The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-21
HE CRIT|C|SES MINISTER STEVENS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The fight
over the Hawaiian matter in the house
followed fast and furious on the heels
of the reading of the message, which
was delayed until $3.50 this afternoon.
The first skirmish occurred over the
question of reading the instructions to
Willis, which was insisted upon by
Mr.. Routelle (Me.). The house finally
agreed to this, and Immediately after
the conclusion of the reading Mr..
Boutelle renewed the assault by bring
forward resolution declaring the ad-
ministration policy inconsistent with
the spirit of the constitution and con-
ditions of government. Great excite
ment reigned. Mr.. Boutelle failed to
follow up his parliamentary advant-
age and was ruled out of order.
A resolution by Mr.. Cochran for the
appointment of a committee of s ven
to investigate the alleged
invasion of territorial integrity by the
United States of the last administra.
ton also went down under the retalia-
tory objection of Mr.. Boutelle. Con-
fusion was so great the sergeant at
arms was called on to preserve order.
Adjournment was caused by lack of
quorum on a motion to go into COM
mittee. Party feeling was very high
IL 90 caccian anI thora
is no doubt the struggle will be con-
tinued as soon as opportunity offers
tomorrow.
THE MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House ofRepresentai yes:
In the recent annual message to
congress l briefly referred to our rela-
tions with Hawaii and expressed my
intention of transmitting further in
formation on the subject when addi-
tional advices permitted. Though not
able now to report definite change
in the actual situation, | am con-
vinced the difficulties lately created
both here and in Hawaii, and now
standing in the way of a solution
through executive action of the prob.
lem presented, render it proper and
expedient that the matter should be
referred to broader authority and the
direction of congress with a full ex-
planation of the sndeavor thus far
made to deal with the emergency and
a statement of the considerations
which have governed such action, L
suppose
RIGHT AND JUSTICE
Should determine the path to be fol-
lowed in treating this subject. If ma
tional honesty is to be disregarded and
desire for territorial extension or dis
satisfaction with form of government
not our own to regulate our conduct l
have entirely misapprehended the mis-.
sion and character of our government
and the behavior which the conscience
of our people demands of their public
servants. When the present admins
tration entered upon its duties the
senate had under consideration a
treaty providing for annexation of the
Hawaiian islands to the territory of
the United States.
Surely under our constitution and
laws the enlargement of our limits is a
manifestation of the highest attribute
OF sovereignty and if entered upon as
an executive act. all things relating to
the transaction should be clear and
free from suspicion. Additional i'm.
portance is attached to this peculiar
treaty of annexation because it con-
templated departure from
UNRRoKEN AMERICAN TRADITION
in providing for addition to our terri
tory of islands of the sea more than
1900 miles removed from our nearest
coast. These considerations might
not of themselves call for interference
with the completion of the treaty en-
tered upon by the previous admins
tration. But it appeared from doc
uments accompanying the treaty when
submitted to the senate that the own
ership of Hawaii was rendered us by
provisional government set up to sue
ceed the constitutional ruler of the
islands who had been dethroned, and
it did not appear that tsuch provisional