Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-12-19
HAWAIIAN MESSAGE
The President Gives Con-
greSS His Views.
A VERY CLEAR STATEMENT.
A Review of the Action of Minister
Stevens Justice Desired

WASHINGTON, Dec. l9.-The presidents
pesponse 10 the resolutions passed by both
houses OF congress requesting information
On Hawaiian affairs, and especially to the
nature OF the instructions given to Min
lster Willis, was sent into congress today.
The message of the president was as fol-
lows:
Message TO the Senate and House of Represen-
tativesi
In my recent annual message TO the con-
gress briefly referred to our relations with
Hawaii and expressed the intention Of trans
mitting further information on the subject
when additional advices permitted.
Though l am not able now To report a def-
ute change IN the actual situation, l am con-
vinced that the difficulties lately created both
here and in Hawaii, and now standing in the
way of "A solution through executive action OF
the problem presented, render IL proper and
expedient that the matter should be referred
to the broader authority and discretion OF
| congress, with a full explanation of the en-
deavor thus far made TO deal with the emerg-
sncy, and a statement of the considerations
which have governed my action.
suppose that right and justice should de-
termine the path 10 be followed In treating
this subject. II national honesty is to be dis
regarded, and a desire for territorial sxten-
sion, or dissatisfaction with a form OF gov
srnment not our own, ought TO regulate our
conduct have entirely misapprehended the
mission and character of our government and
the behavior which the conscience of our peo-
pie
Demands Of Their Public Servants.
When the present administration entered
upon It's duties the senate had under consider
alton treaty providing for the annexation Of
the Hawaiian Islands 10 the territory OF the
United States- surely under our oonsti-
futian and "A Wa IA m nlar af ON nmita
IL manifestation OF the highest attribute OF
sovereignty. and IL entered upon as AN execu-
tive act, all things relating to the transaction
should be clear aud free from suspicion.
Additional importance attaches TO this
particular treaty OF annexation, because It
contemplated q departure from unbroken
American tradition in providing for the addi-
ton 10 our territory OF islands of the sea more
than 2Uo miles removed from our nearest
coast.
These considerations might NOT of them
selves call for Interference with the COM
plexion OF treaty entered upon by a previous
administration, but IL appeared from the doc
uments accompanying the treaty when sub
mitted to the senate that the ownership OF
Hawaii was rendered to US by provisional
government set up 10 succeed the constitu-
uonal ruler OF the island, who had been de-
throned, and 10 did not appear that suoh pro-
visional government had the sanction OF either
popular revolution or suffrage
Two other remarkable features of the trans
action naturally attracted attention. One as
to the extraordinary haste-not TO say pre-
cipitancy-charactsrizing all the transactions
connected with the treaty. 1t appeared that
q so-oalled committee of safety, ostensibly the
source of the revolt against the constitutional
government of Hawaii, was organized on
Saturday, Jan. IL that on Monday, the 18th
United States Forces Were Landed
at Honolulu from a naval vessel lying in its
harbor; that on the 18th the scheme of a pro-
visional government was perfected. and a pro-
olamation, naming its officers, was on the
same day prepared and read at the govern
ment building; that Immediately thersupon
the United States minister recognized the pro-
visional government thus created; that two
days aftsrward, on the 10th day of January,
commissioners representing such government
sailed for this country in steamer especially
chartered for the occasion, arriving In San
Fra lcisco on the Ssth day of January, and in
Washington on the ID day of February; that
on the next day they had their first interview
with the secretary of state, and another on
the llth, whom the treaty OF annexation was
practically agreed upon, and that on the l4th
IL was formally concluded, and on the 18th
transmitted to the senate.
Thus between the initiation Of the scheme
for provisional government In Hawaii on the
l<th day Of January, and the submission to
the senate of the treaty Of annexation con-
oluded with such government, the entire in
boINhl wac ~ udyb, 10 VI wan rpent ny
the Hawaiian commissioners in their journey
TO Washington.
In the next place, upon the face of the
papers submitted with the treaty, it clearly
appeared that there was open and undeter-
mined an issue Of fact Of the most vivid i'm
portance.
The mes sage Of the president accompanying
the treaty declared that the overthrow of the
monarchy was not in any way promoted by
this government" and In a letter to the presi-
dent from the secretary of state, also submit
tod TO the senate with the treaty the follow
ing passage occurs:
AT the time the provisional government
took possession of the government buildings
no troops or officers Of the United states were
present or took any part whatever in the pro-
oeedings. No public recognition WAS accorded
TO the provisional government by the United
States minister until after the queens abdica-
tion, and when they were In effective posses
sion OF the government buildings, the archives.
the treasury, the barracks, the police station
and all the potential machinery of the govern
ment.
But q Protest Also Accompanied
said treaty. signed by the queen and her min
listers at the time and made way for the pro-
visional government, which explicitly stated
that she yielded TO the superior force of the
United States, whose minister has caused
United States troops TO be landed at Honolulu
End declared that he would support such pro-
sisional government.
The truth or falsity Of this protest was
surely Of the FIRST Importance. IL true, MOTH
ing but the conosAlment Of its truth could
induce the government to negotiate with the
ssmblancs OF = government thus created, nor
could treaty resulting from the acts stated
In the protest have been knowingly deemed
worthy Of tho consideration by the senate.
Yet the truth or falsity Of the protest had not
been Investigated
Iooncsived IL to be my duty, therefore, to
withdraw the treaty from The senate for ex-
animation. and meanwhile TO cause an accur-
ate, full and impartial Investigation to be
made of the facts attending the subversion Of
the constitutional government OF Hawaii, and
the instalment in its place of the provisional
government. | selected for the work of in-
vsstigation Hon. James ii. Blount Of Georgia,
whose service Of Is years as member Of the
houss Of representatives. and whose expert
ence as chairman Of the committee Of foreign
affairs In that body and his consequent famil-
iarity with International topios, Joined with
mis- high character and honorable reputation,
seemed to render him peculiarly fitted for the
duties entrusted to him.
His Report Detailing His Action,
under tho instructions given 10 him, and the