The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-12-15
FRIDAY. DECEMBER Is, 1898.

The sending of a special dis
patch vessel to this port by the
Washington Government had been
surmised as probable, under the
existing unsettled condition of
public affairs. Consequently, the
arrival of the revenue cutter Cor
win was not surprise, although
she came unannounced. She
brought no mail, only dispatches
and letters to the American Lega-
ton and Consulate.
The Presidents message was sent
to Congress on Monday, the 4th of
December, the day on which that
body convened, and published in
the evening papers of that date,
only one or two of which have been
received here. The President states
what course he has decided to pur-
sue, as outlined below:
Just prior to the installation of the
present Administration the existing
Government of Hawaii had been sud-
denly oveTthrown and a treaty of an
nexatiOn had been negotiated between
the Provisional Government of Ha-
wall and the United States, drawn up
and submitted to the Senate for rati-
fication. This treaty L withdrew for
examination and dispatched Hon.
James II. Blount of Georgia to Homo
lulu as a special commissioner to
make an impartial investigation of
the circumstances attending the
change of government, and of all the
conditions bearing upon the subject
OF the treaty. After a thorough and
exhaustive examination Mr.. Blount
submitted to me his report, showing
beyond all question that the constitu--
tionaI Government OF Hawaii had
been subverted, with the active aid of
our representative to that Govern
ment, and through the intimidation
caused by the presence of an armed
naval force of the United States,
which was landed for that purpose at
the instance of our Minister.
Upon the facts developed it seemed
to me the only honorable course for
our Government to pursue, s0as to uR-
do the tOrong that had been done by
those representing as and to restore
as far as practicable the status eI-
listing at the time of our TOrcibte in
terUentiOn. In view OF accomplishing
this result, within the constitutional
limits of Executive power, and recog-
nizing all our obligations and respoD-
sibilities growing out OF any changed
conditions brought about by our I'M
justifiable interference, oar present
Minister has receiUed appropriate
instructions to that end. Thus far
no information of the accomplishment
of any definite results has been re-
eeiyed from him. Additional advices
are soon expected. When received
they will be promptly sent to Con-
gress, together with all other informa-
zion at hand, accompanied by spe-
cial executive message fully detailing
all the facts necessary to a complete
understanding of the case, and pre-
senting a history of all the material
events leading up to the present situa-
ton.
In the above extracts the Presl-
dent clearly indicates his policy,
which is the same as before out
lined by the dispatches sent a
month ago to the American Minis
ter-s;to restore, as far as practic-
able, the status existing at the time
of our forcible intervention" And
a few lines further on he adds,
"our present Minister has received
appropriate instructions to that
end" The Corwin was dispatched
from San Francisco almost imme-
diately after this message was read
to Congress, so that Congress was
fully advised of the course which
the President had decided to pur-
sue. Putting these two things to-
gether it would look as though the
Corwin had been dispatched with
orders to carry out this policy. 1t
is. however, the opinion of many
careful and conservative men that,
Congress having met, the President
might, and probably would, await
its action. Should subsequent
events confirm the first alternative,
it becomes necessary for the friends
of the Provisional Government to
stand by it and meet the crisis
whenever it shall develop. There
can be no compromise under the
circumstances, let the consequences
be what they may. If President
Cleveland chooses to base his &C
ton on the perverted and false
statements of commissioner such
as Mr.. Blount has proved himself
to be, let the responsibility of what
ever disastrous results may follow
rest on the President.