Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-12-28
TIE HAWAIIAN INQUIRY.

amined by the senate Committee.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The sub-com-
mittee of the senate committee on foreign
relations appointed to investigate our
Hawaiian relations met this morning and
proceeded to work under the Morgan reso-
luton, Senator Butler of South Carolina
being the only absentee. DR.. Emerson was
the first witness called, and he was before
the committee for several hours. He Ia
secretary of the board of missions for
Hawaii, and was present at Honolulu
when the revolution of last January oc-
Cured.
The proceedings of the committee were
held behind closed doors, bat 1t is learned
that DR.. Emerson was examined especially
concerning the landing of American troops
on the island, with a view to showing the
part that Minister Stevens and Commander
Wiltse took In the revolution. DR.. Emer-
son was an eyewitness, and was questioned
very closely as to the exact relative time of
the landing of the troops, as compared
with the action of the Hswaiians them
selves. Senators Gray and Frye took o
leading part in the examination.
Professor Alexander, surveyor-general
of the Hawaiian islands, Is also In attend
ance and will be examined later.
81 can conceive of no possible fact or
conclusion based upon the facts brought
out that should be withheld from the coun-
try" said a prominent member of the corr
mittee to-day after the adjournment. A
talk with other members of the committee,
men prominent both In this committee and
in the senate, leads to the conclusion that
when the committee Is ready to make Its
the senate in open session so that the
whole country may know just what It has
done and what conclusions 1t has reached.
Senator Frye of Maine, the warm per-
sonal friend of ex-Minister Stevens, and
Mr.. Sherman, the old republican member
of the committee, will see to 1t that the
administration of Mr.. Harrison is protected
throughout. Mr.. Morgan, the chairman of
the committee, is for the right wherever
found, and his policy in conducting this
inquiry is to get at the facts from every
source, so that conclusion based upon all
the facts may show the exact status of the
case. He will, as q member of the COM
mittee said to-day, deal with this matter
as jurist would with a case before bin,
and will find for the party in interest with
impartislity. 1t Is understood that Chair
man Morgan will insist upon the utmost
publisity as to the findings of fact and the
conclusions of the committee after they
have been prepared for submission to the
senate.
1t will be recalled that when the presi-
dent sent his message on the Hawaiian
message there were two letters withheld,
Mr.. Cleveland stating that 1t would be in
compatible with the public welfare to
transmit them. One letter was from Min
ister Willis, sent to the state department
shortly after his arrival on the Islands and
presumably the one which caused the
change In the policy of the administration.
The other was from Minister Stevens.
Both of these letters will be called for and
It is thought that the president will not
refuse to submit them.
Another letter, about which little has
been said, is one written by Minister
Thurston to Mr.. Gresham just before his
departure to Hawaii. The speech of Sens-
tor Hoar In the senate the other day indi-
GATED that he, at least, had an inkling of
the text of this letter. It is said to be q
very remarkable document bearing upon
the subject of international relations and
presenting some views which will be of In
terest to the committee. Mr.. Gresham
may be called upon to deliver this letter to
the senate committee. At all events 1t 10
known an effort will be made to get 1t.
A number of witnesses will be summoned
by telegraph and are expected to be here
for the next hearing of the committee.
There is an evident disposition on the part
of the committee to discuss the Hawaiian
situation from the standpoint of the value
of the Islands to the United States as q
strategic position.
Before the committee met this morning
there was sent to its rooms new Mercator
chart, which shows the usual ship courses
of every line that travels the Pacific. Up
on this chart are arranged all the data nee
esssry to show the possessions of the Eng
lish and Germans In that ocean and the
advantages of the Hawaiian islands to the
naval forces of the United States. Special
importance is attached to the coal stations,
and the facilities Great Britain and Ger
many and other foreign powers have in this
respect are prominently set forth not only
in the Pacific, but also in every body of
water on the globe. Data accompany the
map giving the q uantity of coal consumed
by the vessels of the United States at the
various coaling stations and the amount
paid for it.