The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1893-12-29

met at noon to-day the president $ mes
sage in regard to the Hawaiian dithculty
was received and read. 1t was as 1ol-
lows:
To the Senate and House of Represent
ativcs: III my recent annual message to
the congress / briefly referred to our re-
lations with Hawaii and expressed the IN
tention o1 transmitting further lnforma-
ton on the subject when additional ad-
vices permitted. Although | ain not able
to now report a definite change IN the
actual situation, | AN convinced that the
difficulties Lately created both here ana III
HAWAII. and now standing IN the way or
solution through executive acton OF
the problem presented. render ii proper
and eNpedient that the matter should be
referred to the broader authority and
Direction OF Congress,
with a full explanation of the endeavor
thus far made to deal with the emersen-
cy and statement Of the considerations
which have governed my action: :,
| suppose that right and Justice should
determine the path to be followed in
treating this subject. If national homes
ty is to be dfSregarded and desire tor
territorial extension. where dissatisfaction
with a form of government not our own Is
to regulate our conduct. l have entirely
misapprehended the mission and charac-
ter of our government and the behavior
which the conscience of our people de-
mands of their public servants.
When the present administration en-
tered upon its duties the senate had un-
der consideration treaty providing tor
the annexation of the Hawaiian islands
to the territory of the I nited States.
Surely. under the constitution and laws.
the enlargement of our limits is a mani
festation of the highest attribute OF SOW
ereignty. and if entered upon as an exec
utive act. all things relating TO the trans
action should be clear and free from sus-
picion.
Additional Importance is attached to
this peculiar treaty of annexation be-
cause il contemplated 4 departure from
unbroken American tradition III pro-
yiding for the addition Of territory Of
islands Of the sea more than 1000 miles
removed from our nearest coast.
These considerations might not or
themselves call for interference with
the completion Of treaty entered upon
by a previous administration. But It
appeared from the documents accom-
panyins the treaty when submitted to
the senate that the ownership of
Hawaii Was rendered to Us
by a provisional government set up to
succeed the constitutional ruler of the
islands. who had been dethroned. and
did not appear that such provisional gov
eminent had the sanction OF either pop
ular revolution of suffrage. Two other
remarkable features of the transaction
naturally attracted attention. One was
the extraordinary haste-not to say preci-
ncy-characterizing all the transac-
tions connected with the treaty. Ii ap
reared that a so-called committee of
safety. ostensibly the source of the re-
volt against the constitutional govern
ment of Hawaii. was organized on Sat
urday. the 14th day of January: that on
Monday. the 10th. the United States
forces were landed at Honolulu from a
n tS IN
on the 18th the scheme of Il provisional
government was perfected. and procla
nation naming its officers was on the
same day prepared and read at the gov
ernment buildings: that Immediately
thereupon the United States minister
recognized the provisional government
thus created: that two days afterward,
on the 10Th day of January commission
ers representing such government sailed
for this country i'll ii steamer especially
chartered for the occasion. arriving in
San Francisco on the 18th day of Janu-
ary. and 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 11th. when
the treaty anneNing the islands was
practically agreed upon. and that on the
14th it was formally concluded, and on
the 10Th
Transmitted to the senate
scheme for the provisional government
in Hawaii on the 18th Of January and
the submission to the senate of the
entire treaty of annexation. concluded
with such government. the entire inter-
val was thirtytwo days, fifteen Of
which We're spent by the Hawaiian COM
missioners in the Journey to Washington
In the next place. upon the face Of the
papers submitted with the treaty. it clear
~ appeared that there was open and de-
te1mlned an issue of the most vital I'M
portance. The message of the president
accompanying the treaty declared that
'the overthrow IF the monarchy was not
in any way promoted by this govern
ment, and in letter from the president
from the secretary of state. also sub
mltted to the senate with the treaty, the
following passage occurred:
AT the time the provisional govern
ment took possession Of the government
buildings no troops or officers of the
United States We're present or took any
- No Public Recognition.
was accorded to the provisional govern
ment by the American minister until
after the queens abdication. and when
government buildings. tha archives. the
treasury. the barracks. the police sta
ton and all the potential machinery Of
the gGytrLmt
But protest also accompanied said
treaty. signed by the queen and her
ministers at the time she made way
for the provisional government. which
explicitly stated that she Welded to the
superior force Of the United States.
whose minister had caused United
States troops to b. landed at Honolulu.
and declared that he would support
sucl provisional government.
The truth or falsity of this protest
was surely of the first Importance, If
true. nothing but the conccalment Of its
truth could induce our government to
negotiate with the seniblance of a gov
ernment thus created. nor could a treaty
rcsultins from the acts stated in the pro-
test have been knowingly deemed worthy
Of consideration by the senate. Yet the