President Dole said that, in case of annexation, Hawaii had in view no
radical changes in legislation.
"The treaty provides," he said, "for the appointment by the President of
the United States of a commission authorized to formulate and recommend
to Congress the legislation and forms of government for Hawaii.
"The matter of franchise is now specifically provided for by our laws.
For those who elect Senators there is a property and educational
qualification; for those who elect Representatives an educational
qualification. All electors must take an oath of allegiance to the
present Government and renounce allegiance to monarchy.
"There is a strong sentiment on the island against allowing Chinese and
Japanese to become citizens. There are cases where these races have
acquired the ballot, but they are very few, and the sentiment is adverse
to their becoming citizens.
"The natives are all citizens, and would have the right of franchise.
Under the regulations now governing the franchise, about 4,000 votes
were cast in the election of 1894, and about 3,000 at the more recent
election."
President Dole made a glowing picture of the benefits that this country
would receive from annexation. It would greatly encourage commerce
between the United States and Hawaii by making the trade absolutely
free, and it would open up to Americans a great many industries, the
chief among them being coffee-growing.
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