Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-12-06
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS DISCUSSED.
The President Explains the A ction Take II
Regarding the Queen.

il is hardly necessary for me to state that the
questions arising from our relations with Hawaii
have caused serious embarrassment Just prior
to the installation of the present administration
the existing government of Hawaii had been
suddenly overthrow and a treaty of annexation
had been negotiated between the provisional gov
eminent of the islands and the United States and
submitted 10 the Senate for ratification. This
treaty L withdrew for examination and dis
patched Hon. James H. Blount, of Georgia. to
Honolulu as special commissioner TO make an
impartial investigate of the circumstances at
tending the change of government and of all
the conditions bearing upon the subject of the
treaty. After a Thorough and exhaustive exam
ination Mr.. BlOunt su omitted to ne his report,
showing beyond all question that the consttu-
tiOnal government of Hawaii had been subYert-
cd with the active aid Of our representative to
that government and through the Intimidation
caused by the presence of al armed naval force
OF the United states, which was landed for that
pun pose at the instance of our minister. Upon
the facts developed it seemed to me the only
honorable course of our government TO pursue
was to undo the wrong that had been done
by those representing US and to restore
as far as practicable the status existing
at the time of our forcible intervention. With
view Of accomplishing this result within the
constitutional limits of executive power, and rec
ognizing all our obligations and responsible
ties growing out Of any changed condition
brought about by our unjustitiable interference
our present minister TO Honolulu has received
appropriate instruction to that end. Thus
ment OF definite results has been re-
ceived from him. Additional advices are
soon expected, and when received they will
be promptly sent to the Congress. together
with all other information at hand, accOmpa-
MED by a special executive message fully de-
failing all the facts necessary to complete I'M
Outstanding of the case, and presenting his
tory OF all the material events leading up to the
present situation.
By a concurrent resolution passed by the Sen
ate February ia, 1890, and by the House of Rep
resentatives on the Sd of April following, the
fn 1tpri int frnn Ina
to time as hit occasion may arise, negotiations
with any government with which the United
States has or may have diplomatic relations, to
the end that ANY differences or disputes arising
between the two governments which cannot be
adjusted by diplomatic agency may be referred
to arbitration and be peaceably adjusted by
such means" April 49, 1890, the international
American conference of Washington, by res
olutiOn, expressed the wish that all
controversies between the republics of America
and the nations of Europe might be settled by
arbitration and recommended that the govern
ment OF each nation represented in that confer
cnce should communicate this wish to all friend
~ powers. favorable response has been re-
relved from Great Britain in the shape of a reso-
lution adopted by parliament July 16 last, cor
daily sympathizing with the purpose in view
and expressing the hope that Her Majesty S
government will lend ready cooperation to
the government of the United States upon the
basis OF the concurrent resolution above quoted
1t AFFORDS me signal pleasure to lay this parlia-
mentary resolution before the Congress and to
express my qualification that the sentiment Of
TWO great ana Kindred nations Is thus authOrl-
tatlYely manifested in favor of the rational and
peaceable settlement of international quarrels
by honorable resort to arbitration.
Since the passage of the act of March g. 1893,
authorizing the President to raise the grade of
our ENJOYS to correspond with the rank in which
foreign countries accredit their agents here
Great Britain, France Italy and Germany have
conferred upon their representatives at this
capital the title of ambassador and | have re-
sponded by accrediting the agents of the United
States III those countries with the same title
like elevation of mission is announced by Russia
and when made will be similarity met with
This step tttingly compares with the position
the United States holds in the family of nations
During my former administration | took oc-
casion TO recommend a re- cast of the laws relat-
ing to the consular service in order hat it mig
become a more efficient agency III the promotion
of the interest it intended TO subserve The
duties and powers of consuls have been ex-
banded with the growing requirements of our
foreign trade. Discharging important duties
atie citing our commerce and American citizens
abroad, and in certain countries exercising iu-
dical functions, these officers should be men of
character. intelligence and ability.
Upon proof that the legislation of Denmark
secures copyrights TO American citizens on
equal footing with its own, the privileges of our
copyright laws have been extended by procla-
nation to subjects of that country.