The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-12-27
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER %. 1898.
CONGRESS IN CONTROL.


WASHINGTON, Dee. 1S.--The Presidents
response to resolutions passed by both
houses requesting information ON Ha.
yaiian affairs was sent to Congress to-
day. In the message the President says
'In a recent annual message to Con
gress | briefly referred to our relations
with Hawaii and expressed the intention
of transmitting further information on
the subject when additional advices per
mitted. Though not able now to report
any definite change in the situation |
= ap sonyinced 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 it proper and eNpedi-
ent that the matter should now be re-
ferred to the broader authority and dis
erection of Congress with a full eN-
PLANTATION of the endeavors thus
far made to deal with the en-.
Urgency and effect settlement
Iof the difficulty with q statement of the
Considerations which governed my
action. l suppose right and justice
should determine the path to be fol-
lowed in treating this subject. When
the present Administration entered
upon its duties the Senate had under
consideration the treaty providing for
the annexation of the Hawaiian
Islands territory to the United
States. Surely under our Constitu-
- . ,1., farrt #
our limits is a manifestation of the
highest attribute of sovereignty, and
should be entered upon with extreme
caution. and all things relating to the
transaction should be free from sus-
picion, Additional Importance attaches
to this particular treaty of annexation
because of the contemplated departure
from the unbroken American tradition
respecting the providing of additional
territory.
"These islands of the sea are more
than two thousand miles removed from
our nearest coast. These considerations
might not of themselves call for inter
ference with the completion of the
treaty entered upon by the previous
administration, but it appeared from
documents accompanying the treaty
when submitted to the Senate that the
ownership of Hawaii rendered to us by
the Provisional Government set up to
succeed the constitutional ruler of the
Islands, who had been dethrOned, hadnot
the sanction of either popular or reyolu-
tionary suffrage. 1t appeared that the So
called Committee of Safety. Osteusibly
the source of revolt against the Con
stitutional Government of Hawaii, was
organized on Saturday, the nth day OF
January. that on Monday the 10th, the
United States naval forces landed at
Honolulu from a vessel lying in the
harbor. that on the 18th the scheme Of a
Provisional Government was perfected,
and proclamation naming its officers
was On the same date prepared and read
in the Government building; that
thereupou the United States Minis
ter recognized the Provisional Govern
ment thus created; that two days after
wards, the 10Th day of January, the
commissioners representing such Gov
eminent sailed for the United States
in a steamer specially chartered for the
occasion, arriving at San Francisco on
the 2Sth day of January and in Wash
ington on the Sd day of February; that
on the next day they had their first
interview with the Secretary of State,
and another on the 18th, when the
treaty of annexation was practically
agreed upon: on the 18th 1t was for
mally concluded and on the 10Th
tran, mitted to the Senate. Thus be-
tween the initiation of the scheme for
Provisional Government of Hawaii on
the 18th day of January and the trans
mission to the Senate of the treaty of
annexation concluded with such Gov
eminent. the entire interval was thirty
two days, fifteen Of which was spent by
the Hawaiian commissioners in their
journey to Washington. In the next
place. upon the face Of the papers sub
mitted in the treaty. it clearly appeared
there was an open and undetermined
issue of the most vital importance.
The message Of the President accompa-
nying the treaty declares: The over
throw of the monarchy was not in any
way prompted by this Government,
and in the letter from the President 70
the Secretary Of State, also submitted 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 proceedings. no public recognition
was accorded to the Provisional Gov
eminent by the United States Minister
until after the Queens abdication, and
when they were in effective possession
of the Government buildings, the arch
ives Treasury. barracks Police station
and all potential machinery Of Govern
ment.'
''But a protest also accompanied it
which said the treaty was signed by the
Queen and her ministers at the time she
made way for the Provisional Govern
ment, which explicitly stated that she
yielded TO the superior force Of the
United States. whose Minister had caused
United States troops to be landed in
Honolulu, he declaring thath he would sup /,
port such Provisional Government The
truth or fasity of this report is surely I
OF the first Importance the truth or
falsity of the report has not been in /
vestigated. | conceived it my duty. /
therefore, to withdraw the treaty from
the Senate for investigation to be made. 1
| suggested for the work Of investiga-
ton Hon. James II. Blount Of Georgia, .
his report detailing his action under the .
instructions given him and the conclu-
sions derived from this investigation to
accompany this message. These con-
clusiousare accompanied by the evidence
upon which they are based, which evil
dence also is herewith transmitted, and
from which it seems no other deductions
could possibly be reached than those ar
rived at by the commissioner"
The President says that when he was
led to submit the treaty to the Senate |
with the declaration "the overthrow of
the monarchy was not in any way pro-