The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-05-09
CLEVELAND And ANNEXATION.
Semi Official Utterances TO the
Chicago Herald.
The State Department Explains About
Hauling Down the FIaG-The Pre-
sident VIII Bow to the De
mands OF the People.

CHICAGO, April 1.-THE Chicago
Herald's Washington correspondent
sends the following: President
Cleveland and Secretary Gresham
are in favor of the annexation of Ha-
wall. The annexation of the Pa
cifc islands is to be a part
of the polity of the present
Administration This announcement
is unofficial, but may be accepted
without question. 1t is correct. Pre-
sident Cleveland and his Cabinet did
not hastily reach the conclusion that
it was their duty to favor the annex
alton of Hawaii. They considered
the matter fully and carefully looked
into all collateral questions as to the
past policy of the government, the
attitude of other powers and the
future government of the islands.
Their conclusion was that annexa-
ton is the only way out of the pres
ent dilemma, but they are not in
favor of annexation in haste. Nor
do they favor treating with the Pro.
visional government, a government
that may not be able to uphold itself.
They very early perceived the i'm
propriety of negotiating annexation
with government that was main
tanned virtually by force of Amer
lean arms and the presence of Amer
lean men of-war in the harbor.
Hence Commissioner Blount was
sent to Honolulu. 1t was his bust
ness to select the best time and
means of abandoning the protect
crate and throwing the Provisional
government upon its own resources.
If the Provisional government shall
be able to maintain its authority I'M
assisted, and in autumn still demands
annexation with this country, Presi-
dent Cleveland will be ready to place
the matter before Congress with fav-
orable recommendations.
But it has been finally held that
greater considerations than the mere
success or profit of the sugar ring,
such as the broadening OF the ma
tional policy, the acquisition of
strongholds in the waters of the
Pacific, which in twenty five years
are to bear commerce great as that of
the Atlantic, and the welfare of the
Democratic party, which in the opin-
ion of the President would suffer if
annexation were rejected by him,
have now arisen to demand attention
and to dwarf into comparative in
significance the sugar scheme. Presi-
dent Cleveland is thoroughly con-
yinced that the present temper of the
people demands broader national
policy and the acquisition of more
territory, and he thinks the people
would punish any party which should
reject Hawaii's proffer to become part
of our territory.
1t was expected that a full report
would be received from Commissioner
Blount during the day, and Secretary
Gresham hoped it would come in
time to be discussed at the Cabinet
meeting. No such report, however,
was received up to II o'clock, but in
the absence of the document the Ha-
waii affair formed one of the topics
of discussion at the Cabinet table.
The reasons which induced Commits
sioner Blount to order the American
flag to be hauled down are very sim
pie. While his instructions gave him
certain latitude of discretion, it was
the Presidents expressed wish that
the American protectorate over the
islands should be ended as soon as
possible, if such a thing could be
done without leading to disorder. |
The President favored this course of |
action because he regarded it as an |
anomalous state of things for the |
United States to be negotiating with |
a government that was upheld and |
perhaps practically maintained in
power by the physical support of the
United States. So far as the Ad-
knew, the Dole govern
ment existed only because the mar
ines and blue jackets of the Boston,
with their Calling guns, were en-
camped in the streets of Honolulu.