The record-union., 1893-12-19
Special to the REcoRp-UN1oN.

sObNNAeNA SAAS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-Following is
the full text of President Cleveland's
message to Congress to-day upon the SUBJ
ject Of the Hawaiian Islands:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tees: In my recent annual message to
Congress, briefly referred to our rela-
tions with Hawaii, and expressed the in
tention of transmitting other informatlo
on the subject when additional advices
permitted. Though L am not able to now
report definite change in the actual sit
nation, | am convinced that difficulties
lately created. both here and in Hawaii
and now standing in the way of solu-
ton, through Executive action, of the
problem presented-render 1t proper and
expedient that the matter should be re-
ferred TO broader authority and the dis
cretion of Congress.
With the full explanation of the en-
deavor thus far made to deal with the
emergency, and a statement of the con-
sidel ations which have governed my ac-
tions, l suppose right and justice should
determine the path to be followed in
treating this subject. If national honesty
Is to be disregarded, and desire for terri
torial extension, or dissatisfaction with
form of government not our own is to
regulate our conduct, have entirely mis-
apprehended the mission and character
OF our Government, and the behavior
which the conscience of our people de-
mands of their public servants.
When the present Administration en-
tered upon its duties the Senate had un-
der consideration a 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 mani
festation OF the highest attributes of SOW
ecutiye act, all things relating to the
transaction should be clear and free from
suspicion.
PECULIAR TREATY OF ANNEXATION.
Additional information is attached to
this peculiar treaty of annexation, be-
cause it contemplated departure from
unbrOken American tradition in provid
ing for an addition to our territory of
islands OF the sea more than2, 600 miles re-
moved from our nearest coast, These
considerations might not OF themselves
call for interference with the completion
Of q treaty entered upon by a previous
administration, but it appeared, from
documents accompanying the treaty
when submitted to the Senate that the
ownership of Hawaii was rendered US by
The Provisional Government, set up to
succeed the constitutional ruler of the
islands, who had been dethroned, and it
Government had the sanction of either
popular revolution or suffrage.
Two other remarkable features of the
transaction naturally attracted attention.
one was the extraordinary haste-not
to say precipitancy-cha all
transactions connected with the treaty.
1t appeared that a so-called Committee of
Safety, ostensibly the source of revolt
against the constitutional Government Of
Hawaii. was organized on Saturday. the
18th day of January; that on Monday, the
10th, United States forces were landed at
Honolulu from naval vessel lying in its
harbor; that on the 18th the scheme OF the
Provisional Government was perfected
and a proclamation naming its officers
was on the same day prepared; that there
upon the United States Minister recog-
nized the Provisional Government thus
created; that two days afterwards, on the
18th of January, Commissioners repre-
senting such Government sailed for this
country in q steamer especially chartered
for the occasion, arriving in San Fran
cisco on the 18th day of January and in
Washington on the Sd day of February;
that the next day they had their first in
terview with the Secretary of State and
another on the 1lth, when the treaty an
nexing the islands was practically agreed
upon, and that on the 18th it was formally
concluded, and On the 10th transmitted to
the Senate.
Thus, between the initiation of the
scheme for the Provisional Government
in Hawaii on the 18th of January and the
submission to the Senate of the treaty of
annexation concluded with such Govern
nent. there was an entire interval of
thirty-two days, fifteen of which were
spent by the Hawaiian Commissioners in
the journey to Washington.
FACT OF VITAL IMPORTANCE.
In the next place, upon the face of the
paper submitted with the treaty, it clearly
appeared that there was open aud unde-
termined in issue fact of the most vital
importance. The message of the Presi-
dent accompanying the treaty declared
that the overthrow of the monarchy was
not in any way promoted by this Gov
eminent, and in the letter to the Presi-
dent from the Secretary of State, also
submitted to the Senate with the treaty,
the following passage occurs:
AT the time the Provisional Govern
ment took possession OF the Government
building no troops or officers of the
United States were present, or took any
part whatever in the proceedings. No
public recognition was accorded to the
Provisional Government by the United
States Minister until after the Queens
abdication, and when they were in effect
i've possession of the Government build
ings, the archives, treasury, barracks,
police station and all the potential ma
chinery Of government"
But a protest also accompanied said
treaty, signed by The Queen and her
Ministers at the time she made way for
the Provisional Government. which eX-
plicitly stated thai she yielded to
the superior force ci tne United States,
whose Minister had caused United States
troops to be landed at Honolulu and de-
elared that he would support such Pro-
visional Government. The truth or
falsity of this protest was surely OF first
importance, If true. Nothing but the
concealment of its truth could induce our
Governmental negotiate with sem blance
of a government thus created. Nor could a
treaty resulting from acts stated in pro-
tasf have been knowingly deemed
worthy of consideration by the Senate
Yet the truth or falsity of the protest had
not been Investigated.
| conceived it TO be my duty, therefore,
to withdraw the treaty from the Senate
for examination, and meanwhile to cause
on accurate. full and impartial investiga-
ton To he made of the facts attending the
snhversion of the constitutional Govern
mant of Hawaii, and the installment in
It's nlace OF the Provisional Government.
APPOINTMENT OF BLoUNT.
7 selected for the work of investigation
Hon. lanes II. Blount of Georgia, whose
service of eighteen years as member OF
tba House of Representatives, and whose
axnerjence as Chairman OF the Committee
on Foreign Affairs in that body, and his
oonseouelt familiarity with international
tonirs- ioined with his high character and
honorable reputation, seemed TO render