Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 June 1897 — M’KINLEY’S MESSAGE. [ARTICLE]

M’KINLEY’S MESSAGE.

Communication Which Accompanied the Treaty to the Senate. The following is the text of the message Sint to the Senate by President McKinley to accompany the Hawaiian treaty: To the Senate of the United States: I transmit herewith to the Senate, In order that ufter due consideration the constitutional function of advice and consent may be exercised by that body, a treaty for the annexation of the Republic of Hawaii to the United States, signed in this capital by the plenipotentiaries of the parties on the 16th of June lustant. For the better understanding of the subject I transmit. In addition, a report of the Secretary of State briefly reviewing the negotiation which has led to this important result. The Incorporation of the Hawaiian Islands into the body politic of tlie United States is the necessary anil fitting sequel to the chain of events which, from a very early period of our history, has controlled the Intercourse and prescribed the association of the United States and the Hawaiian Islands. The predominance of American Interests In that neighboring territory was first asserted In 1820 by sending to the Islands a representative agent of the United States. It found further expression by the signature of a treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation with the King in 1820—the first international compact negotiated by Hawaii. It was signally announced In 1843, when the Intervention of the United States caused the British Government to disavow seizure of the Sandwich Islands by a British naval commander and to recognize them by treaty as an Independent stnte, renouncing forever anypurpose of annexing the Islands or exerting a protectorate over them. In 1851 the cession of the Hawaiian Kingdom to the United States was formally offered, and, although not then accepted, this Government proclaimed its duty to preserve alike the honor and dignity of the United States and the safety of the Government of the Hawaiian Islands. From this time until the outbreak of the war In 1861 the policy of the United States toward Hawaii aud of the Hawaiian sovereignty toward the United States was exemplified by continued negotiations for annexation or for a reserved commercial union. Tlie latter alternative was at length accomplished by the reciprocity treaty of 1875, the provisions of which were fenewed and expanded by the convention of 1884, embracing the perpetual cession to the United States of the harbor of Pearl River in the Island of Oahu. In 1888 a proposal for the Joint guaranty of the neutrality of the Hawaiian Islands by the United States, Germany and Great Britain was declined on the announced ground that the relation of the United States to the islands was sufficient for the end In view. In brief, from 1820 to 1893 the course of the United States toward the Hawaiian Islands has Consistently favored their autonomous welfare, with the exclusion of all foreign Influences save our own, to the extent of upholding eventual annexation as the necessary outcome of that policy. Not only Is the union of the Hawaiian territory to the United States no new scheme, but it Is the inevitable consequence of the relation steadfastly maintained with that mld-Paclfic domain for three-quarters of a century. Its accomplishment, despite successive denials and postponements, has been merely a question of time. While Its failure In 1893 may not be a cause of congratulation, it is certainly a proof of the disinterestedness of the United States, the delay of four years having abundantly sufficed to establish tlie right and the ability of tlie Republic of Hawaii to enter, as a sovereign contractant, upon a conventional union with the United States, thus realizing a purpose held by the Hawaiian people and proclaimed by successive Hawaiian governments through seventy years of their virtual independence upon the benevolent protection of the United States. Under such circumstances, annexation Is not a change; it is a consummation. The report of the Secretary of State exhibits the character and course of the recent negotiations and the features of the treaty Itself. The organic and administrative details of incorporation are necessarily left to the wisdom of the Congress, and I cannot doubt, when the function of the constitutional treaty-making power shall have been accomplished, the duty of the national legislature in the case will be performed with the largest regard for the interest of this rich lusulSr domain and for the welfare of the inhabitants thereof. WILLIAM M’KINLEY.