The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-28
OVERTHROW OF THE QUEEN
The SenatG'S Inquiry Into the ReVO-
luton Begun.


He Speaks Highly of the Men
at the Head of the Provisional
Government.
Washington, Dec. 27-The sub-commit-
tee of the Senate committee on foreign
relations, which was charged with the
inquiry into the events leading up to the
revolution in Hawaii, the installation of
the provisional government and the con-
duct of the executive branch of this gov
ernment in the matter, met very promptly
at 10 O'Clock this morning at the capitol
But one member of the subcommittee
was absent, Senator Butler, of South
Carolina, who was spending the holidays
in his native state, The members present
were: Senator Morgan, chairman, and
Senators Gray, of Delaware, Frye, of
Maine, and Sherman, of Ohio. Aside
from the rather unusual promptness
shown by the members of the sub-com-
mittee in assembling, there were other
signs of determination to prosecute the
inquiry with vigor and earnestness.
THE BASIS OF THE INVESTIGATION.
A stenographer was installed and bust
ness was begun at once with the reading
of the resolution under which the COM
mittee Is acting. 1t is as follows:
Resolved, That the committee on for
eign relations shall inquire and report
whether any, and if so, what irregulari-
ties have occurred in the diplomatic or
other intercourse between the United
States and Hawaii in relation to the re
cent political revolution in Hawaii, and
to this end said committee is authorized
to send for persons and papers, and to
administer oaths to witnesses.
Two witnesses awaited at the door of
the committee room while these prelimi-
naries were passing They were Rev. o.
P. Emerson and Surveyor General Alex
ander, both citizens of Hawaii and both
believed to be in strong sympathy with
the provisional cause.
Rev. Emerson is a native of Hawaii, but
was educated in the United States. He
is at present secretary Of the Hawaiian
board of missions.
Prof. Alexander has been ia Washing
ton for few weeks past, and has been
stopping temporarily at the Hawaiian
legation here.
REV. EMERsoN's STORY.
Rev Emerson was the first and only
witness heard today He is about As
years of age, and told the subcommittee
that he had spent nearly all the years of
his life on the Hawaiian Islands. He was
well acquainted with King Kalaukua, and
events OF the troubled region of the po-
tentate, treating at length of the revision
OF the constitution, to which Commis-
sioner Blount, in his report, attributes
nearly all Of the troubles that have since
occurred on the islands. He was
ABOUT Honolulu during the overthrow
OF Queen Liliuokalani and the landing of
the Boston's forces, and the establish
ment of the provisional government and
told the committee of all these events of
which he was an eye witness. Rev. En-
erson, in his capacity of secretary of the
Hawaiian missionary board, had occasion
TO travel extensively over the islands, and
was in consequence of his. visits well
acquainted with the people and their
characteristics. His Office or headquart-
ers was in Honolulu, and at the time of
the overthrowof the queen he was in that
city, and so became an eye witness of the
whole trouble.
NOT oUsTED BY OUR MARINES.
He told the subcommittee that the
United States naval forces were landed
at Honolulu because of threats which had
been made against the persons and prop
erty of American citizens He was posi-
tive they took no part in the overthrow
OF the queen, and lent no aid to the men
who established the provisional govern
ment
Rev. Emerson has personal acquaint-
oilOS Wlbu VIC men Sb Ou6 u6du VI buc OK
listing government and paid them high
tribute as men of honor and integrity
he remained in Hawaii until after the de-
parture of Commissioner Blount, coming
to the United States in order to attend
the religious congress at the worlds fair
He left the islands about the time, or lit
tie before, the arrival of Minister Willis.
The committee adjourned at l rs o'clock
until next Tuesday morning. The
sergeant-at-arms was notified to sub
pena number of witnesses who will be
IN attendance on that day, among them
Prof. Alexander, the surveyor general of
the islands, who is anxious to get back
to Hawaii in order to escape the winter
weather, and whom the committee was
unable to examine to-day, and exMin-
lister Stevens, who will reach Washing
ton before Tuesday morning.
szoREoY OF THE INQUIRY.
The committee will adhere to its con-
clusion to conduct the inquiry in secret,
not with view Of concealing the facts
from the people, but in order to prevent
the publication of anything that might
interfere with our relations with any for
elgn government, Hawaii especially, and
Iof the further purpose of preventing ex-
pressions and sentiments of purely per-
sonal nature which may crop out during
The investigation from finding publicity.
But Chairman Morgan is credited with
an intention to insist upon the utmost
publicity as to the findings and the con-
clusions of the committee after they have
been prepared for submission to the Sen
ate.
TWO LETTERS WANTED.
The two letters which were withheld
from the correspondence sent to congress
VIII be called for by the committee, and
u is thought that the President will not
refuse to submit them. 1t was argued
thls morning that these letters were alb
Solutely essential to full understanding
Oy the committee of the conditions OF the
country before and after The revolution
mat resulted in the overthrow of the
queen and the tablishment of the pro-
Vlslonal government. One of these let
uers was from Minister Willis, sent to the
state department shortly after his ar
rival on the islands, and presumably the
one which caused the change in the pol
ICY OF the administration. The other was
from Minister Stevens when he was still
~ ~ charge Of the affairs of this country in
LETTER FROM THURsToN.
=. Another letter about which, up to this
Time, very little has been said, is one
written by Minister Thurston to Secre-
tary Gresham just before his departure
70 Hawaii. The speech OF Senator Hoar
~ Jhe Senate the other daV indicated