The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1893-12-28
MESSAGE ON HAWAII.
LONG.ExPECTEO ANSWER RY
THE PRESIDENT.
Events 1t Honolulu Set Forth IN Omcial
Detail-Mr. Cleveland Says His Task Has
Been . Difficult One-Blount L. In
dOfsed.
Given Over to Congress.

Given Over to Congress.
Tho Pre- idents response to the reso-
luton passed by both houses of Con-
gress requesting information in Ha-
waiian affairs and especially Is TO the
nature Of the instructions given to
Minister Willis, has been sent to Con-
gress. The message is As follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
In my recent annual message to Congress
briefly referred to our relations with Hawaii
and expressed the intention OF transmitting
further information on the subject when ad-
d1tionsl advices permitted. Though am not
now able to report q definite change in the
actual situation, l am convinced that the
difficulties lately created both here and in Hn-
wall and now tanding in the way OF solution
through executive action OF the problem pre-
scented render it proper aud expedient that
the matter should be referred to the
broader authority and discretion OF Con
gress with full explanation OF the en-
deavOr thus far made to deal with the elner-
gency and ask them to review the consldcra-
t1On5 which have governed my action. sup
pose that right and justice should determine
the path to he followed in treating this sub
1ect. II national honesty IL to be dtsregarded
and desire tor territorial extension or dissat-
lsfactiOn with a form OF government not our
own Ia to regulate our conduct have entirely
misapprehen ded the mission and character Of
conscience of our people demands OF their
public servants.
When the present administration entered
upon Ats 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 IL u
manifestation OF the highest attribute Of SOW
ereiKntty and II entered upon AZ an executive
should be clear and free from suspicion. Add
ttOnal Importance IL attached to this peculiar
treaty OF annexation because IT con enpiated
departure from unbroken American trat1-
tiOn In providing tor the addition to our terri
tory Of islands OF tho sea more than 2, 100 miles
removed from our ne Arrest coast
Reasons Against Harrison Treaty.
These considerations might not, OF them
selves, cali for interference with the CON-
pletiOn OF a treaty entered upon by q pre-
the documents accompanying the treaty
when submitted to the senate. that the own
ership OF llawail was rendered 10 us by a
prOvlsiona! government set up to succeed the
constitutional ruler Of the islands, who had
been dethrOncd. and IT did not appear thai
such provisional government had the sanction
OF either popular revolution or suffrage. Two
other rcmarkaDle features OF the transaction
naturally attracted attention. One was the
extraordinary hastc-nOt to say prec1pltancy
cha acterizing all the transactions connected
with the treaty. 1t appeared that so-called
committee OF safety ostensibiy the source OF
the revolt against the Constitutional Govern
ment Of Hawaii. was Organized ON Saturday,
Jan. II; that On Monday, Jan. Ii, t C United
States forces were landed HI honolulu from q
naval vessel lying In It's harbor: that on the
18th the scheme Or u Provisional Government
was perfected and a proclamation naming Its
officers was on the same day prepared ana
read ut the Government buildings: that I'M
media:ely thereupUn the United states Minis
ter recognized the Provisional government
thus created; that two days afterward,
on the 18th day of January. commissioners
representing such government sailed tor this
country in steamer especially chartered for
hn atnsp xivNrN n t,SSNS ~
18th day Of January and III Washington ON the
Sd day Of February; that next day they had
their first interview with the Secretary OF
state and another ON the 18th. when the treaty
annextng the islands was practically agreed
upon. and that on the lAth 1t was formally con-
cluded. and on the 18th transmitted to the
Senate.
Thus between the initiation OF the scheme
for provisional government in Hawaii on
the 18th OF January and the submission to the
Senate OF the treaty OF annexation concluded
with such government the entire interval was
thirty-twO days, fifteen OF which were spent
by the hawaiian commissioners in their
Journey to Washington.
In the next place, upon the face of the papers
submitted with the treaty 1t clearly appeared
that there was open and undetermined an
issue of fact Of the most vital Importance.
The message OF the President occomp .nying
the treaty declared that the overthrow of
the MONARCHY was not In any way
letter to the President from the Secretary OF
state. also submitted to the Senate with the
treaty. the following passage occurs: AT the
time he provisional government took posses
stOl, Of the government buildings troops
or officers Of the United Sta es were present OK
took any part whatever In z, proceedings No
vtsional government by the United States
Minister until after the Queens abdication
the government buildings. the archives. the
treasury. the barracks. the police station. and
all the potential machinery OF the govern
but \ protest also accompanied said treaty
signed by the Queen and her minist rs at he
mcnt which Explicitly stated that sie Siesdei
TO the superior force OF the United States.
whose Minister had caused United states
that he would support such provisional
government.
Sending Islount to Honolulu.
The truth or falsity Of this protest was
surely OF the first Importance. but no investi-
CATION to ascertain the facts hal been made,
to Withdraw the treaty from the Sem.
ate for examination and to cause an investi-
CATION to be made. selected for this tnves;t-
CATION James II. Blount Of Georgia. His re-
port, based upon an exhaustive Investigation
with its accompanying proofs. Il now before
Congress or is herewith submitted. This re-
port lustifes, in my opinion. the statement
that when the President was led to submit the
treaty 70 tie senate with the declaration that
the overthrow OF the monarchy was not IN
any way promoted by this government and
when the senate was induced to receive aud
discuss it on that basis both President and
Senate were rnlsled.
II Is sufficient Tor the purposes Of this COM
muntcatlon TO say that III January. ISIS, = con-
siderable portion Of American and other for
eign merchants residing at Honolulu favored
the annexation Of Hawaii 20 the United States
and hiatt the project WAS zealously promoted
by our Minister TO that country. lie evidently
had al ardent desire that It should become a
faN accomplished by hts agency and during
his ministry and was not inconveniently
scrupHlous Ss to the means employed 10
that end. On the lqth day OF November
1872. nearly two months before the first
overt attack tending toward the subver-
sion of the Hawaiian government, and
the attempted .ansfer of Hawaiian territory
TO the United States. he addressed Ions
letter to the Secretary of state. III which the
case for annexation was deliberately argued on
moral, political and economical grounds. He
refers to the loss to the Hawaiian sugar inter
ests from the operation OF the Mckinley bill
and the tendency to still further depreciation
OF sugar property unless some positive meas
urc OF relief be granted. He stronAy inveiShs
against the existing Hawaiian government anC
emphatically declares for anne nation He
says: Sin truth. the monarchy here is All absur
dity an anachrouism." He further says: "Des.
tiny and the vast future interests OF tbs
United States In the Pacific clearly indicate
who at no distant day must be responsible fol