Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-19

nothing nut the tOnceNlUeUb VI v . " |
could induce our government TO negotiate
with the semblance of a government thus
created. nor could n treaty resulting from |
the acts stated In the protest have been
knowingly deemed worthy OF consideration
of the senate. |
Yet the truth or falsity OF the protest had
not been investigated. ! conceived IL 10 DC
my duty therefore to withdraw the treaty
from the senate for examination, ana mean
while TO cause an accurate, full, and Impair
tial Investigation to be made OF the facts
attending the subversion OF the constitu-
tional government of Hawaii and the in
stallmeDt in its place of a provisional gov
m
selected for the work of investigation
Hon, James II. Blount OF Georgia whose
services OF eighteen years as a member OF
the house Of representatives and whose ex-
pcrience as chairman OF the com
mittee on foreign affairs in that
body and his consequent familiarity
with international topics, Joined with MS
high character and honorable reputation,
seemed TO render him peculiarly htted Tor
the duties entrusted 10 him.
Both President and senate Misled.
His report detailing his action under the
instructions given to him and the conclusions
derived from his investigation
this message. These conclusions do not rest
for their acceptance entirely upon MT.
Blount's honesty and abitity as Il mar nor
upon his acumen and impartiality as an in
vestigator. They are accompanied by the
evidence upon which they are based, when
evidence is also herewith transmitted and
from which it seems to me no other ueuuc-
tions could possible-be reached than those
arrived at by the commissioner.
The report, with the accompanying proofs
and such other evidence as Is now before
the congress or Is herewith submitted,
~justifes in my opinion the statement that
when the president was led to submit the
treaty to the senate with the declaration
that 1.-THE overthrow of the monarchy was
.A,A.t az hF This vnunr
ment,' ana when the senate was induced TO
receive and discuss it on that basis both
president and senate were misled.
stevens Hand In the Project.
The attempt will not be made in this com
muGication TO touch upon all the facts whlch
throw light upon the progress ana consum-
nation Of this scheme of annexation. "A very
brief and imperfect reference to the facts
and evidence at hand will exhibit its char
acter and the incidents in which it had its
birth. 1t is unnecessary to set forth tne
reasons which in January, l:pS,
Americans and other foreign merchants
and traders residing at Honolulu TO
favor the annexation of laval to the
United States. 1t is sufficient to note the
fact and to observe that the project was one
which was zealously prompted By the
minister representing the United states IN
that country. He evidently had an ardent
desire that it should be accomplished by his
agency and during his ministry and was not
inconveniently scrupulous as to the means
employed to that end.
Letter that Showed His Leanings.
On the 10Th day of November, 1892, nearly
two months before the first over tact tending
toward the subversion of the Hawaiian gov
eminent and the attempted transfer OF the
Hawaiian territory to the United States, he
addressed n long letter to the secretary OF
state, in which the cause for annexation was
deliberately argued on moral. political and
economical grounds. He refers to the loss
TO- the Hawaiian sugar Interests from
the operation of the Mckinley bill
and the tendency to the still further
depreciation of sugar property unless some
positive measure of relief is granted. he
strongly inveighs against the existing
Hawaiian government ana emphatically
declares for annexation. He says: in
truth the monarchy here Is an absurd
anachronism. 1t has nothing on which to
logically or l~egitjmately stand. The feudal
basis on which il once stood. no longer eX-
-. isting, the. monarchy W IS, only an lmpedl-
mcut to good government, an obstruction TO
the prospePitNand progress of the islands"
He further says 5"As u crown colony of
Great Britain Or u Sterritorys OF The United
States the government notifications could
he made readily and good administration of
future interests of the United States in the
Pacific ocean clearly indicate who ut II dis
tant day may be responsible for The govern.
ment of these islands. Under II territorial
SOVBrNulSHU buGN COuiu Do iSy easily RoFtTlCu
as any of the existing territories of the
United States. :
Hawaii has reached the parting of the
ways. She must nav. take the road which
leads to Asia or the other which outlets her
in America, gives her an American civiliza-
tion and binds her to the care of American
destiny"
Annexation or Frotectorate
-, He also declares: p "One of two courses
seems to me absolutely necessary to be fol
1ouvaH- .ithn. hold md ViUpt.png mnp Surpa
for annexation or IL customs union. an ocean
cable from the California coast to Honolulu,
Pearl harbor perpetually coded to the United
States. with an implied but not expressly
stipulated protectorate over the islands.
believe the former toll be the better course
that which will prove the more advantage
Gus to the islands and the cheapest and
least embarrassing to the United States. II
1t was wise through Secretary Marcy, thirty
eight years ago, TO offer to expend Sl0O, 00t
to secure u treaty of annexation, IL certainly
cannot be chimerical or unwise to eXpenC
$780, 600 to secure annexation IN the neal
future. Today the United States has five
times the wealth she possessed in 1854. ant
reasons now existing for annexation ar,
much stronger than they were then. can
not refrain from expressing the opinion. will
emphasis, that the golden hour is at hand. >
These declarations certainly show o dis
position and condition of mind which ma.
be usefully recalled when interpreting tn,
significance of the minister's conceded act!
or when considering the probabilities of suci
conduct on his part rs may not be admitted
Timely ..Dsviation."
In this view it seems proper to also quot
n letter written by the minister to the secre
tary of state on the Sth day of March, 1892
nearly a year prior to the first step take,
toward annexation.
After stating the possibility that the cxis,
ing government of Hawaii might be oven
turned Dy an orderly ana peaceful revolu
tion, Minister Stevens writes MS follows
'Ordinarily, in like circumstances, the rul
seems to be to limit the landing of the Unite
States forces in foreign waters and domir
ions exclusively to the protection of til
United States legation and OF the lives an
property of American citizens. But as tn
relations of the United States to Hawaii AZ
exceptional, and In former years the Unite
States officials here took somewhat exceI
tional action in circumstances of disorder,
desire to know how far the present ministe
and naval commander may deviate from o.
tablished international rules aud precedent
in contingencies indicated in the first part {
this dispute
HIS Cup of Joy Was Eull.
To IA minister of this temper, full OF re;
for annexation, there seemed TO arise
January, 1893. the precise opportunity Il
which he was watchfully waiting, an oppo