Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-21
NHE HAWAII MESSAGE
\ Review Of the Situation by
President Cleveland.
THESLYHAND 0FSTEVENS
low He Worked for the Overflow Of
the Government.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT DESIRED
A Restoration of the Pre-
viously Existing Status.
BUT THE QUEEN WAS NOT SATISFIED
.THESLY HAND0 FSTEVENS
WHAT THE PRESIDENT DESIRED
A Restoration of the Pre-
viously Existing Status.
BUT THE QUEEN WAS NOT SATISFIED

tions Insisted Upon by the President--
Trouble Caused by the Unfortunate
Public Misrepresentation of the situa-
= tion--Hope Expressed for a Solution Con-
sistent with American Honor, Integrity
and Morality.
dents response to the resolutions passed
by both Houses of Congress, requesting
Information on Hawaiian affairs, and
especially as to the nature of the instruc-
lions given to Minister Willis, was sent to
Congress to-day. In opening the message
The President says:
To The Senate and House Of Representatives
In my recent annual message to Congress
| briefly referred to our relations with
Hawaii, and expressed the intention of
transmitting further information on the
subject when additional advices permitted.
SHOULD BE REFERRED TO CONGRESS.
Though | am not able now to report a
definite change, in the actual situation, |
am convinced that the difficulties lately
created both here and in Hawaii, and now
standing in the way of solution through
executive action of the problem presented
render it propersand expedient that the
matter should be referred to the broader
authority and discretion of Congress, with
a full explanation of the endeavor thus
far made TO deal with the emergency and
statement OF the considerations which
have governed my action.
suppose that right and justice should
determine the path to be followed i'll
treating this subject. Ii national honesty
is to be disgegarded and desire for terri
lorial extension, or dissatisfaction with n
form OF government not our own, ought
10 regulate our conduct, | have entirely
misapprehended the mission and character
OF our government and the behavior which
the conscience of our people demands Of
their public servants.
THE TREATY OF ANNEXATION.
When the present administration
entered upon its duties the Senate had
under consideration treaty providing for
the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to
the territory of the United States. Surely,
under our constitution and laws, the ell
largement of our limits is manifestation
Of the highest attribute of sovereignty,
and if entered upon as an executive act
all things relating to the transaction
should be clear and free from suspicion.
Additional importance attached to this
particular treaty OF annexation, because ii
contemplated departure of the unbroken
American tradition in providing for the
addition to our territory of islands of the
sea more than 1000 miles removed from
our nearest coast.
These considerations might not of them
selves call for interference with the com
RAttiOh Vi q treaty upon DN a
previous administration. But it appeured
from the documents accompanying the
tre9ty when submitted to the Senate, that
the ownership of Hawaii was rendered to
US by provisional government set up to
succeed the constitutional ruler of the
isianus, who had been dethronel, and it
did not appear that such provisional
government had the sanction of either
popular revolution or suffrage. Two other
remarkable features Of the transaction
naturally attracted attention. One was
the extraordinary haste-not to say pre-
cipitency-character all the trans
actions connected with the treaty.
THE RAPIDlTY OF THE REVOLUTION.
II appeared that so-called committee of
safety, ostensibly the source of revolt
against the constitutional government Of
Hawaii, was organized on Saturday the
18th day of January; that on Monday. the
18th, the United States forces were landed
at Honolulu from naval vessel lying in
its harbor; that OIL the 18th, the scheme OF
provisional government was perfected,
and proclamation naming its officers was
on the same day prepared and read at
the government building that Immediately
thereupon the United States minister rec.
ognized the provisional government, thus
created; that two days afterwards, on tht
18th day of January, commissioners rep,
resentlng such government sailed for this
country In a steamer especially chartered
for the occasion, arriving in San Fran
CISCO on the 18th day of january, unc
in Washington on the Sd day of Feb
ruary; that on that day they haC
their first interview with the Secretary
of State, and another on the 18th, when
the treaty of annexation was practically
agreed upon, and that ON the 18th it was
formally concluded and the 10Th trans.
mitted to the Senate. Thus between thu
initiation of the scheme for provisional
government in Hawaii on the l4th duy o
january and the submission to the Senat,
OF treaty of annexation concluded witt
eeeh government, the entire interva
WnD 81 days, 10 of which wer
spent by the Hawaiian commits
sioners in their journey to Washington
VITAL ISSUE OF FACT.
In the next place, upon the face O
papers submitted with the treaty il clearl,
appeared that there was All open and un
determined issue of fact OF most vital i'm
portance The message OF the Presiden
accompanying the treaty declared tina
the overthrow of the monarchy was no
in any way promoted by this govern
rnent," and in a letter to the Presiden
from the Secretary Of State also submitte
to the Senate with the treaty, the follow
ing passage occurs
AT the time the provisional govern
lhthk tCOh BoooNoolbu VI llc RONtfDIQtl
buildings no troops or officers Of the Unite
States were present or took any part wha
ever in the proceedings. No public recogl
ton was accorded to the provisional goverl
ment by the United States minister unit
after the Queens abdication and whe
they were IN effective possession Of til
government buildings, the archives, Iii
treasury, the barracks, the police static
and all the potential machinery Of ii
government"
PROTEST BY THE QUEEN.
But a protest also accompanied sal
treaty, signed by the Queen and her mil
listers at the time she made way for I'll
provisional government, which explicit
stated that she yielded to the sliperit
force of the United States, whose minist,
had caused United States troops to
landed at Honolulu and declared that /
would support such provisional govern
ment. The truth or falsity of this prote
was surely Of the first Importance
true. nothing but the concealment of i
truth could induce our government
negotiate with the semblance of COVER
ment thus created, nor could a treaty r
sulting from the acts state in the prote
have been knowingly deemed worthy
consideration by the Senate Yet the trut
or falslty Of the protest has not been il
vestigated.
DEMANDED AN INVESTIGATION.
conceived it to be my duty therefore
withdraw the treaty from the Senate +,
examination, and meanwhile to cause
accurate, full and impartial investigate
to be made Of the facts attending the sn
version of the constitutional governmel
of Hawaii. and the instalment in its pla
Of the provisional government. lselect,
for the work of investigation, the Ho
james II. Blount Of Georgia, whose seryi
of Is years as a member of the House
Representatives, and whose experience
chairman of the committee on fnrein