Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03
real position Of the de fac,o government
Mr.. Rayner continued:
A Great Wrong Done.

real position Of the de fac,o government"
Mr.. Rayner continued:
A Great Wrong Done.
Let me come to the second branch Of the
discussion What shall we do now? Moth
ing. Mr.. Speaker. absolutely nothing. A
great wrong has been committed; crime
has been perpetrated that cannot be justi-
ned before the nations OF the world. The
President. In the exercise Of his powers and
authority. has offered to redress this wrong.
1t was his duty to do this. II he was right
in the premises. then he was right in the
conclusion, and such will be the intelligent
verdict Of his countrymen. The question Is
was the queen robbed of her inheritance?
was she dethroned? was she despoiled of her
kingdom and her crown by the Infamous in
reference of a minister of the United
States? II so. IL was right; 1t was honorable
IN the highest degree: IL was in accordance
with our traditions and with every impulse
of the national conscience to make an hon.
est and peaceable attempt to redress the
grievance which she had suffered and to re-
store the title of which she had been robbed.
This attempt has been made and the pro-
10 the demand. and the President has sub
mitted the whole matter to Congress for
our action and determination What Is to
want to be very plain about this: as far as
] am concerned. ] would make no further
effort whatever In behalf of the fallen
sovereign OF those islands. In my opinion
she has passed into history, and would let
her remain there. When she refused to ac-
cept conditions of amnesty that were pro-
posed. and insisted upon exercising the
rights Of a savage. and was willing in this
enlightened aga to stain her soul with the
blood Of some Of her best citizens. though
she claims to have had the technical right
the pale Of civilization. and however much
] condemn the crime of which she has been
the victim and detest the policy that made
enaan crime ers dsUaTa the
of her former glory. and 1 would make no
further effort whatever to reconstruct her
throne or to restore the supremacy ol TIC
monarchy that she represented
Must Recognize the Provisional Gov
ernment.
The provisional government oligarchy
as II Is, must be recognized by US as gov
eminent de facto. as a matter OF policy IL
rot as a matter Of right. and such recogni-
ton must continue until its rule is SUPER
seeded by another form Of government. mon
archical or republican. that the people may
determine upon. Let the people settle this
question: we have nothing to do with the
internal affairs of these islands.
We will see to 1t that no foreign power
shall endanger American interests at this
location. but we ought not. and we shall
concerned, take possession of these islands
or assume a protectorate over them or
actively concern ourselves In the manage
ment Of their governmental affairs.
Mr.. Rayner expressed himself as being
OPPOSED to annexation. and explained his
Interpretation of the Monroe doctrine.
One Of Mr.. Rayner's sentences miscar-
rted: In adverting to the incident Of the
he said Mr.. Stevens and his nag were like
an Irishman and his shilielah-whenever
you see a head hit II. and whenever you
see q place to raise flag run 1t up. loud
republican applause and cheers greeted this
sentiment)
Mr.. Boutelle and the Flag.
1T Is better to haul 1t up than to haul 1t
down." INTERCEPTED Mr.. Boutelle.
He hasn't stopped talking about 1t In
twenty years." Mr.. Rayner continued amid
laughter.
And he never WILL" said Mr.. Boutelle
Republican applause).
1T seems to be the dream Of his sleeping
and his waking hours. II he were to start
for the north pole. solitary and alone, with
the folds of the flag about him, the end Of
the nineteenth century would find him
standing IN majestic solitude upon the
frozen axis of the world waving the stars
and stripes" Republican applause.
But not under the orders OF the Secretary
of the Navy who ordered the flag hauled
UoWu, ADDED Mr. BOutelle amid renewed
applause.
While Mr.. Rayner was dwelling upon the
missing letter of Mr.. Blaine to Minister
Stevens. when the latter asked for in
structions should a revolution occur, in
1891, he said significantly: II like to tell
you what / infer that those instructions
were. I'D like to tell you Go on, go on"
came in chorus from the republican side
Mr.. Rayner, however, declined 10 do so,
saying that he thought it would be unfair
TO give his inference. But. he added, II
this letter were produced and IL ordered
Mr. Stevens to keep his hands OFF he would
take back all he had said.
The eloquent close of Mr.. Rayner's
speech was the signal for an enthusiastic
demonstration on the democratic side.
Broader Tribunal.
Mr.. Blair ON. HI followed Mr. Rayner
He said that the resolution censuring Mir.
Stevens might be PASSED. as he had no
doubt 1t would be, but that there would be
An appeal from the verdict to a broader tri-
bunal, to the tribunal Of the people. He
thought as a preliminary step to q calm
and impartial judgment upon the action Of
Mr.. Stevens there should first have been q
thoroughgoing investigation for the ascer-
tatnment of all the facts in the case The
whole purpose of the present proceedings
was to smirch the character of a patriotic