The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-19


on the same day prepared and read at the
government buildings; that Immediately
ognized the provisional government thus
created; that two days afterwards, on the
18th OF January, commissioners represent
ing such government sailed for this country
in steamer especially chartered Tor the
occasion, arriving in San Francisco on the
18th of January, and in Washington on the
Sd or February; that next day they mad
their first interview with the Secretary of
State, and another on the lth, when the
treaty annexing the islands was practically
agreed upon, and that on the 14th IL was
formally concluded, and on the 18th trans
mitted to the Senate. Thus. between the
initiation Of the scheme for a provisional
government in Hawaii, on the 14th or jan
uary, and the submission to the Senate OF
the treaty of annexation concluded with
such government, the entire 1ntervai was
thirty-two days, fifteen or which were
spent by the Hawaiian commissioners In
their journey to Washington.
In the next place, upon the face or the
papers submitted with the treaty, IL clearly
appeared that there was open and undeter-
mined an issue of fact of the most vital
Importance. The message of the President
accompanying the treaty declared that the
overthrow of the monarchy was not In any
way promoted by this government, and
in letter to the President from the Secre-
tary of State, also submitted TO the Senate
with the treaty, the following passage oc-
ours: "At the time the provisional govern
ment took possession OF the government
buildings no troops or officers or the United
States were present, or took any part what
ever in the proceedings No public recogni-
ton was accorded to the provisional govern
ment by the United States minister until
after the Queens abdication, and when
they were In effective possession OF the gov
eminent buildings, the archives, the treas,
ury, 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 Min
listers at the time she made way for the
provisional government, which explicitly
stated that she yielded to the superior force
of the United States. whose minister had
at Honolulu and declared that he would
support such provisional government. The
truth or falsity Of this protest was surely
of the first Importance. If true, nothing
but the concealment of its truth could in
duce our government TO negotiate with
the semblance OF a government thus ere ere,
the acts stated in the protest have been
knowingly deemed worthy of considera-
ton by the Senate. Yet the truth or falsity
of the protest had not been investigated.
BLOUNT EULOGIZED.
I conceived 1t to be my duty, therefore,
to withdraw the treaty from the Senate
for examination, and meanwhile to cause
an accurate, full and impartial investiga-
ton TO be made of the facts attending the
subversion of the constitutional government
of Hawaii and the installment in its place
of the provisional government. 1 selected
for the work of investigation the Hon.
James III. Blount, of Georgia, whose serv-
Ice of eighteen years as a member Of the
House of Representatives., and whose ex-
perience as chairman of the committee on
foreign affairs in that body, and his con-
sequent familiarity with international top
les. Joined with his high character and
honorable reputation, seemed to render him
peculiarly fitted for the duties intrusted TO
him. His report detailing his actions under
the instructions given TO him and the con-
illusions derived from his investigation &C
company this message.
acceptance entirely upon Mr. Blounts hon.
esty and ability as a man, nor upon his
acumen =, and impartiality as an investi-
gator. They are accompanied by the evil
dence upon which they are based, which
evidence is also herewith transmitted, and
from which. it seems to me, no other de-
ductions could possibly be reached than
those arrived at by the commissioner. The
report with its accompanying proofs, and
such other evidence as is now before the
Congress or is herewith submitted, justi-
fies. in my opinion, the statement that
when the President was led to submit the
that the overthrow OF the monarchy
not in any way promoted by this govern
ment." and when the Senate was induced
to receive and discuss il that basis,
both President ana Senate were misled.
The attempt will not be made in this
communication to touch upon all the facts
contamination OF this scheme of annexa-
ton. a very brief and imperfect refer
ence the 1actS ana evidence at hand will
exhibit its character and the Incidents in
which II had its birth. 1t is unnecessary
10 set forth the reasons which, in January,
1893. led considerable portion of American
and other foreign merchants and traders
Hawaii to the United states It IS suff ~
Gent to note the fact and to observe that
the project was one which was zealously
promoted by the minister representing the
United States in that country. He evil
IDENTIFY had an ardent desire that IL should
become fact accomplished by his agency
ana during his term as minister, and was
not inconveniently scrupulous as to the
means employed to that end.
TRUE AMERICANS LETTER
On the 9Th day Of November, 1892, nearly
two months before the first overt act tend
ing towards the subversion Of the Hawaiian
government and the attempted transfer of
Hawaiian territory to the United States he
addressed long letter to the Secretary of
State. in which the cause for annexation
was deliberately argued on moral, political
and economical grounds. He refers to the
loss to the Hawaiian sugar interests from
the operation of the Mckinley bill and the
tendency to still further depreciation of
sugar property unless some positive meas
ure of relief is granted. He strongly in
Weighs against the existing Hawaiian gov
eminent and emphatically declares for an
neXation. He says: In truth, the mon
archy here is an absurd anachrOnism. 1t
has nothing on which il logically or legit-
imately stands. The feudal basis on which
ii once stood no longer existing, the mon
archy now is only an impeachment to good
government-an obstruction TO the pros
perity and progress OF the islands," He
further says: las a crown colony of Great
Britain or a territory of the United States
the government notifications could be
made readily and good administration of
law secured. Destiny and the vast future
interests OF the United States in the Pa
cific clearly indicate who, at no distant day,
must be responsible for the government of
these islands. Under territorial govern
ment they could be as easily governed as
any of the existing Territories of the
United States Hawaii has reached the
parting of the ways. She must now take
the road which leads to Asia or the other
which outlets her in America, gives her an
American civilization and binds her to the
care of American destiny" He also de-
cares: zone Of two courses seems to be
absolutely necessary to be followed, either
bold and vigorous measures for anneXa-
ton or customs union and ocean cable
from the California coast to Honolulu.
United States, with an implied, but not an
expressly stipulated, American protector
ate over the islands. i believe the former
to be the better, that which will prove
much the more advantageous to the ISL
andS and the cheapest and least embar-
RAISING in the end 10 the United States. III 1t
was wise for the United States through
Secretary Marcy, thtrty-eiSht years ago, to
offer to expend 100000 TO secure treaty
of annexation, IL certainly cannot be CHI
merical o. unwiSe to eXpend SlOO,cOO TO Sc
cure annexation in the near future. To-
day the United States has hve tunes the
wealth she possessed in 1854, and the rea-
sons now existing for annexation are much
stronger than they were then. L cannot
refrain from expressing the opinion, with