Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-12-22
THOSE 5000 WORDS
President Cleveland's Message in Re.
gard to Existing Affairs in
the Hawaiian Islands.
We Cannot Allow Ourselves to
Refuse Redress an Injury
Inflicted
" Through, Abuse of Power BY OH.
GERS Clothed With Authority
and Uniformed"

WASHINGTON, Dec. W.-The special
message of the president regarding Ha-
waiian atfairsshas been sent to congress-.
1t is as follows:
TO the Senate and House of Representa-
;iveS:
In my recent annual message to the con-
grcss. l briefly referred to our relations
with Hawaii and expressed the intention
of transmitting further information on the
subject when additional advices permitted.
Though am not able to now report Il def
mite change in the actual situation, 1 am
convinced that the difficulties lately Gre
a,ed, both here and in Hawaii, and now
Standing III the way of a solution through
executive action of the problem presented,
render it proper and expedient that the
matter should be referred to the broader
authority and direction Of congress, with
q full explanation of the endeavor thus far
made to deal with the emergency and q
statement of the considerations which have
governed action.
Right and Justice.
suppose that right and Justice should
determine the path to he followed in treat
Ing this subject. If Irrational honesty is to be
disregarded and a desire for territorial en-
tension here dissatisfaction with a form
OF government not our w is to regulate
our conduct, l have entirely misappre-
hended the mission and character of our
government and the behavior which the
conscience of our people demands of their
public servants.
When the present administration en-
tered upon it's duties, the senate had under
consideration a treaty providing for the
annexation of the Hawaiian islands to the
territory of the United Stares.
surely under our constitution and laws
the enlargement of our limits is q mani
festation of the highest attribute of SOW
creignty, and If entered upon as an execu-
tive act all things relating to the transac-
tons should he clear and free from sus-
picion. Additional Importance is attached
10 this
lar Treaty of Annexation
because it contemplated a departure from
unbroken American tradition in providing
for the addition to III territory of islands
of the sea, more than 1000 miles II inoved
from our nearest coast.
These considerations might not of them
v Citll 1OI interference WITH Tile COnl-
pletion of Il treaty entered upon by a pre-
Nious administration, but it appeared from
the documents accompanying the treaty
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
islands who had been dethroned: and did
not appear that such provisional govern
hnnnt hnH tina SnrntSD,, >f 1s<1,n
revolution or suffrage.
Two Other Remarkable Features
of the transaction naturally attracted at
t%cntion. One was the extraordinary haste
mot to say precipitancy-characterizing
Ill the transactions connected with the
freaty. 1t appeared that a so-called COM
nittee of safety, ostensibly the source of
he revolt against the constitutional gov
Prnment of Hawaii, was organized on Sat
krday, the l4th day of January; that on
Monday, the 10th, the United States forces
we're landed Mt Honolulu from a
paval vessel lying in it's harbor; that
pm the 18th the scheme of a provisional
government was perfected, and a procla-
aat on naming it's officers was OH the same
Pay prepared and read at the government
buildings: that Immediately %thereupon
he United States recognized the provis-
onal government thus created; that two
bays afterwards, on the 10Th of January.
commissioners representing such govern
hent sailed for this country in a steamer
specially chartered for the occasion, ar
living in this country on the 2Sth day of
anuary, and in Washington on the Sd
lay of February; that on the next day they
lad their first interview with the secretary
state, and another on the 18th, when the
reaty annexing the islands was practi-
ally agreed upon, and that on the 14th it
Eas formally concluded, and OH the 18th
Transmitted to the Senate.
Thus between the initiation of the
cheme for a provisional government in
iawaii OH the 18th of January and the
admission to the senate of the treaty of
%nneXation, concluded with such govern.
nent, the entire interval was 80 days, Is
I which were spent by the Hawaiian
commissioners in the journey to Wash
bgton.
In the next place, upon the face of the
apers submitted with the treaty. it clearly
ppeared that there was open and unde-
ermlned an issue of the most vital i'm
"rtance. The message of the president
campaigning the treaty declared that
The overthrow of the monarchy was not
any way promoted by this govern
lent II in a letter to the president
om the secretary of state, also submitted
. the senate with the treaty, the follow
y passage occurred:
At the time the provisional government
pok possession of the government build
pgs. no troops or officers Of the United
tates were present, or took any part
latever in the proceedings. No public
%cognition was accorded to the provisional
,vcrnment by the American minister I'M
! after the queens abdication, and when
icy We're in effective possession of. the
pvc'mment buildings, the archives. the
'as'lry, the barracks, the police station
,a all the potential machinery of the
Ovcrnment."
The Queens Protest.
l'llt II protest also accompanied said
ea'y, signed by the queen and her miuis-
Us at the time she made wav to tha
"'lSioIui government, winch eXpllcltiy
a'"i that she yielded to the superior
rec OF the United States, whose minister
~ caused United States troops to be
Med at Honolulu, and declared that he
""ld support such provisional govern
lent.
ne truth or falsity of this protest was