Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-12-18
THE HAWAIIAN MESSAGE
THE SENATE RECEIVES 1T
WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS.

The Queen would Not Agree To
Grant Amnesty To The Revo-
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Willis Im-
siruCi1Ons Are Revealed.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The Hawaiian
message of the President was sent to the
Senate today. 1t is 5000 words in
length and gives the history of events in
Hawaii in conformity with the facts as
reported by Mr.. Blount, and commits
future dealing with the question to the
extended powers and wide discretion OF
Congress. The President says:
"By an act of war. committed with
the participation of the diplomatic rep
resentative of the United States, and
without the authority of Congress, the
government of a feeble but friendly peoI Ie
has been ovcrthrown. The provisional
government has not assumed a republi-
can or other constitutional form, but
has remained mere executive oligarchy,
set up without the assent of the people.
1t has not sought to find a permanent
basis or a popular support, and has
given no intention to do so. Indeed, the
representatives of that government
assert that the people Of Hawaii are
unfit for popular government, and can be
best ruled by arbitrary or despotic
power
The President says he had hoped, in
view of the fact that both the queen and
the provisional government had at one
time acquiesed in referring the entire case
to the United States government, and
considering the further fact that the pro-
visional government by it's own declared
limitations was only Ito exist until
terms of union with the United States,
had been negotiated and agreed upon"
that he might have been able to compass
peaceful adjustment of the difficulty.
Not unmindful of the perplexities of
the situation, and the limitations of my
power, says the President. 81 instructed
Minister Willis to advise the queen and
her supporters of my desire to aid in a
restoration OF the status existing before
the lawless landing of the United States
forces at Honolulu, on the 10th Of Ianu
ary.
The President adds that he desired
that such restoration should be effected
on terms providing for clemency, as well
as Justice, to all parties concerned. The
conditions suggested were amnesty to
all those who had in any way partici-
pated i'll setting up the provisional gov
ernment and recognition OF all bona
fide acts and obligations. These condi-
tions have not proved acceptable to the
Queen, although she has been informed
that they will be insisted upon, and that,
unless acceeded to, the efforts of the
President to aid in the restoration of her
government, will cease.
The President says that he has not yet
learned that the Queen has yielded her
acquicscence and this has delayed his
efforts to bring about settlement. He
adds that unfortunate public misrepre-
sentatiopS OF the situation and exagger-
ated statements of the sentiments OIL our
people have obviously hindered the pros
poets of successful executive meditation"
He therefore submits the correspondence
and instructions to Congress, and closes
by saving:
I'm commenting this subject to the
extended powers aud wide discretion OF
Congress, desire to add the assurance
that shall be much gratihed to co.ope-
rate in any legislative plan which may
be devised for the solution ofthe pro blem
before us, which is consistent with Amer
lean honor, integrity and morality"
There was a very small attendance of
senator's at the opening of today's ses-
sion. At 1918 MIR. Pruden, one OF the
Presidents secretaries, delivered the
long looked for message on Hawaiian
affairs. Senator George was sending up
a petition when MIR. Harris said that the
Presidents message ought to be laid
before the Senate. The Vice-President
was of the same opinion and Immediately
aid it before the Senate and it was there
upon read by the secretary.
The message consisted of two printed
| 4
portant part OF the document submitted
IN writing, and which has not yet been
read to the Senate, contains the iustruc-
tions issued to Minister Willis under
date OF December 3rd. Two points hav-
ing a special bearing upon the situation
i'll Hawaii are set forth. Minister Willis
is instructed to say to the Queen that
conditions relative to amnesty must
be acquiesed in by her or he will do moth
ing. 1t the Queen should ask what the
United States will do in the way OF
restoring her to power and main
tanning her upon her throne, the
minister is directed TO reply that the
President will not authorize the use
OF the United States troops, either to
restore her or maintain her upon her
throne. Minister Willis was told to in
form the Queen that the use OF the troops
could only be authorized by an act OF
Congress. Minister Willis is then di-
rected to tell the provisional government,
should they ask the same question, that
the President will do all that he can un-
d r executive authority to restore the
Queen. The distinction noted, between
these two answers to the same question
is the absence of the very important
matter of detail as to what the President
can do and will under the term "execu-
4. L.