Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-18

Ao4Ao III ehdl DOuy, anu MS consequent Ia
miliarity with international topics, Joined
with his high character and honorable repu-
tation, seemed to render him peculiarly
fitted for the duties entrusted to him. His
report detailing his action under the in
structions given to him and the conclusions
derived from his investigation accompany
this message
These conclusions do not rest for their ac-
ceptance entirely upon Mr.. Blount's honesty
and ability as man, nor upon his acumen
and tmpartiality as an investigator. They
are accompanied by the evidence upon
which they are based, which evidence is
also herewith transmitted, and from which
1t seems to me no other deductions could
possibly be reached than those arrived at
by the Commissioner.
The report with it's accompanying proofs,
and such other evidence as is now before
the Congress or Is herewith submitted, JUS
titles 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 monarchy was
not in any way promoted by this Govern
ment," and when the Senate was induced
to receive and discuss 1t on that basis, both
President and Senate were misled.
The attempt will not be made in this COM
which throw light upon the progress and
consummation of this scheme of annexa-
tion A very brief and imperfect reference
to the facts and evidence at hand will ex
hibit its character and the Incidents in
which 1t had its birth.
1t is unnecessary to set forth the reasons
which In January. 1S93 led considera-
BILE proportion of American and other for
eign merchants and traders residing at
Honolulu to favor the annexation Of Ha-
wall to the United States. 1t Is sufficient
to note the fact and to observe that the
project was one which was zealously pro-
NOTED by the Minister representing the
United States in that country. He evil
IDENTIFY had an ardent desire that it should
become a fact accomplished by his agency
and during his ministry, and was not in
conveniently scrupulous as to the means
employed to that end. On the 10th day
of November, 1892. nearly two months be-
fore the first overt act tending towards
the subversion of the Hawaiian Govern
ment and the attempted transfer Of Ha-
waiian territory to the United States, he
addressed long letter to the Secretary Of
State in which the case for annexation
was elaborately argued. on moral, political
and economical grounds. He refers to the
loss to the Hawaiian sugar interests from
the operation of the Mckinley bill. and the
tendency to still further depreciation Of
sugar property unless some positive meas
ure Of relief is granted. He strongly in
Weighs against the existing Hawaiian Gov
eminent and emphatically declares for an
nexation He says: in truth the mon
archy here is an absurd anachronism. 1t
has nothing on which 1t logically or legiti-
mately stands. The feudal basis on which
1t once stood no longer existing, the mon
archy now Is only an impediment to good
government-an obstruction to the pros
perity and progress Of the islands"
He further says: "As a crown colony Of
Great Britain or a Territory of the United
States the government notifications could
be made readily and good administration
of the law secured. Destiny and the vast
future interests Of the United States in
the Pacific clearly indicate who at no dis
tant day must be responsible for the gov
ernment Of these islands. Under a terri
torial government they could be as easily
governed as any Of the existing Territories
of the United States"
Hawaii has reached the parting
Of the ways. She must now take the road
which leads to Asia, or the other which
outlets her in America, gives her an Amer
lean civilization. and binds her to the care
of American destiny" He also declares:
"One Of two courses seems to me absolutely
necessary to be followed, either bold and
vigorous measures for annexation or a
customs union an ocean cable from the
Californian coast to Honolulu. Pearl Harbor
perpetually ceded to the United States. with
an implied but not expressly stipulated
American protectorate over the islands. I
believe the former to be the better, that
which will prove much the more advan-
tageous to the islands, and the cheapest
and least embarrassing In the end to the
United States. If 1t was wise for the United
States through Secretary Marcy thirty
eight years ago to offer to expend 100000
to secure treaty of annexation, it GER
tainly can not be chimerical or unwise to
expend 100000 to secure annexation in the
near future. Today the United States has
five times the wealth she possessed in 1854.
and the reasons now existing for annexa-
ton are much stronger than they were
then. / can not refrain from expressing
the opinion with emphasis that the golden
hour is near at hand"
These declarations certainly show a dis
position and condition of mind which may
be usefully recalled when interpreting the
significance of the Minister'S conceded acts
CouSIueTlNS tne probabilities OF
such conduct on his part as may not be ad-
mitted.
In this view 1t seems proper to also quote
from a letter written by the Minister to the
Secretary Of State on the sth day Of March,
1892, nearly a year prior to the first step
taken toward annexation. After stating the
possibility that the existing Government OF
Hawaii might be overturned by an orderly
and peaceful revolution, Minister Stevens
writes as follows: Ordinarily in like cir
cumstances, the rule seems to be to limit
the landing and movement Of United States
forces in foreign waters and dominion ex-
clusively to the protection Of the United
States legation and of the lives and prop
erty Of American citizens. But as the rela-
tions Of the United States to Hawaii are
exceptional, and in former years the United
States officials here took somewhat excep
tional action in circumstances of disorder,
desire to know how far the present Minister
and naval commander may deviate from es-
tablished international rules and precedents
in the contingencies indicated in the first
part Of this dispatch"
The Opportunity.
To a minister of this temper full of zeal
for annexation there seemed to arise in JAN
uary 1883. the precise opportunity for which
he was watchfully waiting-an opportunity
- t..I- a. 4 IL