The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-14
HONOR AT STAKE In HAWAII
Gray Defends the Course Of President
Cleveland.

for the Revolution on Ex-Minister
Stevens-He Maintains that B1ount's
Appointment Did Not Require Con-
hrmatton at the Hands of the Senate.
A Plea for a Cause that Will Bring
No Shame.
Washington, Feb. 49, In the Senate
to-day the Senate bill making Labor day,
the first Monday of September in each
year, a legal holiday, as other public
days, was reported from the committee
on education and labor, and was placed
on the calendar.
Mr.. Gray, DEM, of Delaware, resumed
his speech, begun yesterday, In support
Of the resolution from the committee on
foreign relations, declaring it unwise and
inexpedient to consider further the
treaty or project of annexation of the
Hawaiian territory; that the provisional
government there should be allowed to
pursue its own line of policy, and that
foreign intervention in the affairs of the
island would be regarded as an act un-
friendly to the government Of the United
States.
After reading some testimony sh owing
a statement by Mr.. Soper that he had
assurances from the old man himself
meaning Minister Stevens, Mr.. Gray
said that that testimony lett no room for
doubt that the revolution in Honolulu
never would have occurred had il not
been for the assurance that the military
forces from the United States warship
Boston, would be on shore to support and
countenance what was to be done toward
dethroning the queen and establishing
the provisional government.
Mr.. Gray devoted much of his speech
to discussion Of the question whether
the appointment of Mr.. Blount as CON-
missioner to Hawaii, was such an office as
required confirmation by the Senate. He
argued that it was not. He was asked by
Mr.. Teller whether, if Mr.. Blount super
seeded an officer whose appointment did
require confirmation by the Senate, that
did not change the situation?
Mr.. Gray gave it as his opinion that it
did not; and that person so appointed
for specific purpose was not an Officer
under the constitution.
AMERICAN HONOR AT STAKE.
In conclusion Mr.. Gray said: "The
case is important, far more important
than the material interests involved The
islands are very small and insignificant.
If an earthquake or a cOnYulsion in those
southern seas were to swallow them up
tO-LuOEIOW buGEC WOulu uOb D6 (GACBpb
from feelings of humanity for the loss of
life a ripple on the surface of the worlds
affairs. But the Importance of this ques-
tion, as l said at the outset, is one of in
ternational morality, and you cannot, in
our relations with the least powers in the
world, found or destroy or attack the in
tegrity of those relations, without affect
ing the whole people of the
United States. We are concerned in
maintaining, more than if a powerful
kingdom or great republic were involved,
the good name and fame of this great
country. Its name and fame should be
held so high that the breath of asper-
sion or detraction could not reach it. If
we are ever to step from the shores of
this continent out on a career of empire
and colonization, let it be with head
erect, without the breath of suspicion or
dishonor, intrigue or low dealings. Let
it be in the face of day. If
it be conquest let it be by
force of arms, and the blast of
trumpets. and if it is to be convention,
let it be open and above board, so that we
may know, when we acquire title, that
it is by the will of the people whose soil
and country we absorb. That is the
question presented in the paper submit
ted to the Senate by the President of the
United States, and upon which we are
called upon to pass. That the
President should have attempted
to withdraw this country from
the dishonorable situation in which it
was placed by the indiscreet action of the
United States minister in January, 1898,
is greatly to his credit, and will always
remain to the credit of that distinguished
man, as long as his record remains. You
cannot blot out the record that has been
made during the last year, and twill con-
tinue to be the vindication of the man
who tried, in his great office, to do justice
and work righteousness in the inter-
national affairs of this great country, to
the people of the earth.
TELLER ASKS QUESTION.
'I am not so much concerned" said
Mr.. Teller as to what has been done, as
1 am as to what is going to be done. I
ask the senator if he understands that
the whole question has been remitted by
the President to congress. -
THE President says So" Mr.. Gray
answered.
''You understand" Mr.. Teller re-
marked, with an air of satisfaction,
then 1 want TO ask whether an ef-
fort is now being made by this govern
ment to restore the queen to powerl"
II do not know of any such effort" MIR
Gray replied. '"rhe same sources of in
formation are open to the Senator that
are open to me. I do not know of any,"
Mr.. Teller-I want to ask the Senator
another question. If the matter has been
submitted to congress, ask him las
member of congress, charged with this
matter), what is proposed that we are to
do2 Are we to do what the President
has failed TO do, or are we to consider the
matter settled, and to let the provisional
government remain2
Mr.. Gray-When this resolution was
reported from the committee on foreign
relations the President had sent in a
message in which 1t was understood that
he committed the matter to congress, be-
cause the efforts which he had made up
TO that time to restore the status quo and
TO undo the wrong which he conceived had
been done by the authority of the United
States. The mipister had failed and he
submitted the whole matter TO what he
called "the wiser discretion Of congress. -
That Is my understanding The commit
tee reported this resolution TO the
Senate. So far as am con-
cerned, l am willing to vote for 1t
now. although / wouldn't have been
willing TO vote for 1t short time prior 10
its being reported. When II was reported
there was, as 1 understood nothing more
70 be done on the part Of this government
than what | consider 10 have been great
wrong and outrage on the Hawaiian gov
ernment existing on Jan. l6, 1898. That
being 50, thought, and think now, that
-