The Helena independent., 1893-12-19

GCuGlV0s
Showing Clearly How Stevens Got tho
Country into the Muddle-Ths Hon
orabls Way Out
WARRINGTON. Dee. 18.-Psssidsnt Clsve-
land sent to congress to-day his message
on the Hawaiian question. together with oil
the correspondence and papers bearing on
the case. Ihe message, which WAS read in
both houses. is a. follows:
To the Senate and House OF Rspresents.
tives: In my reoent annsal message Il
congress briefly referred to our rslationi
with Hawaii. and EXPRESSED the intention
Of transmitting further information on the
subject when additional advices permitted
Though am not able now to report a def
mite change in the actual situation, an
convinced that the difficulties lately created
beth he,e and In Hawaii and standing in
the way of q solution through executive 40
tion of the problem presented. render II
proper and expedient that the matter
should be referred to the broader authority
and discretion Of congress. with full OK
PLANTATION Of tho endeavor thus far made ia
deal with the emergency and a statement OF
tho considerations which have governed my
action.
upon its duties the senate had under con-
siderstion treaty providing for the annex
alton of the Hawaiian islands to the terri
tory OF the United States. II appeared
from documents accompanying the treaty
whom submitted to the senate shat the own
srship of Hawaii Was rendered to us by q
Irovisional government set mp to succeed
the constitutional ruler Of the Islands, who
had been deth-oned. and II did not appear
that such provisional government had the
sanction OF either popular revolution o.
suffrage. Two other remarkable features
OF the transaction naturally attracted ar
tsntion.f One was the extraordinary haste.
not to say prscipitancy, oharaoterizing all
the transactions connected with the treaty,
Between tho initiation of the scheme for q
provisional government in Hawaii. Jan. IA.
and the submission to tho senate of treaty
of annexation to be concluded with suoh
government, the entire interval was thirty
two days. fifteen of which were spent by the
Hawaiisn commissioners in their journey
In the next place, upon the face of pape,
submitted with she treaty. il clearly ap.
reared that there was open and undsteT-
mined an issue of fact OF the mort vital
importance. Tbs 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
letter to tho p ssident from the secretary
OF state. also submitted to the senate with
the treaty, the following passage occurred
''At the time the rrovisional government
took possession of the government build
inRE. no troops or officers of tho United
States were present, or took any part what
ever in the proceedings"
But a Protest also accompanied said
treaty. signed by tho queen and her minis
ters at the time sto made way for the pro-
visional government. which explicitly
stated that she yielded to the superior forct
Of the United States. whose minister had
caused United States troops to bs landed
at Honolulu and declared that he would
support such provisional government. This
truth or falsity Of this protest was surely
of the first Importance. II true, nothing
hut q concealmsnt of Its truth could in
duce our government to negotiate with the
semb!aAce OF q government thus created.
nor could treaty resulting from the actl
stated in tho protest have been knowinaly
deemed worthy of consideration by the
test had not been investigated.
conceived IL to be my duty, tho efoYs tc
withdraw the treaty from the senate fol
examination. and meanwhile to cause an
accurate. full, impartial inveatiRation to be
made of tho facts attending the subversieu
and tho installmens in its placo OF ths pro-
visionaf government. l selected for ths
work of investigation Hon. James II.
Blount. OF Georgia. who seemed peculiarly
lifted for tho duties entrusted to him. Hia
report detailing his action under the in
struotions given him, and the conclusions
derived from his Investigations, accom-
accompanying proofs. and such other evi-
dence as 10 now before congress. or here
with transmitted, jussifies, in my opinion.
tho statement that when the president wal
led to submit the treaty to the senate. with
the declaration that "the overthrow of the
this government" aud when the senate
was induced to receive aud discuss ii on
that basis. both the president and the sen
ate were inisled.
A very brief and imperfect reference to
the facts and the evidence on hand will ex.
hiblt its character and tho incidents in
which it had its birth. 1t is unnecessary to
1898. led a considerable portion OF tbs
American and Other foreign merchants and
traders residing at Honolulu TO favor ths
annexation OF Hawaii to tho United States.
1t 10 sufficient to note the fact and to OBJ
We that the project was ono zsalously
promote by the minister representing the
United States In that county. He svi-
IDENTITY had an ardent desire that II should
become fact accomplished by his agency.
and during his ministry, and was not moon
ns%.E.' %s.H. 'enpe1ed ,nSa'Gs' 10 tha. end. o. O.
Nov. 10. 1892. he wrote q lette,
orntsly argued, on moral. political and
econ nomioal grounds. 'In truth tho mon.
archy hore 10 an absolute anachronism. II
has nothing on which IL logically or Iegiti,
matsly stands. The feudAl basis on which
it once stood no longer existing, tho mon
nrohy now is only an impedimont to good
governments and an obstruction to the pros
pe,ity aud pr oRross of tho islands,"
In 4 letter TO tho state department, dated
Feb. !, 1893. he declares: The Hawaiian
wear is now fully ripe. and this 10 the COLDER
hour for the United States to pluck IT,
AZ n further illustHation of tho activity oi
this diplomatio representative. attention il
called to the fact that, on tbs day the above
lettor was written. apparently unable lonRsl
to restrain bis ardor. he issued proclama.
ton whereby in the name Of the United
Stntes" hs assumed the rrotection OF tn,
Hawaiian islands. and declsred that sale
action wns taken ''pendinR and subject Il
negotiations at Waahington." OF course
this assu pt,on OF n proteGtorate wa,
promptly cisRvowed by our governments
| but the American flag remained over th,
govern ment building ~ Houolu y. and ou,
forces remsined on Ruard until Ap Il, nnt
after Blount arrived on ths scene, whct