Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-12-08

and treaty al annexation had been
negotiated between the provisional
government al the islands and the
nitcd States, and submitted to the
Senate for ratification. This treaty !
Withdrew ior examination and dis
patched Hon. James II. BlOunt, OF
Georgia. to Honolulu, a. Il special
commissioner To- make an impartial
investigation oi the circumstances at
tending the chan" ii government and
OF all conditions earring upon the sub
JeCt o! the treaty. After Il thorough
and exhaustive examination, Mr..
Blount submitted to me his report,
showing beyond all question that the
constitutional government oi Hawaii
had been ,uhvcrted with the active aid
OF our representative t. that govern
ment and through the intimidation
caused by the presence OF an armed
naval force OF the Cni'ed States,
which was landed for that purpose at
the instance Of oar minister.
iNNl nj I lipNf Nv " ilisls.
Upon the facts developed it seemed
to me that the only honorable course
for our government to pursue was to
undo the wrong that had been done
10y those representing us, and to re-
store, as far as practicable, the status
existing at the time of our forcible in
tervention. With n view OF accom-
plishing this result, within the con-
stitutional limits OF our executive
power, and recognizing all our obliga-
tons and responsibilities growing out
Of any changes in the conditions
brought about by our unjusttiable in
reference, our present minister at
Honolulu has received appropriate in
structions to that end. Thus far no
information of the accomplishment of
any definite results has been received
from him. Additional advices are
soon expected. When received, they
will be promptly sent to Congress,
together with all other information at
hand, accompanied by special execn-
tive message detailing the acts neces-
sary to complete understanding of
the case, and presenting history of
all the material events leading up to
the present situation.
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
The legislation of last year, known
as the Geary law, requiring the regis
tration of all Chinese laborers entitled
to residence in the United States and
the deportation OF all not complying
with the provision of the act within
the time prescribed, met with much
opposition from Cinnamon in this
country. Acting upon the advice OF
eminent counsel that the law was I'M
constitutional, the great mass of
Chinese laborers, pending judicial in
quiry as to its validity, in good faith
declined to apply for the certificates
required by its provisions. A test
upon proceeding by habeas corpus
was brought before the Supreme Court,
and. May Is, 1898, decision was
made by that tribunal sustaining the
law. 1t is believed that under the re-
cent amendment of the act extending
the time for registration, the Chinese
laborers thereto entitled who desire to |
reside in this country will now avail
themselves of the renewed privilege |
thus afforded by establishing by lawful
procedure their right to remain, and |
that thereby the necessity of enforced |
deportation may, to great degree, be
avoided.
MURDER OF MISSIONARIES IN CHINA.
1t has devolved upon the United
States minister at Pekin, as dean of
the diplomatic body, and in the alb
sence of representative OF Sweden
and Norway, to press upon the Chinese
government reparation for the recent
murder OF Swedish missionaries at
Sung Pu. This question is of vital in
terest to all countries whose citizens
are engaged in missionary work in the
THE SILVER PURCHASES.
The purchases of silver under the
law OF July IA, 1890, during the last
fiscal year aggregated 54,OOS. l62 so
fine ounces, which cost $45, 531 ,374.53.
The total amount of silver purchased
from the time that law became opera
tive until the repeal of its purchasing
clause, November /, 1898, was 1885,
STA .590.46 fine ounces, which cost
S155, $780, 40.84. Between March l.,
1873, and November l, 1898, the Gov
eminent purchased under all laws
SOB, O03.7l7 fine ounces of silver, at
cost of $5l6,622 ,946. The silver dol.
lars that have been coined under the
act of July IA, 1880, number 36,OS7,-
2S5. The seigniorage arising from
such coinage was $6,977 $3.50. leav-
ing on hand in the minis 40,699. 760
fine ounces of silver, which cost $780,.
57S,2lS. Our total coinage of all met
ais during the last fiscal year consisted
of:
Pieces Observation-Disclosures. 97,2s0,s75