Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-01
NO BLAME LAID ON THE PRESIDENT

me imports OF tno SonaIb committee On
Foreign Affairs, Comprising 800 Pri1ted
Pages, Laid Before the Senate Monday
Small Comfort for Minister Stevens
Blount Censurrd But the President Not
Bianied--A Variety of Opinions.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ga volume of
nearly 800 printed pages was laid be.
fore the Senate at noon to-day, repre-
senting testimony taken by the Senate
committee on foreign relations on
Hawaiian affairs and their findings
thereon.
The report of the majority Of commit
tee, prepared by Chairman Morgan, ex-
haustIvely reviews facts, laws and
precedents, justilies Minister Stevens
actions except i'll proclaiming pro-
tectorate, and finds nothing irregular in
the appointment of Blount, but, in
effect, says evidence taken by the COM
mittee under more favorable circum-
stances leads the committee to different
conclusions than those which he (Blount)
formed.
This report, concurred in as to all
essential findings by the Republican
members of the Sherman,
Frye, Dolph and Davis-makes ma
jority report.
A REPUBLICAN, SHOT AT BLoUNT.
The Republicans, however, condemn
the appointment of Blount as unconsti-
tutional; say the executive orders placing
the navy in Honolulu harbor under the
orders of Blount or Willis were without
authority of the law; characterize the
lowering of the American flag as I'M
lawful and susceptible of being con-
strued as unfriendly to the provisional
government, and regard the intercourse
of Blount and Willis with the deposed
queen as violative of international law
and unwarranted; consider that Presi.
dent Cleveland had no right to reopen
the predetermined legality of the pro-
visional government and regard any
discussion of the personal intentions or
good faith of either BlOunt or Willis as
immaterial, inasmuch as what they did
in regard to the reinstatement of the
queen was simply the performance of
task plainly commanded by the admin
istration.
THE MINORITY cENsURE STEVENS.
The report Of the minority, signed by
Senators Butler, Gray, Turpie and
Daniel, without denying or conceding
the correctness of other portions of the
majority report, dissents from that por-
ton which declares THAT only sub
stantial irregularity in the conduct of
Stevens, the late minister, was his
declaration of protectorate by the
United States over Hawaii"
This, the minority report says, tbs
seriously reprehensible and deserving of
public censure."
A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.
Senators Butler and Turpie filed q
supplemental report in which they favor
the acquisition of these islands by the
United States in the proper manner, but
not by taking advantage of internal dis
sensions for which they believe the
United States is in some manner respon-
sible.
THE PRESIDENT ExoNERATED.
The report of the majority of the
committee concludes: "That the Presi-
dent of the United States has not in any
wise been party to any irregularity or
any improperly OF conduct in his high
office"
WHERE STEVENS ACTED IRREGULARLY.
The majority of the committee find
nothing worthy Of criticism in the
negotiation of a treaty Of annexation
with the provisional government of
Hawaii, and say the only irregularity
that existed in the conduct of any
officer or agent of the President was
that of Minister Stevens in declaring a
protectorate.
THE REPORTS ORDERED PRINTED.
The reports were presented to the
Senate by Mr.. Morgan, chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, and
were ordered printed in the Record.