The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-14
HAWAII ADRIFT.

ESpeclal care was taken in framing
the treaty of Paris to guard against
giving citizenship outright to the in
habitants of the coded Spanish possess
sions. The language of article is: 1.-THE
civil rights and political status of the
native inhabitants of the territories
porto Rico and the Philippines here
by coded oUthe United States shall be
determined by congress-" The signifi-
canoe of these words is best estimated
when compared with the language en-
ploved in the treaties whereby Florida
was made over to us by Spain and
Louisiana by France. The Louisiana
treaty. article 8, reads as follows: THE
inhabitants of the ceded territory shall
be incorporated in the union of the
United States, and admitted as soon as
possible, according to the principles of
the federal constitution, to the enjoy
ment of all the rights, advantages and
| immunities of citizens of the United
States"
The provisions of article 6 of The
Florida treaty are substantially the
same That is to say, in both these
earlier treaties there was an explicit
declaration of the governments inten-
! ton to erect the new territory into
states. and it is fair to assume that no
such stipulation would have been made
| if it had not been deemed necessary.
| The absence of such a provision from
| the treaty of Paris, indicates that the
administration had no intention Of iu-
| cooperating the Spanish islands within
the United States, or making their O.
pie citizens but rather to hold the is
Lands as dependencies.
The terms of the annexation resolu-
| ton would seem to place Hawaii in a
class by itself, and not in the same cat
| egory with the Spanish cessions. Here
| are specimen phrases from that instlu-
ment: "They (the Hawaiian islands,
are hereby annexed as a part of the
| territory of the United States" Until
congress shall provide for the govern
ment of such islands," the existing re-
gime shall continue under the authority
! of the president. "Until legislation shall
be enacted extending the United States
customs laws and regulations 70 the
Hawaiian islands," the existing insular
| system shall continue in force. Finally.
the president is required to appoint FIVE
commissioners, who shall as soon as
reasonably practicable, recommend to
| tell
the Hawaiian islands as they shall
deem necessary or proper"
Here is an implied intent that some
time or other, Hawaii may be allowed
the rank of territory at the discre-
ton of congress, and consequently be
made eligible to statehood. The
strongest suggestion of this intent is
found in the provision for the ultimate
extension of the customs laws to Ha-
wall. Still, congress is not bound to
make this extension at any time, and
| it might postpone such action indefi-
nitely The language of section 1 i'm
plies the erection of civil govern
ment, but apparently the commission
may recommend and congress may cs-
tablish any kind of government II sees
! fit. whether it be colonial territorial or
even military. At present the islanders
enjoy species of home rule, and by
the procrastination of the commission
ers or congress, it might be continued
indefinitely. The difficulties attending
settlement; of the franchise, the tar
if and the labor question might easily
| delay congressional legislation for a
long period. Thus, aside from the i'm
piled intent, which seems to nave no
absolute binding force, the status of
Hawaii does not materially differ from
that Of Porto Rico or the Philippines.