Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-02-27
HAWAIIAN REPORT.
Ex-Minister Stevens Endorsed
by Majority Of Committee.
Republicans Critieise BIount, Willis
and Doings Of Administration.
New Points Brought Out in Tho Testimony ei
Messrs. Blount and Stevens.

nearly 500 pages, exclusive of maps, wa!
laid before the Senate today, representing
the testimony taken by the Senate commit
tee on foreign relations and their finding:
of facts thereon, under a resolution direc.
ing them to inquire whether any, and if &c
Shat, irregularities have occurred in the
diplomatic intercourse between the United
States and Hawaii in relation to the recen,
revolution.
The report of the majority of the com.
gan of Alabama. 1t exhaustiyely reviews
the facts, laws and precedents, justifies
Stevens actions excepting in proclaiming a
protectorate and finds nothing irregular in
the appointment of Blount, but in ttfec,
says the evidence taken by the committee
lnder more favorable circumstances leads
the committee to different conclusions than
those which he formed.
This report is concurred in as to all its
essential findings by the Republican men,
hers of the committee, Sherman, Frye,
Dolph and Davis, making ma joritv of the
committee. They characterize it as an ex-
ceedingly able document, but they dissent
N five points
o. They condemn the appointment of
Commissioner Blount as unconstitutional.
(2.) They say executive orders placing
the navy in the harbor of Honolulu under
orders of Blount or Willis were withou,
authority of law.
6 That the order of Blount to Admi-
raj Skerret to lower the flag was unlawful
md susceptible of being construed as un-
friendly to the provisional government, and
ri 1,r,,y nd tl,a, ,pt1 oc ,vII
Willis with the deposed Queen as a violation
Of international law ard unwarranted.
a. They consider that the President
had no right to reopen The predetermined
egality of the provisional government.
o. They regard any discussion of the
personal intentions or good faith of either
Blount or Willis as immaterial, inasmuch
IS what they did in regard to the reinstate-
ment of the Queen was simply performed
under orders from the President and Secre-
tary Gresham.
The report of the minority, signed by
Senators Butler, Turpie, Daniel and Gray,
without denying or conceiing the correct
uess of other portions of the report, dissents
from that portion of it which declares that
the only substantial irregularlty in the con-
duct of Stevens, the late minister, was his
declaration "f a protectorate by the United
States over Hawaii.
Wmle exempling from censure Captain
Wilt of the United States steamer Boston,
and Ii officers, because "their position was
one of extreme delicacy and difficulty, and
we appreciate their anxiety to afford pro-
lection to lives and property of American
citizens" they add 1--WE cannot avoid
he conviction that the inopportune zeal of
Minister Stevens in the project of annexa-
ion of the Sandwich islands to the United
States caused him to exceed the proper lin
its of his official duty of his diplomatic re-
lations to the government and people of
this island. His conduct as public repre-
tentative of this government was directly
to bringing about the condition of
aft airs which resulted in the overthrow of
the Queen, the organization of the provis-
ional government, landing of United States
troops and the attempted scheme of annex
alton; and upon this conclusion bis conduc,
is seriously reprehensible and deserving of
public censure.''
Senators Butler and Turpie filed sup
Elementary report in which they say that
while the question of annexation was not
submitted TO the committee except incident
ally, they think it not improper to say they
are heartily in favor of the acquisition of
these islands by the United States in a
proper manner but not by taking advantage
of internal dissentions for which they think
The United States in some manner response
BILE. The views laid down by the majority
Of the committee are exactly on the lines
10 these dispatches.
The report says: The precise hour when,
or the precise conditions under which, the
American minister recognized the provis-
lonal government, is not matter of mate
rial importance. 1t was his duty at the ear
liest safe period to assist by his recognition
the termination of the iDterregnum, so that
citizt ms of the United States might be safely
remitted to the care of that government for
the security of their rights. He gave to
them the protection thay had the right to
demand, and in respec. of his action up to
this so far rs it related to Hawaii, his opin-
ion as to annexation have not affected the
attitude of the United States government.
and the committee finds no cause for cen
sure either against Minister Stevens or
Capt. Wilt of the Boston.
1.-The recognition of the provisional gov
was LAWFUL aIlu 8utuOIltallNe, ana
has continued without interruption or modi-
Hcation up to the present time. 1t may be
Justly claimed for this act of recognition
that it has contributed greatly to the main
.enance of peace and order in Hawaii, and
70 the promotion Of the establishment of q
free. permanent, constitutional government
in Hawaii based on the consent of the
people.
1.-The complaint by Liliuokalani in the
protest that she sent to the President of the
United States, and dated the eighteenth of
January, is not, in the opinion of the COM
mittee, we'll founded ia fact. or in justice.
1t appears from the evidence submitted
With this report, that she was in fact the
author and promoter of a revolution in
Hawaii which involved the destruction Of
The entire constitution, and breach of her
solemn oath to observe and support it, and
i was only after che had ascertained that
.he had made . demand upon her native
'uhjects for support in this movement which
hey would not give toeher, that she fof the
in1e, postponed her determination to carry
his resolution into effect, and made known
her determination to DO so As soon as she
could feel that she had, the power to sustain
he movemnnt