The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-31
! HE WAIIAN MATTER.
MINORITY REPORT or COMMITTEE
ON FOREIGN AFBAIBS.
1T Is An Aggressive Document, and Mar
rates the Incidents OF Blounts Appoint
meat, His Instruction., etc.

W Aotli-N1IO O-Nf ~ - -S1Ns W. hel 2
will be a field day In the House Of Rep
resentatives on Hawaiian matters on
Friday next, in all probability.
1t is the present understanding that
the majority and minority resolutions
Of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on
the Hawaiian situation, will be taken up
on that day for discussion and action.
There viii be no report from the ma
jority Of the committee. The substitute
for the Hit and Boutelle resolutions
were agreed 10 by the Foreign Affairs
Committee on the last day but one of
the session before the holiday recess.
The chairman, Representative McCreary,
OF Kentucky had no time to prepare a
report other than a mere formal an
nouncement Of the committees action
and its recommendation that the substi-
tute be passed. Mr. McCreary added an
appendix containing a portion Of the cor
respondence upon the Hawaiian question,
including those documents which viii
probably be most in demand In the course
OF the debate. The other matter which
would naturally have been included in
the committees report MIR. McCreary
will use in a speech on the subject.
Report of the Minority.
The report Of the minority is an ag-
eressive document, prepared by Bellamy
Storer. OF Ohio. at the request Of Mr..
HIT 1t Is also signed by Messrs. Hit
Harmer. Blair, Draper. and Van NooThis,
constituting the entire Republican minor
itv of the Committee on Foreign Anairs
The report narrates the incidents or
Blounts Appointment. three days aIter
Clevelands administration was In oiice.
while the Senate was in session. ana
quotes the instructions given MIN, ana
asserts that in this appointment the IIes'-
dent ignored the plain language Oh the
Constitution defining and limiting MS
nowers. 1t proceeds as follows:
II Is unwritten but universally accepted
law that no administration Of any rep
resentative government ever condemns
the international policy Of preceding
administration, for in so doing IL Wou'u
attack its own government
Praising Minister stevens.
our attention cannot be diverted from
the question. which most profoundly
Affects our system of government. by
attacking congressional or admnisrd-
! tion acts of the minister of the United
states I'm January. 1893. While we think
IT clear that Minister Stevens conduct
was not only iustifable and necessary
but praiseworthy and patriotic this Is
not the time to discuss the subject.
A resolution that the House should in
vestigate the occurrence in HAWAII, IN
January. 1893, so as to near the
question before a committee in when
both political parties might be represent
ed. offered by member Of the minority
lies unconsidered
H. 90 ff
committee I'm their zeal 90 attack the
former administration, rather than TO
defend the present one 10 pre-iudge
without hearing to vilify without eX-
animation, 10 ignore resolution TO in
vestigate, and 10 condemn without in
vestgaton.
Condemning Blounts Course.
The people Of the United States are
widely divided in their opinions upon the
occurrence i'm Hawaii. which resulted in
the establishment Of the present govern
ment We are confident, even upon
the ex-parte results Of Blounrs activity
and zeal that a vast majority of the
intelligent thought of this country con-
demns his methods and discredits his
conclusions. To charge a minister pleui-
potenuary of the United States with
fraud, falsehood. and wlful violation of
the law on the strength Of Blounts activ-
ity and his Recommendation alone, rs
all that the majority Of the committee
can find IN this great subject worthy Of
their attention.
The matters the minority have comment
ed on In relation TO the present cause or
events are not I'm doubt or in question.
Nothing has been considered or cited but
the solemn official records Of the govern
ment and the language used by the
President I'm person or through the Secre-
tary Of state. TO ignore these burning
facts, and try TO cOuhne the discussion %
what occurred I'm January, 1893. and try
TO cover from the eyes of the people the
violations of the Constitution. of law,
and Of precedent by the present Executive
is political cowaardice, and, II success
fun would be political fraud.
The report analyses the situation Great
ed by Minister Willis instructions, and
says no specific orders were given as to
Willis course In case both parties were
willing to abide by the Presidents COM
mands.
1t asks what would the situation become
, I'm this case.
II then goes on to say;
Not Question OF Annexation.
There is no question here before us Of
a HAONIltNN
of Minister Stevens action, for as 10 that
we know only one side prepared by ~
| agent hostile 20 the administration. of
which Stevens formed a part. There Is
no ground Of debate now as 20 whether
! the present Hawaiian government was
rightly or wrongly established twelve
months ago. The issue is directly before
the House whether TO approve and COM
mend the course OF the present admins
tration as disclosed by itself IL a PreA-
dent without the consent of the Senate,
can send a paramount diplomatic officer
10 supersede a minister leaving the lat
ter only routine duties he may do il IN
Great Britain or in Germany as well as
in the Hawaiian Islands. That officer,
according 70 the Presidents apologies, g.
only the Presidents commissioner, az s
not an officer in the diplomatic service of
the United States. The same right as
serted here 70 appoint an ambassador un-
der the rame of 81 commissioner would
allow the President 20 appoint any agent
OF his own without conference with any
other branch Of the government 10 cxer-
else judicial functions paramount 10
judges already in Office by and with the
Senatcs consent.
A Significant Fact
IL is a significant fact that thus far no
resolution in either house OF Congress has
been introduced approving the opinion OF
the Secretary OF state or endorsing the
Presidents action. II the Administration 5
purpose 10 re-insiate the queen WAS right,
Congress must carry ii OUT, for the Presi-
dent has at least shullied his policy of
his hands TO be acted on by the legisla-
tive branch Of our Government. When the
majority are prepared to fulhl the Prcsi-
dents behests. It must propose legislat ti0n.