Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-12-23
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
Submits a Message to Congress on
the Hawaiian Question.
Minister Stevens is Blamed for tho Queens
Overthrow-A A History of the Revo-
luton Based on Blount's Report
The Whole Matter Left
to Congress.


was sent to both houses yesterday fore
noon. The president said:
In my recent annual message 10 the congress
briefly referred to our relations with Hawaii
and expressed the intention OF transmitting
further information on the subject when addi
tional udvices permitted
Though am not able now to report o definite
change in the actual situation, am convinced
that the difficulties lately created both here and
In Hawaii render IL proper and oXpedient that
the matter should be referred to the broader
authority and discretion of congress, with
statement OF the considerations which have
governed my action
II national honesty Ia to be dlsregarded and o
desire for territorial extension or dissatisfac-
s'on with form Of government not our own
ought TO regulate our conduct, have entirely
misapprehendcd the mission and character OF
our government and the behavior which the
confidence of our people demands of their public
servants. When the present administration
entered upon its duties the senate had under
consideration II treaty providing for the annex
alton OF the Hawaiian islands 10 the United
States
After reviewing briefly the history OF the Of
fair up to his Inauguration, that is up to the sub
mission TO the senate of the treaty Of annex
alton, Mr.. Cleveland says
Upon the face of the papers submitted with
tho treaty IL clearly appeared that thore was
open and undetermined an issue of fact OF the
most vital Importance Tho message OF the
president accompanying the treaty declared
that "the overthrow Of the monarchy was not in
any way promoted by this government" and in
aletter TO the president from the secretary of
state, also submitted to the senate with the
treaty, the following passage occurs: lat the
time the provisional government took posses
sion 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 provis-
ional government by the United States minis.
ter until after the queens abdication and when
they were in effective possession of the govern
ment buildings the archives the treasury, the
barracks, the police station and all the poten-
tial machinery Of the government"
But protest also accompanied said treaty,
signed by the queen and her ministers Mt the
sine she made way for the provisional govern
ment. which explicitly stated that she yielded
to he superior force OF the United States,
whose minister had caused troops to be landed
at Honolulu and declared that he would sup
port such provisional government
The truth or fasity of this protest was surely
OF the first Importance II true nothing bat
the corcealment OF its truth could induce our
government 10 negotiate with the semblnnce of
agovernment thus created, nor could u treaty
resulting from the acts stated in the protest
have been knowingly deemed worthy OF consid-
Grafton by the senate. Yet the truth or falsty
of tho protest had not been investigated
Iconceivod IL 10 be- my duty therefore to
withdraw the treaty from the senate for exam
inatiou and meanwhile to cause an accurate.
full and impartial investigation to be mldc of
the facts attending the subvcrsion of the con
stitutional government of Hawaii and the in
sta lment In it's place OF the provisional govern
menL selected for the work OF investigation
Hon. James IL Blount, OF Georgia.
. These conclusions do not rest for their accep.
tance entirely upon Mr.. Blount's honesty and
ability as man, nor upon his acumen and i'm.
partality MS an investigator. They are accom-
panied by the evidence upon which they are
based, which evidence l. herewith transmitted
and from which II seems to me no other deduc
tons could possibly be reached than those or
rived ut by the commissioner
The report with its ace mpanying proofs and
such other evidence as is now before the con
gress or is herewith submitted, justiles, in nv
opinion he statement that when the president
was led to submit the treaty 10 the senate with
the declaration that "the overthrow of the mon
archy was not IN any way promoted by this
government and when the senate was induced
to receive and discuss it on this basis, both the
senate and president were mised.
The attempt will not be made in this commu
nication to touch upon all the facts which throw
light upon the progress and consumnation o
this scGeme OF annexation A very brief unt
imperfect reference to the facts and evidence Il
hand will exhibit its character and the incidents
ia which II had It's birth
II is unnecessary TO set forth the reasons
which in january, 1898, led considerable pro
portion of American and other foreign mer
chants and traders residing at Honolulu, 10 ia
vor the annexation OF Hawaii to the Unite,
States 1t is sufficient to note the fact and L
observe that the project was one which wa
,ealously promoted by the minister represent
ing the United States in that country. He evi
IDENTIFY hal an ardent desire that IL should be
some y fact accomplished by his agency an
during his ministry, and was not incopvenient
sorUpulous ns TO the means employed 10 tina
end On Hovcmber 10, 1892, oearly two month
before tho first overt act unding towards tn
5ubversion of the Hawaiian government and tn
attempted transfer of Hawaiian territory to In
United States, he addressed long letter TO III
secretary of STATE in which the case for annex
alton was elaborately argued, on moral, polit
:al and economical grounds
TO n minister OF this temper, full of zeal 10
annexation, there seemed to arise in Jan nrS
l5J3. Tho precise opportunity for which he wa
watchfully waiting opportunity which b
timely deviation from established Information
al rules and precedcntS" might be improved I
successfully accomplish the great object i
view; and We are quite prepared for the e1
ultant enthusiasm with which in letter to tn
state department dated February |, 1898 h
declares: "The Hawaiian pear is now full
ripe and this Ia the golden hour for the Unite
States TO puck II"
AS n further illustration OF the activity OF thi
dip omatlc representative attention is called
the fact that on the day the above letter wa
written, apparently unable longer to restrain hi
ardor, he issued proclamation whereby "in III
name OF the United States" he assumed tn
protection of tho Hawaiian islands and declare
that said action was taken pending and subjeC
to negotiations ut Washington"
IN the 10Th day of january 1893, between
and O'Clock In the afternoon, detachment {
mariLes from The United States steamer DO.
ton with Two pieces OF artillery, landed d
Honolulu Tho men, upwards OF lt0in all wer
supplied with double cartridge belts filled wat
ammunition. This militury demonstration upo
the soil Of Honolulu was of itself an uct OF wal
unless made with either the consent of the gov
ernment of Hawaii or for the bona flde purpos
of projecting the imperilled lives and propert
Of citi2cus OF the United States. But there
no such pretense OF any such consent on tn
part OF the government OF the queen. which a
thnt time undisputed and was both the d
facto and tho de jure government There is Ii
tie basis for the pretense that such forces wer
landed for tho security OF American life an
property. II so they would have been statione
In tho vicinity of such property and 30 rs
protect II inst ad of ut a distance and so us
command The Hawaiian government buildin
and palace.
Thrs II nnnenra that Hawaii xras tn1rcn no,