The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1893-12-22

OF government not our own Is 70 regulate our
conduct, have entirely misapprehended the
the behavior which the conscience of our peo-
pie demand, of their public servants.
When the present administration entered
upon its 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 o manifestation Of
the highest attribute OF sovereignty, and III en-
latlng to the transaction should be clear and
free from suspicion.
WHY THE TREATY WAS RECAIIED
Additional importance is attached to this PEI
culiar treaty OF annexation, because it con-
templated departure from unbroken Ameri-
can tradition in providing for the addition to
our territory Of islands OF the sea more than
900 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 ad-
ministration. But IL appeared from the docu-
ments accompanying the treaty when submit
ted to the senate that the ownership of Ha-
wail was rendered to us by the provisional
government. set up to succeed the constitu-
tional ruler OF the islands, who had been de-
throned, and IL did not appear that such pro-
visional government had the sanction of either
popular revolution or suffrage. Two other re-
markable features of the transaction naturally
attracted attention. One was the extraordf-
nary haste--not to say precfpitancy-charac
teriZing all the transactions connected with the
treaty. 1t appeared that a so-calIed com mfttec
OF safety. ostensibly the source of the revolt
against the constitutional government of Ha-
wall was organized on Saturday, the 18th day Of
January; that on Monday the 10th, the United
States forces were landed at Honolulu from
naval vessel then lying in its harbor; that on
the l1ta the scheme OF n provisional govern
ment was perfected, and proclamation naming
its of1cers was on the same day prepared and
read at the government buildings; that imme
dfately thereon the United States minister rec
OgniZed the provisional government thus Gre
ated: that two days afterward, on the 10Th daT
OF january. commissioners representing such
frx-fr n ate
especially chartered for the occasion arriving
| in San Francisco on the 18th day of January
and In 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 annexing the islands
was practically agreed upon, and that ON the
i4th IL was formally concluded 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 SEN
ate OF the treaty OF annexation concluded with
ty-two days, fifteen OF which were spent by the
Hawaiian commissioners in their journey to
IN the next place upon the face OF the paper
submitted with the treaty, it clearly appeared
that there was open and undetermined an is
sue OF the most vital importance The message
OF the president accompanying the treaty de-
clared that the overthrow OF the monarchy
was not in any way promoted by this govern
ment." and In letter to the president from
the secretary OF state. also submitted TO the
senate with the treaty, the following passage
occurred:
AT the time the provisional government
took possession OF the government buildings
no troops or onicers OF the United States were
present or took any part whatever in the pro-
ceedings. No public recognition was accorded
to the provisional government by the United
states minister until after the queens abdica-
tion, and when they were in effective posses
sion OF the government buildings the archives
the treasury, the barracks, the police station
and all the potential machinery Of the govern
ment- -
But protest also accompanied said treaty.
signed by the queen and her ministers at the
time she made way for the provisional gov
eminent. which explicitly stated that she
yielded to the superior force of the United
States whose minister had caused limited
States troops to be landea al Honolulu and de
clared that he would support such provisional
government
surely OF tho first importance. II true, nothing
but the concealment ofNitS truth could induce
our government to negotiate with the sem
blance OF a government thus created nor could
a treaty resulting from the acts stated in the
protest have been knowingly deemed worthy
| OF consideration in the senate Yet the truth
or falsity OF the protest had not been inresti-
| gated.
BLoUNT's MISSION AND ITS RESULTS
| I conceived il to be my duty therefore to
withdraw the treaty from the senate for exam
| ination. and meanwhile TO cause an accurate
/ full aDdc impartial investigation to be made
OF the facts attending the subversion OF
the installment in the place OF the provisfonal
government L selected for the work of
4 Investigation the Hon. James III. BlO1nt of
| Georgia whose service OF eighteen years as
| member OF the house OF representatives and
| whose experience as chairman OF the commit
tee on foreign affalrS in that body and his con-
| sequent familiarity with international topics
\ Joined with his high character and houorn BILE
reputation. seemed to render him peculiarly
1 fitted for the duties intrusted to him. His re-
port detailing his action under the instructions
| given to him. and the conclusions. derived
from his Investigation accompany this mes
sage.
These conclusions do not rest for their accept
auce entirely upon Mr. Blounts honesty and
/ ability as q man, nor upon his acumen and i'm
Partially as an investigator. They are accom-
| panied BY the evidence upon which they are
| based. which evidence Is also herewith trans
| mitted. and from which 10 seems TO me no
| other deductions could possibly be reached
than those arrived at by the commissioner.
1 The report with its accompanying proofs
/ and such ether evidence as is now before the
congress or is herewith submitted, justify in
/ my opinion the statement that when the presi-
/ dent was led 10 submit the treaty to the senate
/ with the declaration that the overthrow OF
this government" and when the senate was
induced 10 receive and discuss il on that basis.
both president and senate were misled-
1 The attempt will not be made in this COM
| munfcatton To touch upon 81 the facts which
| throw light upon the progress and consumma-
ton OF this scheme OF annexation. A very
| brief and imperfect reference TO the facts and
/ evidences at hand viii exhibit fits character
/ sad the incidents in which it had fits birth.
STEVENS PREPARED THE WAY.
1 IL is unnecessary TO set forth the reason
i which in January. 1893. led a considerable por-
/ ton OF American and other foreign merchants
and traders residing at Honolulu TO favor the
i annexation OF Hawaii TO the United States. 1t
4 n SUFFICIENT TO note the fact and to observe
4 that the project was one which was zealously
/ prompted by the minister then representing
| the United States in that Country He evil
/ IDENTIFY had an ardent desire that II should be-
| come fact accomplished by his agency and
during his ministry. and was not inconyenient-
l ly inscriptions as 10 the means employed
| 10 that end. On November -. le22
nearly two months before, the hrst
overt act tending toward the sab
| version OF the Hawaiian government
and the ATTEMPTED transfer OF Hawaiian terri
i tory TO the United States. he addressed a Ions
/ letter TO the secretary OF state, in which the
| case for annexation was deliberately argued on
| moral political and economical grounds. lie
| refers 10 the loss OF 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 measure
| OF relief wEs granted He strongly lnvelghs