People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-12-22

both houses of congress had completed
their preliminary work to-day, q mes
senger from the president presented
to them the long promised special
message on the Hawaiian complica-
ton
The message itself was as follows:
To the Senate and House OF Representa-
tiyes: In my recent annual message 10 the
congress l briefly referred 10 our relations
with Hawaii and expressed the intention OF
transmitting further information on the sub
ject when additional adyice5 permitted
Though am not now able to report definite
change In the actual situation. l an convinced
that the difficulties lately created both hero
and in Hawaii and now standing in the way Of
a solution through executive action OF tho
problem presented render it proper and expe-
dent that the matter should he referred 10
the broader authority and direction oil cOa-
gress, with full explanation OF the endclyor
thus far made to deal with the emergency and
statement OF the considerations which have
governed action.
suppose that right and justice should de-
termine the path to be followed in treating
this subject If national honesty is TO be s.
regarded and desire for territorial extension,
or dissatisfaction with "a form OF government
not our own is to regulate our conduct have
entirely misapprehended the mission and
character OF our government and the behavior
which the conscience OF our people demands
Of their public servants
THE PROPOSAL OF ANNEXATION.
When the present administration entered
upon its duties the senate had under consider
alton treaty providing for tine annexation Of
the Hawaiian islands to the Territory OF the
United States. Surely under our constitution
and laws the enlargement Ct our limits is a
manifestation of the highest attribute Of soy
ereignty and if entered upon as an executive
act, all things relating to the transactions
should be clear and free from suspicion
Additional Importance Is attached to this
peculiar treaty OF annexation because il con.
templated departure from unbyOEen Ameri-
can tradition in providing for the addition of
our territory OF Islands OF the sea more than
1000 miles removed from our nearest coast.
These considerations might not OF them
selves call for interference with the completion
OF treaty entered upon by previous admin
;stration But it appeared from the documents
accompanying the treaty when submitted "a
the senate that the ownership OF Hawaii was
rendered TO US by provisional government
set up to succeed the constitutional ruler Of
the Islands, who had been delhrOned and il
did not appear that such provisional govern
ment had the sanction OF either popular reyo
luton or suffrage.
Two remarkable features of the transaction
naturally attracted attention One was the
extraordinary haste-not TO say precipitancy
-charscterizng all the transactions connected
with the treaty. 1t appeared that q sO-cllled
committee Of safety, ostensibly the source Of
the revolt against the constitutional govern
ment OF Hawaii, was organized on Saturday
the lith day OF january that on Monday, The
10th, the United States forces we're landed a.
Honolulu from naval vessel lying in lis har
Dor; that on the Eth the scheme OF pro
Vlslonal government was perfected, and
proclamation naming its officers was on III.
same day prepared and read at the govern
ment building; that Immediately thereupol
the United States minister recognized IN,
provisional government thus created: that tw,
days afterward, on the 18th day OF January
commissioners representing such government
sailed for this country in q steamer especially
chartered for the occasion, arriving in Sal
Francisco on the 18th day OF January and II
washington on the d day Of February; tina
ne t day they had their first interview witt
the secretary of state and another on the llth
when the treaty anneXing the islands wa
practically agreed upon, and that on the litl
it was formally concluded and on the l5tl
transmitted TO the senate k5.#a
Thus between the Initiation Of tne schemt
Tor provisional government In Hawaii on tn
l4th OF January and the submission 10 III
senate OF the treaty OF annexation conclude
with such government, the entire interva! wa
thlrty-two days, fifteen Of which were spent b.
the Hawaiian commissioners in their journe'
to Washington.
GRAVE VARIANCE As To ISSUES
In the next place upol the face Of the pager
submitted with the treaty, it Clearly appeare
that there was open and undetermined al
issue Of the most vital Importance The mes
sage OF the president accompanying the treat
declared that the overthrow Of the monarch
was not in any way promoted by this govern
ment" and in letter to the president from th
secretary OF state also submitted to the senat
with the treaty the following passage occurred
AT the time the provisional government too
possession OF the government build ngS, n
troops or officers OF the United States wei
present or took any part whatever in the DR.
ceedings. No public recognition was accorde
10 the provisional government by the Unite
States minister until after the queens abdcl
tlon and when they were in effective posse.
sloG OF the government buildings the archives
the treasury, the barracks, the police static
and all the potential machinery OF the govern
mentn
But protest also accompanied said trent
signed by the queen and her ministers AZ ii
time she made way for the provisional COVER
ment, which explicitly stared that she yielde
10 the superior force Of the United State
whose minister had caused the United Stat
troops TO be landed st Honolulu and declare
lRat he would support such provisional 90
eminent
The truth or fal,ity OF tAis protest vas sur
" OF the first Importance Ii true nOthlI
but the concealment of its truth could in6ui
our government to negO late with the sen
blanee OF government thus created n
could treaty resulting from the acts stat,
In the protest have been knowingly deemt
worthy Of consideration ny the senate Y
the truth or falsity Of The protest had n
been investigated.
RESULT OF ME-. BLoUNT'S MIssICS.
I conceived it to be my duty. therefore,
withdraw the treaty from the senate for G
animation and meanwhile TO cause an acC
rate. full and impartial investigation to
made OF the facts attending the subversion
the constitutional govern nent OF Hawaii. al
the installmeutln its place Of the provision
government selected for the work Of
Vestigation the Hon james Blount of GeC
gia, whose service Of eigb cen years as me
W Va tAAO iAVetNO VI representatives. anu
experience as chairman OF the committee
foreign affairs in that body and his conseQue
familiarity vita international topics, Join
with his high character and honorable repu
ton. seemed 10 render him peculiarly fit
for the duties entrusted 10 him. His rep
detailing his action under the insiruct,c
given 10 him and the conclusions derry
from his Investigation accompany this m
sage
These conclusions DO not rest for their
ceptance entirely upon Mr. Blounts hone
and ability rs man nor upon his aeuaen
impartiality Us an investigator They are
companied by the evidence upon which u
are based. which evidence is also herew
transmitted and from which it seems to
no other deductions could possibly be reae.
than those arrived ~ by he commissioner
The reports, with lis accompanying pro
and such other evidence as is now hefore
congress or Is herewith submitted lustiles
my opinion the statement that whenthe pr
dent was led 10 submit the treaty 10 the sen
with the declaration that the oveTthroV
the monarchy was not IN any wcy promo
bt thfs gUyernneniH and who the senate
qnduced toreeeiye and discuss it on that b.
b0ih president and senate was nisleds
EX-MINISTER STEVENS ARRAIGNED.
The attempt will not be made in this C