All the negotiations thus far have
been under the form OF treaty max
ing, and The action Of the Hawaiian
Government has been in the same
line, but inasmucb as the necessary
two-thirds majority cannot be OBJ
tanned in the sense it is now pro.
posed to evade, and practically to
nullify the constitution by making
the annexation by joint resolution.
Senator Morgan has already intro
duced resolution recognizing the
Hawaiian Government as right.
full one with power to exercise all
rights Of sovereignty and conclud-
ing with this paragraph:
"And said government OF the Re-
public OF Hawaii having, in due
form, signi6ed its consent in the
manner provided in its constitution
that the Hawaiian Islands with all
the territory appurtenant thereto,
over which said government now
claims to exercise sovereign jurisdic-
ton, shall be annexed to and become
part of the United States OF Am
erica and shall be subject to the
national power and sovereign juris-
diction thereof. 1t is hereby enact
ed and declared that said cession is
accepted, ratified and confirmed,
and that said Hawaiian Islands are
annexed as part OF the territory Of
the United States and are subject to
the sovereign dominion thereof"
1t is announced that a.change Of
policy in this line will be considered
in the meeting Of the Senate com
mittee on foreign relations to. day.
Certainly such an evasion of the
constitution would be a fitting eli
max to this business which has been
a source Of national disgrace from
the beginning. Starting with the
overthrow OF friendly govern
ment by American adventures
through the unjustifable aid Of an
American diplomatic representative
and an American naval force, every
step since then has been merely one
OF dealing with the conspirators
whom we thus unjustly aided, and
we cannot relieve ourselves of the
breach Of morality by appropriating
the spoils of the transaction by a
method in defiance Of our own con
stitntion. Such action shows q
realization OF the constantly grow
ing sentiment against the annexa-
ton in the United States. The sub
ject has been discussed at great
length everywhere, and the public
understand that annexation mean.
the admission to our territory of 9
horde of uncivilized and degraded
people who are wholly unified foi
self government, the addition oil
territory that cannot be contsm.
plated as one OF the states OF the
union without repugnanoe, and ar
entry on a policy Of colonization
and foreign extension that is con
trary to traditional American sen
timent. The people are not il
favor of annexation. They have not
been since the first glamor of ter
ritorial extension passed away from
this scheme. Their feeling towarc
it will be lessened by the PROPOSE
tion to accomplish it by evading thu