The herald., 1893-12-06
THE N4T|0N'S LAWMAKERS
Congress Settled Down to
Business.
The Hawaiian Question Bobs Up
in the Senate.
Dolph Makes an Extended Speech on
the Subject.
Tho Administration Raked Fore and Aft
for Its Method OF Dealing with tho
Matter-A Dali Day In
the House.

By the Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Dee, 8. - The senate
opened today with light attendance in
the galleries and on the floor. The vice.
president laid before the senate a COM
munication from Governor Altgeld OF
Illinois, announcing that the statue
erected by the state in the statuary hall
OF the national capitol, to General James
Shields. will be unveiled tomorrow after
noon. and inviting the friendly CO.
operation of the senate. Senator Oullom
gave notice that he would tomorrow in
troduce a resolution bearing on the
subjeGt.
Dolph presented q petition of Oregon
horticnl turalists. fsvoring the main.e-
nance OF the present duty on prunes.
Hoar offered resolution (ior which
he asked present consideration request
ing the president. SO far as in his opin-
ion it shall not be inconsistent with
public interest. to communicate to the
eenate copies of all instructions which
may have been given to any representa-
tive of the United States, or any naval
officer since March 4, 1898, in reference
to the preservation of public order in
Hawaii, or the protection of the lives
and property of American citizens, or
the recognition or support of any govern
ment there. -,llsa
Sherman, while expressing himself as
in favor of the resolution, thought, in
the absence of the chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, nothing
should be done but refer the resolution
to that COMMITTEES.
After some further debate the resolu-
tion was laid over.
Dolph then proceeded to address the
senate on that part OF the Presidents
message relating to Hswsii. He began
by expressing his surprise at the utter
ance OF the president in his message.
Dolph said he could not conceive it
possible that the administration had
determined upon the forcible overthrow
OF the existing government and the res
toraticn of the corrupt and licentous
queen. If such had been she intention
bsf the administration. the. expression.
by the prese OF The country of,aimoAt
unanimous public opinion against such
course, he believed, would have
changed the purpose OF the admin
istrstion and caused the president to
modify his instructions to the minister
to Hawaii.
Dolph read part OF the reference of
the president to Hawaii, in his message,
and asked whether the report of the
peraonal representative of the presi-
dent. acting under such instructions
and conducting ex-parte examination,
was entitled to more credence than the
official report of the former American
minister to Hawaii, and OF the Ameri-
he
tives of the Hawaiian government to
this country, and of information re-
ceived from christian and intelligent
persons of Hawaii since the revolution.
1t would have been more satisfactory
to him and to the country had the pres
ident been more explicit as to how it
was proposed to undo the alleged wrong
and how the administration was to pro-
ceed to restore the status existing at
the time of the alleged forcible interven-
ton. 1t would have been more satisfac-
tory if the president had given to the
senate his instructions to the present
American minister to Hawaii. so. that
the senate and the house might have
known, what was proposed by the gov
ernment.
A remark by Cullum as to whether
the president had constitutional author
| ity to restore the queen forcibly, led
Dolph to say rather earnestly that on
| that question there would be wide
difference of opinion between the presi-
dent and himself. and etill he was war
| raEted in assuming that something
more than moral suasion was to be ex-
ercised to change the government OF
Hawaii.
Dolph was asked by Vest whether he
was arguing in favor of a policy on the
part,of the government of occurring the
Hawaiian islands and holding them as
colony, under what is known in
Europe as the continental system.
Dolph replied that he favored the an
nexation of the islands; giving to them
q suitable government and exercisng
control over them. The most the United
States could do if it did not care to an
mex the islands, was to withdraw it's
support of the provisional government
and allow it to take it's own course.
Gray inquired whether the present
Hawaiian government was republic.
ut comes as near to that as anything
else," replied Dolph.
"How near does it come to it ~. asked
Gray.
II am not going to discuss that" re-
piled Dolph. 1t 10 government es-
tablished by the people; it is not
monarchy, that is certain"
ut is not republic, that is certain"
said Mr.. Gray.
White asked by how many people the
present government was established.
las many as ever established any
government there" replied Doiph.
Dolph referred to the fact that nothing
was made public in the direction Of the
intention of the administration until
congress had adjourned, when there
could be no congressional interference.
The report OF Blount, said Dolph, read
more like plea of a jealous lawyer for
his SIDE OF the controversy than like an
unprejudiced and impartial decision
of q judge. Personally he would
far sooner take the statement
of ex-Minister Stevens; the statement
OF Mr.. Thurston; the statements OF hon.
orable men who were Engaged in the re-