The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-19

who have been finding fault with little
Tor no knowledge as to what they We're
complaining about 1t is rather lengthy
hut is full of interest. There is moth
ling mysterious, proIix or complicated
Iabout it Everybody who reads can
understand it, and fairIninded people
must come to the conclusion that after
all, the. President has acted prudently
lpatriotcally and within the limits OF
Ie1ecutive authority
Commencing with an expression OF the
sentiment that right and justice should
determine the course to be pursued in
this matter. and that the Conscience OF
the people demands honesty in the be-
Ehavior of their public servants. he
proceeds to show that these have gov
erned the administration in its treat
ment of the Hawaiian question
When it entered upon its duties a
treaty was under consideration by the
Senate to annex the Hawaiian Islands
to the United States. 1t contemplated
a departure from the unbroken line Of
American traditions as to adding to
our territory islands more than 1000
miles from our coast. It was a tender
of ownership from a nurported govern
ment which did not appear to have
the support Of popular revolution or
sanction of the suffrage.
| The haste with which everything con-
nected with the matter was precipi-
tated is dwelt upon. and dates are
given to show that from the organiza-
ton of the plot to overthrow the Ha-
Waiidn government TO the time when
the scheme OF annexation was submitt-
ed to the Senate. there was but 80
days time. including Is days consumed
by the commissioners in travelling and
the time expended in preparations with
the Secretary of State.
In presenting the subject to the Sen
ate, President Harrison made state
ments which have since been demon
strated to be incorrect. showing that
he was misled by false representations
as to the part taken by the United
States forces. Accompanying the
treaty was protest from the deposed
Queen which showed that she had
yielded TO the power of the United
States. Therefore, President Cleveland
on taking Office withdrew the treaty
for examination, and then sent Com
missioner Blount to inquire into the
facts and make fun and impartial
investigation.
The character and qualifications of
that commissioner are stated clearly
by the President. and the fact is dwelt
upon that the evidence accompanying
Blount's report fully substantiates what
he conveyed therein.
The history of the movement for
annexation is interesting and neces-
sary to the full understanding of the
scheme. which The message exposes, to
accomplish that end. Documentary
proof is presented that Stevens. as
Minister Of the United States. was in
the plot. That he was working for an
nexation as early at least as March.
1892 That he landed the United states
forces before there was any provision
al government set up. That lie was
requested to wait, by the committee
OF safety, but that he had determined
to land them anyhow and did so. That
they were ostensibly to protect the lives
and property Of American citizens. but
really to overawe the Queen and aid in |
the establishment Of the revolution, the
of the people 70 be protected
being in another quarter of the city.
This act of Stevens. representing the
United States. was an act Of war. The !
Queens government, in amity with the
United States. was the de facto and |
de jure government when the forces
were landed with arms, ammunition
and artillery, and not till the next |
day was the proclamation of the pro-
VisionaI government made. and then
under presence and protection of the
United States troops. The fact that
neither Great Britain nor any other for
eign power considered it necessary to
land forces. showed that they saw no
necessity to protect. their citizens and
proved that there was no such danger.
The Queen did not yield to the pro-
Visional government. She had ample
forces at hand to quell the insurrec-
ton and maintain her position. She
to the authority of the Uni
ted States, learning that its minister
had recognized the chief of the proyis-
onai government. Even then she
yielded only until her case should be
heard at Washington as she relied upon
he justice and honor of the American
nation
The provisional government was only
o exist until the terms of union with
me United States could be agreed up
IN. The Queens protest was presented
o the provisional government, which
ret endeavored to dispose of the islands
o the United States. The so-calIed
evolution was effected without the !
iring Of a gun and was directly trace i,
able to the employment Of United
states forces. I
1t has not been claimed that the pro-