HAWAII. 



88] 



annex Hawaii, hut as a matter of course none 

 hut tin 1 ordinary le^al means can he used to per- 

 suadc tin-so people to come into the I'liiied 

 Statr-." In Hawaii there was fear of British in- 

 terfiTeiH !. and when the British cruiser "Gar- 

 net " arrived, shortly after the American flag was 

 lioi^t cd,preparRtions were made for defense. 



The Treaty of Annexation. On .Ian. 1!) the 

 connnissioners sailed on a specially chartered 

 steamer for San Francisco, bringing the draught 

 of a treaty of annexation. The Queen's attorney. 

 Paul Neumann, applied for passage on the same 

 vessel, in order that he might present her case to 

 the American Government, but it was refused. 

 The annexation commissioners arrived in Wash- 

 ington on Feb. 3, and discussed the treaty with 

 the Secretary of State. They had another inter- 

 view on the llth, when the terms were practi- 

 cally agreed upon, and on the 14th the treaty 

 was formally concluded. 



The treaty provided that, until Congress de- 

 termines otherwise, the existing Government 

 and laws of Hawaii will continue, subject to the 

 paramount authority of the United States. A 

 resident commissioner will be appointed with 

 power to veto any acts of the Government. Un- 

 til the necessary legislation has been enacted 

 the existing foreign and commercial relations 

 will be continued. The further immigration of 

 Chinese will be prohibited, and the Chinese now 

 in Hawaii will not be permitted to enter the 

 United States. The United States will take 

 over the public debt, amounting to $ 3,250,000, 

 and will pay an annual allowance of $20,000 to 

 Queen Liliuokalani, and a lump sum of $150,000 

 to Princess Kaiulani. The sugar producers will 

 not take part in the bounty under the McKinley 

 law unless Congress so enacts. 



In accordance with international law, treaties 

 between two countries expire if either contract- 

 ing party ceases to be an independent state. The 

 treaties concluded by Hawaii will, therefore, ter- 

 minate upon annexation. 



Among the documents accompanying the 

 treaty, as it was submitted to Congress, was a 



let t IT from the dejtosed Queen to President Har- 

 rison, praying that no action should )x< taken 

 until her envoy could l>c heard, and (it-fining her 

 position in the following language: 



Sunn- ot' my subject*, aided l'\ ulii-nn, have re- 

 nounced their loyalty und revolt. -d against tl 

 stitutional (JoviTiiincrit of my kingdom. They have 

 attempted to depose me und to establish a provisional 

 irovcrnmeiit. in direct conflict with the organic law 

 of this kingdom. Upon receiving incontestable proof 

 that his Kxcellency the minister plt-ni]>ntcntiary of 

 the United State* aided und abetted their unlawful 

 movement* and caused United States troops to be 

 landed for that purpose, I submitted f<> force, be- 

 lieving that he would not have- aetcd in that manner 

 unless l.y the authority of the (i<> eminent which lie 

 repress 



This action on my part was prompted by three rea- 

 sons : The futility of a conflict with the United 

 States; the desire to avoid violence, bloodshed, and 

 the destruction of life arid projN-rfy ; and the certainty 

 which I feel thut you and your (iovcrnmcnt will 

 right whatever wrongs may have been inflicted upon 

 us in t h<- premises. 



In due time a statement of the true facts relatini: to 

 this matter will be laid l>efore you, and I live in the 

 hope that you will judge uprightly and justly be- 

 tween myself and my enemies. This appeal is not 

 made for myself personally, but for my people, w ho 

 have hitherto always enjoyed the friendship and 

 protection of the United States. 



The treaty was laid before the Senate for its 

 action on Feb. 15. President Harrison, in his 

 message, submitting the treaty, which was based 

 on the statement of facts embodied in a report 

 of Secretary Foster, said : 



It is deemed bv the Government more desirable to 

 annex the islands than to proclaim a protectorate 

 over them. The United States in no way promoted 

 the overthrow of the monarchy, which originated in 

 what seems to have been a reactionary revolution 

 against the policy of Queen Liliuokalani, imperiling 

 foreign interests. It is evident that the monarchy 

 was effete, and that the Queen's Government has 

 been a prey to designing persons. The restoration of 

 the monarchy is undesirable, if not impossible. It i.t 

 essential that none of the other great powers shall 

 secure the islands, as this would be inconsistent with 

 our safety and the peace of the world. 



A VIEW IN THE ISLAND OF HAWAII. 



