Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-12-23
THE HAWAIIAN MATTER.
President CleYeland Sends Message
to Congress.

WASHINGTON, December 1S.-The
message of the President is six
thousand words in length, gives a
history of the events in Hawaii in
conformity with the facts asreported
by Mr.. Blount and commits future
dealing with the question to the ex-
tended powers and wide. discretion OF
Congress He says:
'By an act of war, committed with
the participation of the diplomatic
representatives of the United States.
and without the authority of Con.
gress, the government of feeble but
friendly people has been overthrown.
The provisional government has not
assumed republican or other consti-
tutional form, but has remained a
mere executive council or oligarchy,
set up without the assent of the peo-
pie. 1t has not sought to find per-
manent basis for popular support and
has given no evidence of its Intention
to do so. Indeed, the representatives
of that government assert that the
people of Hawaii are unfit for popu-
lar government and can be best ruled
by an arbitrary or despotic power.
The President says he had hoped,
in view of the fact that both the
Queen and Provisional Government
had at one time acquiesced in the
reference of the entire case to the
United States Government, and con-
sidering the further fact that the
Provisional Government by its own
declared limitations was only ITO
exist until the terms of union with
the United States have been nego-
tiated." that after giving assurance
to the members Of that government
that such a union could not be con-
summated, he might have been able
to compass a peaceful adjustment of
the difficulty. mot unmindful of
the perplexities of the situation and
of the limitations of my power" says
the President, II instructed Minis
ter Willis to advise the Queen and
her supporters of my desire to aid
in the restoration of the status exist
ing before the lawless landing of
United States forces at Honolulu on
the 10th of January
He says that he desired that such
restoration should be effected on
terms providing for clemency as we'll
as justice to all persons concerned.
The conditions suggested were am
nesty to all those who had in any
way participated in the setting up
of the provisional government and
the recognition of all bona fide acts
and obligations. These conditions
have not proved acceptable to the
Queen. although she has been in
formed that they will be insisted up
on, and that unless acceded to the
efforts of the President to aid in the
restoration of her government will
cease.
The President says that he has not
yet learned that the Queen has
yielded heracquiescence, and this has
delayed his efforts to bring about
a settlement.
He adds that unfortunate public
Misrepresentation of the situation
and exaggerated statements of the
sentiments of our people have OBJ
viously hindered the prospects of a
successful executive mediation. He,
therefore, submits the correspon-
dence and instructions to Congress,
and closes by saying: in commend
ing this subject to the extended pow
ers and wide discretion Of Congress.
I desire to add the assurance that 1
shall be much gratified to cooperate
in any legislative plan which may be
devised for the solution of the prob
lem before us which is consistent
with American honor, integrity and
morality"