Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-12-22
The Presidents Hawaiian Message.

| Hawaiian situation was sent to Congress
| Monday. Although document filling sew
eral columns it is disappointing in that,
! instead of throwing any new light on the
events which have taken place in Hawaii
| since the middle of last January, it con-
sists of little more than summary of the
| information already in possession of the
I public through Secretary Greshams letter,
or report, and other sources, supplemented
! by an argument in favor of his contention
| that the Harrison administration and Min
| lister Stevens were wrong in their course,
/ and showing why Mr.. Cleveland attempted
/ to restore affairs in the islands to the con-
dition which they were in before the
| provisional government was set up. The
/ gist of the first half and more of the mes
| sage is contained in summary of facts,
as he finds them, which Mr.. Cleveland
makes, after declaring his belief that "a
| candid and thorough exam nation of the
facts will force the conviction that the pro-
visional government owes its existence to
an armed invasion by the United States,"
and that "fair-minded people will hardly
claim that the Hawaiian government was
| overthrown by the people of the islands,
or that the provisional government has
| ever existed with their consent This is
| the language of the message:
As l apprehend the situation, we are
! brought face to face with the following con-
ditions: The lawful government of Hawaii
was overthrown without the drawing of a
] ~, II,
every step of which, it may safely be as
serted, is directly traceable to and depend
ent for its success upon the agency of the
! United States acting through its diplomatic
and naval representatives.
But for the notorious predictions of the
! United States minister for annexation, the
committee of safety, which should be
called the committee of annexation, would
/ never have existed.
But for the landing of the United States
forces upon false preteXts respecting the
danger to life and property, the committee
would never have exposed themselves to
the pains and penalties of treason by under
taking the subversion of the Queens gov
| ernment.
But for the presence of the United
States forces in the immediate vicinity and
in position to afford all needed protection
and support, the committee would not
have proclaimed the provisional govern
ment from the steps of the government
building.
And finally, but for the lawless occupa-
tion of Honolulu under false preteXts by
the United States forces, and but for Min
lister Stevens's recognition of the prov s.
ional government when the United States
forces were its sole support and constituted
its only military strength, the Queen and
her government would never have yielded
to the provisional government, even for a
time, and for the sole purpose of submit
ting her case to the enlightened justice of
the United States.
Believing that the annexation of the is
lands ought not to be accomplished under
such circumstances, Mr.. Cleveland con-
ceived the idea of tumblng over the pro-
visional government and putting the Queen
back on her throne, but he had not calcu-
lated upon the Queen becoming an obstacle
to his plan. He instructed Minister Willis
to inform her of his desire to restore the
status quo ante on condition of general
amnesty TO the revolutionists, and the re-
sumption of the government as if nothing
Queen did not accept, for the reason, doubt
less, that she knew she could not carry
them out, though the message does not so
state. Continuing the President says
The check which my plans have thus en-
countered has prevented their presentation
to the members of the provisional govern
ment, while unfortunate misrepresenta,
tions of the situation and exaggerated state
ments of the sentiments of our people have
obviously injured the prospects of success
full executive mediation In conclusion
he commends the subject ''to the extended
powers and wide discretion of the Con
gress," and with his own amusing air OF
omniscience and patronizing condescensiol
he graciously says: II desire to add the
assurance that shall be much gratified tC
cooperate in any legislative plan whicl
may be devised for the solution of the prob
lem before us which is consistent will
American honor, integrity and morality
The documents submitted accompanying
the message do not give a clear idea o
what the administration did or attempted
]
ton. The inference is, however, that th
use of force was not contemplated. Mr.
Clevelands idea appears to have been tina
so soon as the provisional governmen
knew that he did not approve of it it woul,
suspend business and retire, but instead i
put on the boXing-gloves and bade hin
"come On''-a demonstration which cause
him shock of digniied surprise.
The Presidents statement of the case i
essentially one-sided, from the fact that h
omits to make an adequate statement o
the causes which led up to the revolution
the extravaganza and immortality of tn
dissolute Queen, and her final attempt t
promulgate constitution abrogating tn
! law of the land and increasing her ow
power-an attempt which she was forced t
abandon for the time, but which she pub
t licly promised to renew.
Judge Russell S, Taft has begun an in