The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-03-02
W. B. RALEIGH 4 co.

Is the right, claimed and exercised by
all civilized nations, to enter such a
country with sovereign authority to
assert and protect the rights Of its cit
liens and their property, and to remain
there without the invitation of anybody
until civil government shall have been
established that is adequate, in a salts
factory sense, for their protection.
Such a Condition Existed.
1.-THE committee agree that such wac
the condition of the Hawaiian govern
ment at the time the troops were landed
in Honolulu from the steam warship
Boston; that there was then an inter-
regnum in Hawaii as respecting the
executive office; that there was no exec
utive power to enforce the laws of
Hawaii, and that it was the right of the
United States to land troops upon those
islands at any place where it was neces-
sary in the opinion of our minister to
protect the citizens of our country"
Cognizance is taken of the charge that
the landing of the troops was intended
to overthrow the queen with the purpose
of procuring the ultimate annexation of
the islands to the United States but de.
clares and agrees that the purpose of
Minister Stevens and Captain Wiltse
were legitimate, and that they acted in
good faith and with no interests except
protecting American citizens and pre-.
serving order.
The Missionaries Praised.
The intensity of the queens opposition
to the missionaries is referred to. The
work of the missionaries is praised, and
the report says:
Civilization and constitutional gov
eminent in Hawaii are the foster chill.
dren of the American Christian mission
aries, and with Christianity and educa-
ton as the basis, there has come over
Hawaii the most rapid and successful
improvement in political, industrial and
commercial conditions hat has marked
the course of any people in C~hristendom.
Citizens of the United States with
wisdom, charity, Christian faith, and a
love of a constitutional government,
have patiently, laboriously and honestly
built up Hawaii into a civilized power
under a written constitution, and they
can justly claim the sympathy and as
~sistance of all civilized people in resist
ing its destruction, either to crafty a
wanton lust of absolute power on the
part of the queen or the abuse of its
authority in fostering vice and reward
ing crime.
The report speaks of the queens desire
fer the Punishment or death of those
who had opposed her, and says that
America should not hesitate in the sup
port of a government set up to oppose
her.
Mr.. Willis action in seeming to ex-
coed his instructions and continuing his
intervention to restore the queen is ex-
cused on the ground of distance from
the seat of authority and time taken for
instructions to reach him.
Mr.. Stevens recognition of the new
government is justified, and the report
holds that the time of the recognition is
not a material factor. 1t was his duty
Mt the earliest possible period to ter
inmate the interregnum. The opinion
of Minister Stevens as to annexation
was of no consequence and could not
have affected the attitude of the United
States.
The Flag Episode.
The action of Minister Stevens in do
claring a protectorate and raising the
United States flag, the report says, was
without authority and was void for
want of power. 1t was disavowed by
Secretary Foster and rebuked by Secre-
tary Gresham, and the order to abandon
the protectorate and haul down the flag
was in accordance with the duty and
honor Of the United States. To haul
down the flag of the United States was
only an order to preserve its honor.
Annexation Indirectly Favored.
The matter Of annexation is discussed
at some length, and while the whole
tenor of the report relating to the sub
ject is favorable to the annexation, nc
direct statement was made therein.
Next the report states that recogni'
ton of the provisional government was
lawful and has contributed to the peace
of Hawaii.
The report takes the side of the pro
v~isional government as respects thu
counter revolution, which the queen pro
voked. 1t is exceedingly severe OH the
ministers of the queen. The right of tn
president to appoint Mr.. Blount is dis
cussed, the report stating the conclu
sions to be that such a right no doub
, existed, and that the authority given t.
Mr.. Blount and which he exercised wa
, proper.
Mr.. Willis mission is taken up an
. the position of the president referred t
in the following: IF, in this course o
proceedings the president of the Unite'
States had intended to compel the ODE
dience to what Is termed decision i
the matter of using the force Of tn
United States to assist the queen regain
ing the throne, that would have been q,
act of war, entirely beyond his power
and would no: have received tho sant