The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-19
THE MESSAGE.
A Review OF the Haw allan Situation Based
on Hiount'- Report.

A Review OF the Haw allan Situation Based
on Biounrs Report.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 1s.-President Cleveland's
message on Hawaiian affairs which was sent
70 Congress to-day. is as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
In my recent annual message to tho Con-
gress. I briefly referred to our relations with
Hawaii and expressed the intention OF trans
hitting further information on the subject
when additional advices permitted. Though
am not able now to report definite change In
the actual situation, | am convinced that tho
difficulties lately created both here and in
Hawaii. and now standing in tho way OF a solu-
tion through Executive action OF the problem
presented. render it proper and eSpedient that
the matter should be referred to the broader
authority and discretion OF Congress. with
full explanation OF the endeavor thus far made
to deal with the emergency and a statement OF
the considerations which have governed my
action.
suppose that right and justice should de-
termine the path to DO followed in treating
this subject. II national honesty is to be dis
regarded, and desire for territorial extension
or dissatisfaction with a form OF government
not our own Is TO regulate our conduct. l have
entirely misapprehendod the mission and
character OF our Government and the behavior
which the conscience OF our people demands
Of their public servants.
When the present Administration entered
upon lis duties. the Senate had under consld-
Grafton treaty providing for the annexation
OF the Hawaiian Islands to the territory OF the
United States. Surely. under our Constitution
and laws the enlargement OF our limits is a
manifestation OF the highest attribute OF SOW
ereiRnty. and. IL entered upon as an executive
act, all things relating to the transaction
should be clear and free from suspicion. Ad-
dttional importanceis attached to this peculiar
treaty OF annexation. because it contemplate
departure from unbroken American tradi-
tion In providing for the addition to our terri
tory OF islands OF the sea more than 1000
miles removed from our nearest coast
These considerations might not OF them-
selves call for Interference with the compile
tion Of treaty entered upon by previous
Administration. But II appeared from the
documents accompanying tho treaty whom
submitted to tho Senate that the ownership OF
Hawaii was rendered 10 us 10y Provisional
Government to succeed tho constitutional
ruler OF the islands. who had been dethroned
and 1t did not appear that such Provisional
Government had the sanction Of either popular
revolution or suffrage
Two other remarkable features OF the trans
action naturally attracted attention. Ono was
the extraordinary haste. not to say precipi.
tancy. characterizing all the transactions con-
nected with the treaty. IL appeared that a So
called Committee OF Safety. ostensibly the |
source Of the revolt against tho constitutional
Government OF Hawaii. was organized on
Saturday. the 18th day OF January; that on
Monday. the 10th. the United States forces !
were landed at Honolulu from a naval vessel |
lying In Its harbor; that on the 18th tho |
scheme OF a Provisional Government was per- |
fected and proclamation naming its officers !
was on the same day prepared and read |
At the Government building; that immedi- |
atsly thsreupon the United States Minister
veeoRnized the Provisional Government thus |
created that two days afterwArd. on the |
18th day OF January. Commissioners repre-
senting such Government sailed for this coun- !
try in a steamer especially chartered for the /
2sth day Of January. and in Washington On
the Sd day OF February; that next day they had
State. and another on the 18th. when the
treaty annexlng was practically agreed upon.
and on the 18th transmitted TO the Senate.
. Thus between the initiation Of the scheme
18th OF January and the submission 70 the
Senate Of the treaty Of annexation concluded
with sSsh Gove dJy ;, the ePtire Interval
spent by the Hawaiian Commissioners in their
Journey to Washington.
paper submitted with the treaty, 1t clearly APP
Deared that there was open and undetermined
The message Of the President notwithstanding
the treaty declared that " the overthrow OF the
monarchy was not in any way promoted by |
this Government" and in a letter to the PTesl- [
lent from the Secretary Of state. also submit !
cd to the Senate with the treaty the follow
Ing passage occurs:
Al the time she Provisional Government took pos !
.esslon q the Government buildings troops ON.
ss o. the nted states we're present took
aAtsssr n the proceedings No pabic rscogn tOu
nltsa states Minister uhtl after tie queens abiirA
ion ana When they we're IN elective pcssesSOn
oEefn ment buidtnga ths archives ths Treasury the
ffaehA ths police station. ani All the pOtenIA!
'hlasFy OF the Government
But protest also accompanied said treaty
'lgned oy the Queen and her Ministers al the
Ime she made way for the Provisional Gov
sthnsnt, which explicitly stated that she /
ssteiaed 20 the superior force OF tho Iuitad Z
2tAteS. whose Minister had caused United / /
sitatei HOOPS to be landed at Honolulu and de-
i isLel that No would support such Provisional I
1oIernment The truth or falsity Of this prO- ! 4
sst Eas surely Of the first Importance. If tTus { I
lothlng but the c0ncealment OF Its truth could ! u
n1les our government 10 negotiate with the {
lem 3lAnee OF Government thus created nor ! 1
,olil treaty Resulting from the facts stated | I
n the protest have been knowingly deemed | I
Iorthy OF consideration BY the Senate. Vet 1
ne uqth or ialslty OF the protest had not been a
conceived It 10 be ny duty. therefore. to
withdraw the treaty from tho senate Tor eN- 4
animation, and meanwhile 70 cause an ac- / 4
ufqte. tull ana Impartial inYestIga 70 bs ! d
nAdc OF the facts attending the subyersion ot h
he coAsututionnl GOYernment OF Hawaii / a
md 10 lnstallmont Ia its place Of the 0
'E9ilslsaAl GoYernDaRt ! selected for the 8