Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-12-22

Washington, Dec 1S.-In response
to the resolution Of the senate Presi-
Icnt Cleveland today transmitted 10
congress q special message on the
Hawaiian question. In opening the
message the president says though he
is unable to report any definite change
III the actual situation, he is convinced
that the difficulties lately created both
here and in Hawaii are standing in
the way Of a solution through execu-
tive action, rendering it eXpedirnt that
the matter be referred 10 congress.
the message then says: Il suppose
that right and justice should deter
mine the path to be followed in treat
ing this subject. If national honesty
is to be diSrcgarded and a desire for
territorial extension or dissatisfaction
with q form Of government not our
own is to regulate our conduct l have
entirely miSapprchcndcd the mission
and character Of our government and
the behavior which the conscience Of
or pcopl demands Of public servants
When the present administration en-
tered upon its duties the senate had
under consideration 4 treaty providing
for the annexation Of the Hawaiian
islands to the territory Of the United
States Surely under our constitution
and laws the enlargement Of our
limits is manifestation Of the highest
attribute Of sovereignty. and if en-
tered upon rs an executive act, all
things relating 10 the transaction
should be clean and free from SUS
picion Additional importance" is at
tached to this peculiar treaty Of an
ncXatiom because il contemplated Il
departure from the unbrokcn American
tradition in providing for the addi-
ton to our territory Of the islands of
the sea more than two thousand
miles from or nearest coast These
considerations might not of them
selves call for interference with the
completion Of the treaty entered upon
by the previous administration. But
il appeared from the documents ac-
complaining the treaty when submit
ted to the senate that the ownership
Of Hawaii was rendered to the United
states by a provisional government
Sci up 10 succeed the constitutional
ruler Of the islands, who had been
dcthroncd and it did not appear that
such provisional government had the
sanction either Of popular revolution
OF suffrage"
The president then refers to what
hr terms the ',eNtlHordinary haste,
not to say prcciptancy," which char
acterizrd all The proceedings leading
M "a the negotiations Of the treaty
and then its submission to the senate,
showing that from the initiation of
the scheme for Il provisional govern
mrnt till the submission Of the treaty
10 the senate, only thrty-two days
elapsed, fifteen Of which were con
sumed by the Hawaiian commission
crS in Il journey to Washington. The
president says the treaty was not only
thus hastily negotiated but also in
fact no investigation WAS made into
the disputed question of the fact of
most vital imFt: lance, to-Wit, whether
the revolution was accomplished
through the aid of United States naval
forces stationed in the harbor at Homo
lulu President Harrison, in the mes
sage accompanying the treaty, de
dared that the "oyerthrOW of the
monarchy was not in any way pro
NOTED by this government and the
secretary Of state said in an accom-
panying document: NO public recog-
milton was accorded the provisional
government by the United States min
lister till after the queens abdication,'
but protest accompanied the treaty,
S, Gned by the queen and her ministers,
which explicitly stated that she yield
ed to the superior force of the United
States whose minister had caused
United States troops to be landed and
Z, clarcl lie would suppoct the provis
iGnal government. The presid ant con-
tinues The truth or falsity Of this
protest is surely of first Importance
Ii true, nothing but c,ncealment of
its truth could in,.uce our government
to negotiate with the Semblance Of 4
government thus treated, nor could
i treaty resulting rom the acts stated
i'll the protest lave been knowingly
deemed worthy of consideration by
the senate Yet the truth or falsity
Of the protest has not been investi-
gated
The president then says he conceived
it to be his duty to withdraw the treaty
pending such investigation and tells
of the appointment of Mr.. Blount to
the work on account of his long SER
vice in congress- his experience as a
member Of the committee on foreign
affairs and his high character. He
refers to Blount'S report as evidence
that in submitting the treaty with the
statement that this government had no
part in oyerthrowing the queen, both
President Harrison and the senate
were misled He adds that the truth
Of BlouutS conclusions are not depend
ent merely on Blount'S word of honor
or his impartiality but is conclusive
" shown by evidence which he sub
mitted with his report.
The message passes by With Il mere
reference TO the fact that consider
able portion of American and foreign
and traders in Hawaii III
january, 1893. favored annexation to
the United States. 1t then takes up
and deals at solae length with the part
Minister Stevens played toward foster
ing annexation. quoting from a letter |
written by him to the secretary of
~