The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-12-01
Mn. DAVIS ELUCIDATES.

Hawaiian Middle.
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 24.-The Tribune
ublishes . long interview with United
hates Senator Cushman K. Davis ON
be Hawaiian situation. The distin-
uihed member of the senate committee
o foreign relations readily acquiesced,
nd seating himself in an easy chair,
ictated for nearly al hour to the re-
)orter.
After giving a history of the islands
rom the beginning of the century, in
luding a former attempt at annexation,
p to a year ago Mr.. Davis said:
shortly before the deposition of the
ueen n year ago, serious questions
rose between her and her cabinet.
Phereupon she attempted to change the
institution Of the country in respects
bought to be inimical to free constitu-
Onal government. Thereupon some of
er white subjects, mostly, if not all,
escendants Of the early United States
p~lonists, formed q committee of public
bfety and then a provisional govern
pent, and compelled her to sign an act
~abdication.
The Point Of Difference.
Right there a difference Of version
Rists, Mr. Stevens, IL minister under
be Harrison administration, asserts that
e did none of the acts which are charged
gainst him in Mr.. Blount's report until
be institution Of the provisional govern
fent had been fully consummated.
"On the other hand, Mr.. Blount as
Frts that this body Of marines was sent
thore AS part and parcel of the plot to
verthrow the government. Imme-
hately after the provisional government
!as established it sent TO Washington
britain OF its representatives with full
Cwer to treat for annexation, and the
sult was a treaty between the United
tates and Hawaii, providing for such
nnexatiOn. This was in the closing
lonths of President Harrison's admins
Patton and was under consideration by
be senate when Mr.. Cleveland was i'll
ugurated. One of the first acts of
Resident Cleveland was to withdraw
hat treaty from the consideration of the
fnate. sending MI. Blount to Honolulu
investigate and report, the recall of
Pr. Stevens (Which was a matter of
purse upon change Of administration,
hd the appointment of Mr.. Willis as
rs successor as minister.
Conducted With Mystery.
1.-THE whole business has been con-
|ucted with a deal Of mystery by the
resent administration. 1t is only within
day or two that the public has been
Plowed to know what Mr.. Blount did or
eported, and does not yet know what
E. Willis instructions were or what
Y has done. If the suImise lis correct
pat Mr.. Willis has been commissioned
interfere with the concerns of Hawaii
such an extent a. to change the form
government and rciu~late the queen,
Is an interference with the affairs of
p independent nation without the least
padow OF warrant Or any principle of
Fternational law.
This was the more So continued the
|nator, ''because the new government
Hawaii had been recognized by the
arrison administration, and was also
Pstinctly recognized by President Cleve-
md when he commissioned Mr.. Willis
minister, accrediting him to President
(ole and to whom Mr.. Willis presented
y credentials, and from whom he re-
Fived his recognition as minister. There
fve been all sorts Of rumors that Min
ter Willis has been directed by the
resent administration to use the naval
Prce of the United States to reinstate
p queen in case President Dole refuses
dispose himself and his gov
fnment in her favor. This is probably
Pere newspaper invention. l can not
Fheve that there is any foundation for
| Such an act would go far beyond
Pc unwarrantable interference l have
Poken of, and would constitute an act
war by this government upon Hawaii.
pch an act by the president without
authority of congress would be a
post distinct usurpation of power. The
Fesident has no more authority to de-
are war than the governor of Mime
ia. The constitution provides that
Pingress has the power to declare war;"
In closing Mr.. Davis thought even an
FIation would not be So bad a thing ~
amy people suppose.