The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-12-23
The presIdcnt,s Messa go,

In my recent annual message to the con-
gress I briefly referred toonr relations
OF transmitting further information on
{. the subject when additional adviccs per-
mitted. Though l am not able now to
report u definite change in the actual sit
uation l am convinced that the difficult
ties lately created both here and in Ha-
wall render 1t proper and expedient that
the matter should be referred to the
broader authority and discretion of
congress with q statement of the
considerations which have governed
my action. If national honesty
is to be disre garded and u desire for terri
torial extension or dissatisfaction with a
form of government not our own ought to
regulate our conduct have entirely mis-
apprehended the mission and character
OF our government and the behavior
which the confidence OF our people de-
mands of their public servants
When the present administration entered
upon its duties the senate had under con-
sideration treaty providing for the an
nexation OF the Hawaiian islands to the
United States It appeared from the doe
submitted to the senate that
rendered to the tinted States BY n pro.
visional governme Mt set up 10 succeed the
constitutional ruler of the Islands who
had been dethroned and it did not appear
tluat SuCu pFOSlSlOIill government ntlu the
sanction of either popular revolution lor
suffrage. Upon the face of the papers
submitted With the treaty it clearly
appeared that there was open and undo
termined an issue of fact of the most vital
Importance. No public recognition was
ment by the United States minister
until after the queens abdication
and when this was ineffective possession
of the government buildings, the archives,
the treasury, the barracks, the police Sta
tion and all the potential machinery of
the government.
But protest also accompanied. said
treaty, signed by the queeR.and lfdS niip.
listers, at the time she madesway h6r.kiie
provisional government which explicitly
stated that She yielded to the superior
force OF the United States whose minister
be landed at aaffonolnlu und de-
clared that lie would support such
provisional government The truth or
falsity of this protest was surely of the
first Importance. II true, nothing but the
concealment of its trnth could induce our
semblance OF government TINS
sulting from the acts stated in
the protest been knowingly deemed
worthy OF consideration by the, senate.
Yet the truth or falsity OF the protest had
not been investigated. l conceived it to
be my duty. therefore, to W thdraw the
treaty from the senate for examination
and meanwhile to cause an accurate, full
and impartial investigation to be made of
the facts attending the subversion of the
constitutional government OF Hawaii and
the instaliment in its place of the provis-
ional government. l selected for the
work of Investigation the Hon. James H.
Blount of Georgia, whose service OF eigh.
teen years as q member of the house of
~. Il H..
ence as chairman of the committee
i of foreign affairs in that body anu
his consequent familiarity with interna-
/, tional topics joined with his high clarac.
ter and honorable reputation seemed to
render him peculiarly fitted for the duties
entrusted to him. His report detailing
his action nnder the instructions given to
him and the conclusions derived from his
Investigation accompany this mes
sage. These conclusions do not
rest for their acceptance entirely
Facts Agree Will, Blount's Report.
upon Mr.. Blount's honesty and ability as
q man, nor upon lis acumcn and impair
tiality as an Investigator They are ac-
counted by thciev.dence npon. which they
are based. which evidence is also here
with transmitted and from which IL seems
to me no other deductions could
possibly be reported than those
arrived mt by the commissioner.
Inc fepoft wlth us tsarcompahylngp proofs,
and such other evidence as is now before
the congress or is herewith submitted
tussities in my opinion the statement that
when the president was led 10 sub
NIT the tr.aty to the senate With
the declaration that s.the overthrow OF
-inoted by this government and when the
. senate was induced to receive and discuss
1t on That basis, both president and senate
were misled.
Stevens Not IL Passi, q Factor
Tic attempt will not he made i'll this
communication touch upon all the facts
which throw light upon the progress lind
tion. very brief and imperfect refer.
5Anca tn the facts md eyiiinnHn Mt hand