Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-12-30
MESSAGE.
The Presidents History OF
Hawaii.
Scores the Late Administration for Extra
ordinary Haste-Says Lil1i Yielded to
the Force of the U. S. Troops Land
ed for That Purpose.

coed the constitutional ruler of the islands, who
had been dethroned, and it did not appear that
such provisional government had the sane
ton of either popular revolution or suffrage.
Two other remarkable features of the trans
action naturally attracted attention. One was
the extraordinary haste, not to say precipitancy,
characterizing all the transactions connected
with the treaty. 1t appeared that so-called
committee of safety, ostensibly the source of
the revolt against the constitutional govern
ment of Hawaii, was organized on Saturday,
the 18th day of January; that on Monday, the
10Th, the United States forces were landed at
Honolulu from q naval vessel lying In its har-
Dor; that on the 18th the scheme of provis-
ional government was perfected and procla-
nation naming it's officers was on the same day
prepared and read at the government buildings
that Immediately thcreupon the United States
minister recognized the provisional government
thus created; that two days afterwards, on the
18th day of January commissioners represent
ing such government sailed for this country in a
steamer especially chartered for the occasion,
arriving in San Francisco on the 18th of January
and in Washington on the Sd day of February.
That next day they had their first interview
with the secretary of state and another on the
18th, when the treaty annexing the islands was
practically agreed upon. and that on the 14th it
was formally concluded, and on the 18th trans
mitted to the senate.
Thus between the initiation of the scheme for
a provisional government in Hawaii on the 14th
of January and the submission to the senate OF
the treaty of annexation concluded with such
government, the entire interval was thirty-two
days, fifteen of which were spent by the Bewa-
iian commissioners in their journey to Wash
inRton.
With this treaty came a protest from the
queen, which explicitly stated that she yielded
to the superior force of the United Sta ties, whose
minister had caused United States troops to be
landed at Honolulu and declared that he would
support such provisional government.
/ conceived it to be my duty, therefore, to
withdraw the treaty from the senate for exam
nation, and meanwhile to cause an accurate,
full and impartial investigation to be made of
the facts attending the subversion of tie con-
stitutional government of Hawaii and the in
stallment in its place of the provisional govern
ment.
1 selected for the work of investigation the
Hon. James II. Blount, of Georgia, whose
port accompanies this message, together with
evidence taken by him upon which his report is
based.
The report with the accompanying proofs and
such other evidence as is now before the con-
gross, or herewith submitted justities, in my
opinion the statement that when the president
was led to submit the treaty to the senate with
the declaration that the overthrow of the
was not in any way promoted by this
and when the senate was induced
to receive and discuss it on that basis, both
president and senate were misled.
The message then plainly charges Minister
Stevens of working actively. at least two months,
for annexation before the provisional govern
ment was instituted; and quotes from Stevens
dispatches to the secretary of state as proof of
this
A lengthy history, repetition of what every.
body has read, is here inserted of the events of
the decisive week at Honolulu. In it the mes
sage gives full credence to Commissioner
Blount's assertions and denies the truth of
statements made by Minister Stevens, the pro-
visional government and nearly all others who
have told of their own observation of those
events.
The landing of troops, the president says, was
sAaa1e 49, do az orrr
the consent of Hawaii, or for the purpose of
protecting the imperiled lives and property of
citizens of the United States, but there is no
pretense of such consent on the part of the gov
eminent of the queen, which at that time was
undisputed, was both de facto and dejure gov
eminent.
In point of fact the existing government, in.
stead of requesting the presence of an armed
force, protests against it. There is little basis
for the pretense that such forces were landed
for the security of American life and property
If any peril to life and property, calling for
any such material array, Lad existed, Great
Britain and other foreign powers interested,
would not have been behind the United States
in activity to protect her citizens. But they
made no sign in that direction.
When these armed men were landed the city OF
Honolulu was in its customary orderly and
peaceful condition. There was no symptom Of
riot or disturbance in any quarter.
Thus it appears that Hawaii was taken pos
session Of by the United States forces without
the consent or wish of the government of the isl
the United States minister.
The provisional government thus proclaimed,
was by the terms of the proclamation, TO ex-
list until terms of union with the United States
have been negotiated and agreed upon"
The United States minister pursuant to pricI
agreement. recognized this government within
an hour after the reading of the proclamation
and befor o'clock in answer to an inquiry IN be,
half OF the queen and her cabinet, announced thal
he had done so. When our minister recognized
the provisional government, the only basis upon
which it rested was the fact that the committee
of public safety had declared it to exist.
Our country was in danger of occupying the
position of having actually set up temporary
government on foreign soil for the purpose OF
acquiring through that agency territory which
we had wrongfully put in our possession. The
control of both sides of bargain acquired III
such a manner, is called by a familiar and I'M
pleasant name when found in private transac-
tons.
As apprehend the situation, we are brought
face to face with the following conditions:
The lawful government of Hawaii was over
thrown without drawing of the sword or the
firing OF shot, BY a process every step q. OF
traceable to and dependent for its success upon
the agency of the United States, through its di-
plomatic and naval representatives.
United States minister for annexation, the
committee OF safety, which should be called
the committee OF annexation, would never have
existed.
But for the landing of the United States
forces upon false pretext
Upon the grounds stated the president an
nounces that the annexation treaty will not
again be placed before the senate.
The president then says: By an act of war
committed with the participation of diplo-
matio representative of the United States and
without authority of congress, the government
of feeble, but friendly and confding people, has
been overthrown. substantial wrong has thus
been done, which due regard for our national
character, as well as the rights of the injured
people require that we should endeavor to re-
pair.
In the belief that the queen, as well as her
enemies, would be willing to adopt such
course as would meet these conditions, and in
view of the fact that both the queen and the
provisional government had at one time APP
parently acquiesced in a reference of the entire
case to the United States government. and con-
sidering the further fact that in any event, the
present government by its own declared Gmita.
ton, was only ito exist until terms of union
with the United States of America, have been
negotiated and agreed upon" / hoped that
after the assurance to the members of that gov
eminent that such union could not be consum-
mated, might compass peaceful adjustment
of the difficulty.
To this end the president says his instructions
to Minister Willis were to endeavor to bring
about peaceable surrender of the government
to the queen, and that she be induced to extend
a general amnesty to the rebels
The conditions have not proved acceptable to
the queen, and though she has been informed
that they will be insisted upon, and that unless
acceded to- the efforts of the president to aid in
the restoration of her government viii cease.