Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-12-22

, those arrived ut by the commissioner.
THE SENATE MIsLED.
The report with its accompanying
proofs and such other evidence as Is
now before Congress, or herewith sub
united, JustltleS, III my opinion, the
statement that when the President
was led to submit a treaty to the SEN
ate with the declaration that 1.-The
overthrow OF the monarchy was not in
any way promoted 10y this govern
mcnt,' and when the Senate was in
duced to receive and discuss it on that
basis, both the President and the SEN
ate were mislcd, and an attempt will
not be made i'll this communication to
touch upon all the facts which throw
light upon the progress and consum-
nation OF this scheme of annexation,
as very ref and imperfect reference
| to facts and evidence at hand will ex-
hibit its character and the incidents in
which it had its birth. 1t is unneces-
sary to set forth the reason which in
January, 1898, led considerable Dor.
ton of the American and other foreign
merchants and traders residing at
Honolulu to favor the annexation O!
Hawaii to the United States, it being
sufficient to note the fact and observe
that the project was one zealously pro-
NOTED by the minister representing
the United States in that country. He
evidently had an ardent desire that il
should become fact accomplished by
his agency and during his ministry,
and was not inconvenientlv scrupulous
as to the means employed to the end.
On the 18th of November, 1892.
nearly two months before the first
overt act tending toward the subyer-
sion OF the Hawaiian government and
the attempted transfer of the Hawaiian
territory to the United States, he ad-
dressed long letter to the Secretary
OF State, in which the cause for annex.
alton was deliberately argued on moral,
political and economical grounds. He
refers to the loss of the Hawaiian sugar
interests from the operation of the
Mckinley bill, and the tendency to
the still further depreciation OF sugar
property unless some positive measure
of relief was granted. He strongly in
weighs against the existing Hawaiian
government and emphatically declares
for annexation.
MINISTER STEVENS POSITION.
He says: "In truth the monarchy
here is an absurd anachronism. 1t
has nothing on which it logically or
legitimately stands. The feudAl ba-
sis on which it once stood no longer
existing, the monarchy now is the
only impeachment to good government
obstruction to the prosperity and prog
ress of the islands," He further saws
" As the crown colony of Great Brit
ain or territory OF the United States
government notifications could be
made readily and good administra-
ton OF law secured. The destiny and
vast future interests of the United
States in the Pacific clearly indicates
who at no distant day may be respon-
sibls for the government of these ISL
ands. Under territorial government
they could be as easily governed as
any existing territories in the United |
States. Hawaii has reached the part.
ing of the ways. She must now take
the road which leads to Asia or the |
other which leads to America, gives
her American civilization and binds |
her to the care of American destiny"
He also declares: "One of two
courses seems absolutely necessary to
be followed, either bold and vigorous
measures for annexation or customs
union and ocean cable from the Cali
fornia coast to Honolulu. Pearl Har.
bor was perpetually conceded to the
United States with the implied but not |
expressed stipulation OF an American
prOtectorate over the islands. l be-
lieved the former to be the better, that
which will prove much more advan-
tageous to the islands and the cheap.
est and least embarrassing in the end
to the United States. If it was wise
for the United States, through Sec
rotary Marcy thirty-eight years ago,
to offer to expend 100000 to secure
the treaty of annexation, it certainly
can not be chimerical or unwise to ex-
pend 500, 600 to secure annexation in |
the near future. To-day the United |
States has five times the wealth she
possessed in 1854 and the reasons now
existing for annexation are much |
stronger than they were then. / can
not refrain from expressing the opin-
ion with emphasis that the golden |
hour is at hand"
MORE CORRESPONDENCE.
These declarations certainly show |
the disposition and condition OF mind |
of the Minister which may be ruefully
recalled when Interpreting the signifi-
canoe Of his conceded acts, or when
considering probabilities of such con-
duct on his part as may not be ad-
mitted. In this view, it seems proper
to also quote letter written by the
Minister to the Secretary of State on
the 18th of March, 1892, nearly a year
prior to the first step toward annexa-
ton. After stating the possibility that
the then existing government of Ha-
waii might be overturned by an orderly
and peaceful revolution, Minister Stew
ems writes as follows: Ordinarily, in
like circumstances, the rule seems to
be to limit the landing and movement
of United States forces IN foreign wa
tiers exclusively to the protection of
the United States legation, and OF the
lives and property of American citi-
zens, but as the relations of the United
States to Hawaii are exceptional, and
in former years, the United States Off
Gals here took somewhat exception |
al action in circumstances of disorder, |
I desire to know how far the present
Minister and naval commander may
deviate from established international
rules and presidents in contingencies
indicated in the first part OF this dis
patch.
STEVENS OVERLY ANXIOUS.
To Minister OF this temper, full OF
zeal for annexation, there seemed to
arise in January, 1893, the precise OPP
portunity, by which by timely devia-
ton from the established interna tional
rules and precedents," we might sue
cessfully accomplish the great object
in view; and we are quite prepared for
the exultant enthusiasm with which |
in a letter to the State Department
dated Feb. l, 1898, he declares: "The
Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe, and
this is the golden hour for the United
States to pluck it." He further issued
q proclamation whereby "in the name
of the United States" he assumed pro-
lection OF the Hawaiian islands, and
declared the said action was taken |
pending and subject to negotiations