The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-12-22

I
created. nor could such treaty resulting
from the acts stated in the protest have
been knowingly deemed worthy of consid-
Grafton by the senate Yet the. truth or
falsity of the protest had not been investi-
gated.
withdraw the treaty from the senate for
examination, and meanwhile to cause an
accurate, full and impartial investigation
to be made Of the facts attending the s1b-
version of the constitutional government
OF Hawaii, and the installment In its place
OF the provisional government.
Commissioner BIount's Report.
selected for the work the Hon. James
Fl. Blount of Georgia, whose service OF IS
years as member OF the house OF repre-
sentatives, and whose experience as chair
man of the committee of foreign affairs in
that body and his consequent familiarity
with international topics, joined with his
high character and honorable reputation.
seemed to render him peculiarly fitted for
the duties entrusted to him. His report
detailing his action under the instructions
given to him and the conclusions derived
from his investigation accompany this
| message
These conclusions do not rest for their
acceptance entirely upon Mr.. Blount's hon
esty and ability as man, nor upon his
| acumen and impartiality as an Investigator.
They are accompanied by the evidence
upon which they are based, which evidence
Is also herewith transmitted. and from
which 1t seems to me no other deductions
could possibly be reached than those ar
rived at by the commissioners.
Harrison Was Misled.
The report, with It's accompanying proofs,
and such other evidence as is now before
| the congress or is herewith submitted, JUS
titles, in my opinion, the statement that
when the president was led to submit the
treaty to the senate with the declaration
that the overthrow of the monarchy was
not in any way promoted by this govern
ment," and when the senate was induced
| to receive and discuss it ON that basis, both
president and senate were misled.
The attempt will not be made in this
communication to touch upon all the facts
which throw light upon the progress and
contamination of this scheme OF annex
alton. A very brief and imperfect refer
! ence to the facts and evidence at hand will
exhibit its character and the incidents in
| which II had its birth.
Review Of the Case.
It IL unnecessary to set forth the reasons
| which In January, 1893, led considerable
portion Of American and other foreign
merchants and traders residing at Homo
lulu to favor the annexation of Hawaii to
| the United States 1t is sufficient to note
the fact and to observe that ehe project
was one which was 1ealously promoted by
the minister representing the United States
In that country. He evidently had an ar
| dent desire that 1t should become a fact
accomplished by his agency and during
| his ministry, and was not inconveniently
| scrupulOus as TO the means employed to
that end. On the 18th day Of November,
1892, nearly two months before the first
overt act tending towards the subversion
Of the Hawaiian government and the at
| tempted transfer OF Hawaiian territory to
| the United States, he addressed long let
ter to the secretary OF state, In which the
case for annexation was deliberately ar
gued, on moral, political and economical
grounds. He refers to the loss Of the Ha-
waiian sugar interests from the operation
of the Mckinley bill and the tendency to
| still further depreciation of sugar property
unless some positive measure Of relief Is
| granted. He strongly inveighs against
the existing Hawaiian governments and
emphatically declares for annexation.
An Absurd Anachronism.
He says: "In truth the monarchy here Is
an absurd anaohronism. 1t has nothing
| on which it logically or legitimately
stands. The feudal basis on which it once
stood, no longer existing, the monarchy
now Is only an impediment to good govern
ment-an obstruction to the prosperity and
progress of the islands,"
He further says: las crown colony OF
Great Britain or territory of the United
States the government notifications could
be made readily and good administration
of the law secured. Destiny and the vast
future interests of the United States in the
Pacific clearly Indicate who at no distant
ment Of these islands. Under territorial
government they could be as easily gov
erned as any Of the existing territories Of
the United States
"Hawaii has reached the parting of the
ways. She must now take the road which
IL A. -. ILL. l. I'll ia.
her in America, gives her an American civ
ilixation and binds her to the care Of Amer
lean destiny"
The Golden Hour L. Near.
He also declares: Zone Of two courses
seems to me absolutely necessary to be
followed, either bold and vigorous
measures for annexation or customs
union an ocean cable from the California
coast to Honolulu, Pearl harbor perpetual
ly decided to the United States with an
implied, but not expressly stipulated,
American protectorate over the islands.
| / believe the former to be the better, that
which will prove much the more advan-
tageous to the islands and the cheapest and
least embarrassing in the end to the United
States. II it was wise for the United
States, through Secretary Marcy, 88 years
ago, to offer to expend 100000 to secure a
treaty of annexation. it certainly cannot
be chimerical or unwise to expend 800, 900
to secure ANNEXATION IN the near future.
Today the ,Uuited States has five times
the wealth she possessed in 1854 and
reasons now existing for annexation are
much stronger than they were then. 1
cannot refrain from expressing the opinion
with emphasis that the golden hour is near
at hand"
These declarations certainly show dis
position and condition of mind, which may
be usefully recalled when interpreting the
/ significance of the minister's conceded acts
or when considering the probabilities of
such conduct on his part a. may not be
admitted
In this view IL seems proper to also
quote from letter written by the minister
| to the secretary Of state on the 9th day of
March, 1892, yearly year prior to the
first step taken toward annexation. After
stating the possibility that the existing
government Of Hawaii might be over
turned BY an ORDERLY and peaceful -c--c,,
| s.osj x~3sissSes rsU0vvlso wrrveD an rOuOwS
Ordinarily in like circumstances, the
rule seems to be to limit the landing and
movement Of the United States forces in
foreign waters and dominion exclusively
to the protection Of the United States legar
ton and of the lives and property Of
American citizens. But az the relations of
the United States to Hawaii are excep-
tional and In former years the United
States officials here took somewhat ex-
ceptionM action In circumstances of dis