Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1898 — MADE THEM A LAW. [ARTICLE]

MADE THEM A LAW.

, President McKinley Signs the Heao> lutionH Annexink Hawaii to the United States. Washington, July B.—lt was by a ceremony of the simplest character that the resolutions annexing the Hawaiian islands to the United States Thursday evening were enacted finally into law. It occurred in the cabinet room of the executive mansion, ana omy six persons besides President McKinley were present. Those who comprised the group were George B. Cortelyou, assistant secretary to the president; Alonzo H. Stewart, assistant doorkeeper of the senate; Capt. B. F. Montgomery, of the signal corps, who is in charge of the war room at the white house; Capt. Charles Leffler, the president’s confidential messenger, and George B. Frease, postmaster of Canton, the president’s home city. Precisely at seven president affixed to the resolutions the words which made them law. The necessary orders were given during the day to start the Philadelphia for Hawaii, carrying Admiral Miller with a notice of the action of the United States government and direction to United States Minister Sewell to take formal possession in the name of the United States. The Philadelphia is selected because she is the best United States warship available for the purpose on the Pabific coast. The Hawaiian legation here has taken steps meanwhile to get lhe earliest neyvs from Honolulu through telegrams to their consul at San Francisco, who will dispatch them on the Coptic to-day. It is the view of the Hawaiian authorities that Hawaii became a part of the United States on the moment that the president attached his signature to the resolution congress. The annexation is said to be complete without any further action, here or in Hawaii. At the same time it is possible that the Hawaiian legislature may pass a resolution similar to the one passed by our congress. While it is said that this was not necessary, yet It will be a formality accomplished, and remove every possible chance for quibblr over thr —regain rity of the procedure. Louis M. Thurston, Hawaiian commissioner, explains the status thus: The Hawaiian senate unanimously ratified a treaty of annexation, •This, in effect, was a tender of Hawaii to the United States. Now the United States accepts the tender, by a joint resolution of congress signed by the president. The tender and acceptance Complete the act.