Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-12-28
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Special Communication to Con-
gress on Hawaiian Affairs,
Outlining the President's Action In the
Matter, Together with an Abstract OF
the Instructions Given Min
lister Willis.

executive department in relation to
the Hawaiian question, and in accord
ance with the presidents intention, as
expressed in his message at the open
ing of the regular session of the Fifty
third congress, Mr.. Cleveland trans
'mitted the following special communi-
cation to both houses:
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
T1yES-In my recent annual message to con-
Hawaii and expressed the Intention of trans
uniting further Information the subject
when additional advices permitted. Though
I am not able to now report q definite change
In the actual situation, am convinced that
the difficulties lately created both here and in
HAWAII, and now standing In the way OF a
solution through executive action OF the
problem presented, render it proper and eX-
pedient that the matter should be referred to
the broader authority and direction of con-
greSs, with a full explanation Of the endeavor
thus far made to deal with the emergency. and
q statement of the considerations which have
governed my action suppose that right and
Justice should determine the path to be fol-
esty is to be disregarded and desire for terri
torial extension or dissatisfaction with a form
conduct have entirely Inexperienced the
mission and character OF our government and
the behavior which the conscience Of our peo-
pie demands of their public servants.
When the present administration entered
upon its duties the senate had under consld-
Grafton treaty providing for the annexation
United States.
Surely under our constitution and laws the
enlargement OF our limits is a manifestation of
the highest attribute OF sovereignty. and if en-
tered upon as an executive act all things re-
kating to the transaction should be clear and
free from suspicion.
WHY THE TREATY WAS RECALLED.
Additional importance is attached to this Pc
culiar treaty of annexation, because it con-
femplated departure from unbroken Ameri-
can tradition in providing for the addition to
QUIZ territory OF islands OF the sea more than
1000 miles removed from our nearest coast
These considerations might not of them
selves call for interference with the compile
ministration. But it appeared from the docu-
ments accompanying the treaty when submit
ted to the senate, that the ownership OF Ha-
wall was rendered to US by the provisional
government. set up to succeed the constitu-
ttonaI ruler of the islands. who had been de-
visional government had the sanction of either
popular revolution or suffrage Two other re-
markable features of the transaction naturally
attracted attention. One was the extraordi.
nary haste-not to say neutrality-suspicious.
.erizing all the transactions connected with the
treaty. II appeared that So-called committee
OF safety. ostenSibly the source of the revolt
against the constitutional government of Ha-
wall, was organized on Saturday. the 18th day OF
January; that on Monday. the 10Th. the United
States forces were landed at Honolulu from a
0ayal vessel then lying In its harbor; that on
the l7sh the scheme of provisional govern
ment was perfected, and proclamation naming
IT'S 9fisers was on the same day prepared and
diately thereon the United States minister rec
ognized the provisional government thus Gre
ated; that two days afterward. on the 18th day
Or January. commissioners representing such
government sailed for this country in q steamer
especially chartered for the occasion, arriving
In San Francisco on the 2Sth day of january
snd In Washington on the Sd day of February,
that next day they had their first Interview
with the secretary of state and another on
the l1th when the treaty annexing the islands
was practically agreed upon. and that on the
18th 1t was formally concluded and on the 18th
transmitted to the senate.
Thus between the initiation Of the scheme
I4th of January and the submission to the SEN
ate OF the treaty of annexation concluded with
ty-two days. fifteen OF which were spent by the
Hawaiian commissioners in their journey TO
I'm the next place. upon the face of the paper
submitted with the treaty, it clearly appeared
that there was open and undetermined an is
sue of the most vital Importance. The message
Of the president accompanying the treaty de-
ciared that the overthrow of the monarchy
was not in any way promoted by this govern
nent," and in a letter to the president from
the secretary of state. also submitted to the
senate with the treaty. the following passage
occurred:
AT the time the provisional government
took possession OF the government buildings
present or took any part whatever in the pro
ceedings- No public recognition was accorded
TO the provisional government by the United
States minister until after the queens abdica-
ftion. and when they were in effective possess
sion Of the government buildings. the archives
and all the potential machinery of the govern
'rneut-"
But q protest also accompanied said treaty
signed by the queen and her ministers at the
time she made way for the provisional gov
srnment which explicitly stated that she
yielded to the superior force of the United
States. whose minister had caused United
States troops to be landed at Honolulu and de-
clared that he would support such provisional
The truth or falsity of this protest WIS
surely of tho first Importance. II true nothing
but the concealment of its truth could induce
our government to negotiate with the sem
blance OF a government thus created nor could
treaty resulting from the acts stated in the
protest have been knowingly deemed worthy
OF consideration In the senate. Yet the truth
or falsity OF the protest had not been investi-
. gated
BLoUNTs MISSION AND IT'S RESULTS,
II conceived it to be my duty therefore. to
withdraw the treaty from the senate for exam
fuI, and impartial investigation to be made
Of the facts attending the subversion of
the insiaiiment in the place of the provisional
government I selected for the work of
Georgia whose service Of eighteen years as a
{ member of the house of representatives. and
whose experience as chairman of the commit
: tee foreign affairs in that body and his con-
. seGuent familiarity with international topics,
Joined with his high character and honorable
reputation. seemed to render him peculiarly
cited for the duties intrusted to him His re-
port detailing his action under the instructions
given to him. and the conclusions derived
from his Investigation accompany this mes
sage
These conclusions do not rest for their accept
ance entirely upon Mr.. Blount's honesty ard
ability as man, nor upon his acumen and i'm
Jartiality as an investigator. They are accom-
panied by the evidence upon which they are
based which evidence is also herewith trans
mitted and from which 1t seems to me no
than those arrived at by the commissioner
The report with its accompanying proofs
and such other evidence as is now before the
congress or IS herewith submitted. justify in
INV opinion the statement that when the presi-
dent was led to submit the treaty to the senate,
with the declaration that the overthrow of
this government" and when the senate was
AUced to receive and discuss it on that basis
both eseesident and senate were misled.
The Ntempt will not be made in this COM
munication>to touch upon all the facts which
throw light upon the progress and consumma-
zion of this Hcheme of annexation. A very
bries and imperfect reference to the facts and
evidences at ha6d will exhibit its character
and the incidents n which 1t had Its birth.
STEVENS PREPARED THE WAY.
which in january. 1ss3, led o considerable por-
stion of American and other foreign merchants
and traders residing at Honolulu to favor the
annexation of Hawaii to the United states IL
is sufficient to note the fact and to observe
that the project was one which was zealously
prompted by the minister then representing
the United States in that country He evil
IDENTITY had an ardent desire that 1t should be-
come fact accomplished by his agency and
during his ministry, and was not inconvenient,
10 that end. On November ~ lssS,
overt act tending toward the SUB,
version of the Hawaiian government
and the attempted transfer OF Hawaiian terri
tory to the United States he addressed long
letter 10 the secretary OF state, In wnicn the
case for annexation was elaborately argued on
moral political and economical grounds He
tn ne ir<S n 10