Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-12-21


panying the treaty when submitted to the Sen
ate that the ownership of Hawaii was rendered
to us by provisional government set up to sue
coed the constitutional ruler of the islands who
had been dethroned, and it did not appear that
such provisional government had the sanction
of either popular revolution or suffrage.
THE OVERTHROW OF THE QUEEN.
Two other remarkable features of the trans
action naturally attracted attention One was
the extraordinary haste-not to say precipitancy
-characterizing all the transactions connected
with the treaty. 1t appeared that Socalled
committee of safety, ostensibly the source of the
revolt against the constitutional government
of Hawaii, was organized on Saturday, the 14th
day of January; that on Monday, the 10th. the
United States forces were landed at Honolulu
from naval vessel living in its harbor; that on
the 18th the scheme of a provisional government
was perfected and q proclamation naming It's
officers was on the same day prepared and read
at the government buildings: that Immediately
thereupon the United States minister recognized
the provisional government thus created; that
two days afterwards, on the 18th day OF January,
commissioners representing such government
sailed for this country in steamer espe-
cially chartered for the occasion, arriving
in San Francisco on the 2Sth day of Jan
nary and in Washington on the Sd day o,
February. That next day they had their first
interview with the secretary of state, and
another on the 18th. when the treaty anneXing
the islands practically agreed upon: and
that on the 14th it was formally concluded and
on the 18th transmitted to the Senate. Thus be-
tween the initiation OF the scheme for provis-
ional government i'll Hawaii on the 1ith OF
January ana the SUBMISSION 10 the senate OF lie
treaty of annexation concluded with such
government. the entire interval was thirty two
days, fifteen of which were spent by the
Hawaiian commissioners in their journey to
Washington.
PART PLAYED BY TROOPS.
In the next place, upon the face of the paper
submitted with the treaty, It clearly appeared
that there was open and undetermined all issue
OF the most vital Importance. The message or
the President accompanying the treaty declared
that 1.-THE overthrow of the monarchy was not in
1,f.,il nd
q letter to the President from the secretary of
state also submitted to the Senate with the
treaty. the following passage occurred "At the
time the provisional government took possession
of the government buildings, no troops or OIL
GERS of the United States present to take
any part whatever in the proceedings. No pub
lie recognition was accorded to the provisional
government by the United States min
lister until after the Queens abdication,
and when they were in effective posses
sion of the government buildings, the archives,
the treasury, the barracks, the police station
and all the potential machinery of the govern
mcnt.' But a protest accompanied said treaty,
signed by the Queen and her ministers at the
time she made way for the provisional govern
ment, which explicitly stated that she yielded
whose minister had caused United States troops
to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he
would support such provisional government.
BLoUNT's MISSION TO HAWAII.
The truth or 1alsity of this protest was surely
of the first Importance. III true, nothing but the
concenlment of its truth could induce our gov
eminent to negotiate with the scmblancc of a
government thus created, nor could Il treaty re-
suting from the acts stated in the protest have
been knowingly deemed worthy of considera-
ton by the Senate. Yet the truth or talsity OF
to withdraw the treaty. from the Sen
ate for examination and meanwhile to
ton to be made of the facts, attending the sub
version of the constitutional government Of Ha-
waii and the insta!lGcQt iq its pJacc Of the pro
i,v 'oi. The Hon James II. Bionn oA OF
Cc-.:-.,a, whose service Of eighteen years as II
member of the House Of Representatives and
as ka Of h he
familiarity with international topics, joined
with his high character and honorable reputa-
ton. seemed to render him peculiarly fitted for
the duties entrusted to HIM His report detail
ing his action under the instructions given to
him and the conclusions derive! tror, his in
vestigation accompany this m2. sage; These
conclusions do not rest for their acceptance en-
tirciy upon Mr.. Blount's honesty and ability as
Il man, nor upon his acumen and impartiality
us an investigator. They are accompa-
are based, which evidence is also here
with transmitted, and from which it
seems TO me no other deductions could possibly
be reached than those arrived at by the commits
sioncr. The report with its Accompanying ing
proofs, and such other evidence as is now before
the Congress or is herewith submitted, justties
in my opinion the statement that when the Pres
ident was led to submit the treaty to the Senate
with the declaration that 1.-The overthrow of the
monarchy was not in any way promoted by this
government and when the Senate was induced
to receive and discuss it Oh that basis both Pres
idc1lt and Senate we've nislcd.
ATTACK ON MINISTER STEVENS.
The attempt WILL not be made in this commu-
nication t. touch upon all the facts which throw
light upon the progress and consumma-
ton Of this scheme of annexation. very
brief and imperfect reference to the facts and
evidence at hand will exhibit its character and
the incidents in which it had it's birth. u 's wv
HSfy 1885, led e3slissahV Hrian t II 4 Am ya.i
can and otltst hre.sn ihe.Hhaiits and traders re-
Of HqNAli y tit United States It is Sufficient
TO itote the fact and to observe that the project
'"as one which was 2ealously promoted by the
minister representing the United States in that
country, he. evidently had an ardent desire
that it Should become n fact accomplished by
his agency and during his ministry and was not
inconvcniently scrupulous as to the means en-
ployed to that end On the 10Th day of Noven,-
Der, 1892 nearly two months before the first
overt act tending towards the subversion 0. the
fer of Hawaiian territory to the United States,
stNte in which the cause for ANNEXATION WAS
aS"S o" m r1s n bs loss 1d ID
the Hawaiian sugar interests from inc operation
of the Mckinley bill and the Tendency to still
further depreciation of sugar property unless
some positive measure of relief is granted. He
strongly inveighs against the Xisting Hawaiian
government and emphatcally declares for an
ncxation. He says: I'm Truth, the monarchy
here is an absurd anachronsm. 1t has nothing
which it logically lcgitimately stands
The feuda basis on which it once stood no long
cr existing the monarchy now is only an I'm
pcdimcnt to good government and obstruction
to the prosperity and progress of the islands,"
He further says: las crown colony of Great
Britain or a territory of the Uuited States
the government notifications could be made
readily and good administration of the law
secured Destiny and the vast future interests of
the United States in the Pacific clearly indicate
who at distant day quay be responsible for the
government of these islands lnder territorial
government they gould 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
o ASia or the Goth other wHtrh 2Anets her Y
binds her to the care of American destiny" He
also declares; lone of two courses seems to
me absolutely necessary to DC followed: either
bold and vigorous measures for annexation
or customs union en- uceah cable from