Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-04
Progress of the Senatorial Hawaiian
Investigating Committee.
PROF. ALEXANDER FURTHER TESTIFIES
The Causes That Led to the Revo-
luton Sought.
NOT ALLUDED TO BY BLOUNT.

most at the hour appointed, 10. this morn
Ing, and with all members of the subcom-
mittee present but Mr. Sherman. Prof.
Alexander. the surveyor general of the is
lands, was the only witness before the COM
mittee this morning.
One thing appears to be evident az the
intimations dropped by members of the COM
mittee can serve as basis for a judgment
and that is that the scope of the inyestiea-
ton is taking a much wider range than was
anticipated by the witnesses or even by the
Senators when they began the work. II is
said that Mr.. Morgan. chairman of the COM
mittee, In discussing the plan of action.
Informed his colleagues that there were
questions in this matter far deeper than the
mere acts of ex-Minister Stevens, Minister
Willis and Commissioner Blount and those
questions related to the causes that led to
the acts of these gentlemen.
Mr.. Willis Report Not Received.
The indications are that the State De-
partment has not up to this time given the
committee copy Of the report made by Mr.
Willis, upon which the supplemental instruc-
tions of December 3 last were sent to him.
and the endeavor of the committee has been
TO get at the facts and the condition of
affairs when Mr.. Willis arrived at Honolulu
and what 1t could have been that he report
ed that prevented the consummation OF the
plan contemplated in the Instructions he
| carried with him, based upon the report sub
mltted by Commissioner Blount Much of
! the testimony OF Prof. Alexander has been
devoted TO discussion Of the constitutional
history Of the islands. and this opened a
\ held that led at least one member OF the
committee to make some pointed references
to Mr.. Blount's report
Lacking in Mr.. Blounrs Report
1t was stated by him that that report
| ignored the causes that led to the revolu-
ton and dismissed the subject Of the new
constitution the queen sought to establish
with but the merest referei ce The claim
made so generally by the friends of the
provisional government that this constitu-
ton was the last of a series Of efforts to
! defeat the establishment OF a progressive
| government and improve the condition OF
the whole people, entitled it. the committee
say, TO at least some attention at the hands
OF the commissioner who was sent there by
the fresideat 70 make an investigation.
Ascertaining the Causes.
The committee. therefore, have under
taken the task themselves. and a great part
OF the testimony of Prof. Alexander has
been in that direction. He gave a thor
ough review Of the various acts of the
queen and Of the legislature, and in re-
sponse to specific questions by members of
the committee, especially by Mr.. Frye and
Mr. Morgan, explained the conditions that
existed prior to the outspoken de-
nunclation of the queens govern
ment and the succeeding uprising and
appointment Of the committee OF safety
The inquiry was directed along this line for
the purpose Of ascertaining how far the
people Were justified In simagininx them
selves 10 be possessed Of a grfevance re-
gardless OF the subsequent acts OF the
representatives of the United States eoy-
eminent In this connection IL may be said
he. hoe
ment made some days ago by Prof William
-ibbey, Jr-, a friend of the administration
ana It's policy (Which statement IL is un-
oerstood, mas been called to the attention
OF the committee). who has lust returned
from trip to the Hawaiian Islands Mr.
Liobey, after asserting that the landing Of
TO abdicate and enabled the proyisionsi
government TO get control. described the
situation as follows:
Prof Libbey's Statement.
"on the one hand was an unscrupulous
queen. and on the other an honest ser of
men. who are working solely for the highest
interests of Hawaii They are men OF great
business ability. and by their enterprise
have made the islands what they are today.
The queen, by her grasping nature, OUT
witted herself. She tried to get the Louis
lana Lottery Company established there
for the purpose of adding to her revenues.
She was a monarch for revenue only to use
our phrase. She tried to carry out q deal
TO legalize the opium traffic, in order 20 in
crease her private revenues. She made her
last attempt by virtually trying TO dis
franchise the foreign citizens In attempting
TO promulgate the new constitution. She
backed down in that enterprise, but the for
eign citizens were uncertain what wo;,l1
come next. She prorogued parliament. ana
there would be no further session for two
years. Nobody knew what would come
next Everybody believed the queen to be
he Arap rfran fnrrs rs1a
into the thing by circumstances and there
would have been no trouble IL Minister
Stevens had only kept his hands on. he
was too anxious. II he had not jumped In
at that time and brought forward the
troops the thing would have settled itself
In a natural way, and. think. without any
serious difficulty"
Prof. Alexander's Testimony.
Prof Alexanders evidence bore directly
upon this matter. not as corroborative OF
the statement of Prof Libbey. which. II is
understood. was not referred TO as sucn.
but upon the conditions that existed at tie
time and caused Prof. Libbey to publish
his statement. These matters were all fe-
miliar to Prof. Alexander. and his knowl-
edge Of the constitutional law of the
islands enabled him to give the committee
a full and explicit explanation. from bis
point Of view, at least. Of all that antedatsd
the revolution.
The Exciting Events Described. Q
1t was with considerable detail that frox-
Alexander described the events Of the ex-
citing times when the queen was deposed.
and in this part OF his evidence disputed
the report OF Mr.. Blcunt. He was ques-
toned by all the members Of the commit
tee and the widest range was given to this
witness as to every other witness, In per-
mitting him to tell his story. He described
the landing of the troops from the Boston
and said that when they first came on
shore they went to the property OF Mr.. j.
Il. Atherton. an American. but there being
no accommodation for them there. they
were after numerous efforts to get place.
stationed in Arion Hall. which was oppo-
site the government building. He denied
that any Of the troops were drawn up ia
line when the proclamation was read, the
only troops visible being those which loung-
ed On the yeranda of the building they
cupied. Prof. Alexander said he had a son
in one of the companies and knew from
him and others with whom he had talked
that the local force did not expect any
help from the United States forces. on the
contrary. they had been told that they
could expect nothing. They were given 10
understand that they must take care OF
themselves. The men, he said, expected to
fight. and were ready for IL. When the
procanat ton was read there were no troops
in front of the building, but by the time IL
was finished, he said. a company of Ger
mans arrived. and a moment later a COM