Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-26

given, all its pretenSionS of right thus to
dispose of an entire country and people
And Liliuokalani having reference to the
same project of annexation, of which she
was fully cogniZant, made complaint that
the United States had assisted in driving
her from her throne by bringing its troops
on shore in military array at a time when
there was no necessity for it, distinctly an
nounced at the moment of her final and
avowed abdication that she would abdicate
Professionally and would await the decision
of the United States as to whether that
abdication and the destruction of the king
dom and the annexation of Hawaii to the
United States should become completed
facts. Under such circumstances, the Pres
ident of the United States, believing that
the information then in possession of the
government was not sufficient to justify
summary annexation, could not have done
Justice to himself, to his country, to the
people of Hawaii, to the provisional gov
eminent. or to Liliuokalani, without hav-
ing made an effort to use his good offices
for the purpose Of ascertaining whether it
was practicable that the queen should be
restored to her authority. leaving the ques-
ton to be determined by the people in ter
ested in Hawaii whether such restoration
would be acceptable to them or not. If
Liliuokalani had been restored to her throne
by the consent of the membership of the
provisional government, upon the terms
ana conditions of the proposition which she
signed and delivered to Mr.. Willis the
President of the United States would not
nave been in any sense responsible for her
restoration, would not have espoused the
monarchy, nor would he have done any,
thing that was contradictory to American
sentiment, opinion or policy He would only
nave been the mutual friend. accepted
really, by both parties, whose intervention
would have secured with their consent the
nnal solution of that question. In the alb
Sence of such commttal on his pa TT to the
claims of I.iluokalani or resistance on his
part to the recognized rights of the pro-
Vlsionai government. there is no reason for
a ut thn ,I,,ot
President of the United States in thus
accepting and executing a function which
he was entitled to perform, in submitting
the question, in due and final form TO the
contendirg parties or factions in Hawaii
whether they preferred to maintain the an
thority of the provisional government with
Whatever results may follow from that or
return to the monarchy under Liliuoka-
lani
Therefore your committee conclude to
report that the President of the United
states has not. in this particular, in, any
wise been a party to any irregularity or
any improperly of conduct in his high
office.
The Negotiations for Annexation,
The committee find nothing worthy of
criticism in the negotiation of the treaty
OF annexation with the provisional gov
eminent Of Hawaii.
The revolution in Hawaii had the effect
simply of displacing one chief of the exec
utlye department and substituting another
ne government had not been displaced
ana another substituted, but only a de-
partment which had been left vacant had
been rehabilitated.
When this was done and the fact was
recognized, the government of Hawaii was as
competent TO treat of annexation to the
United States as 1t had ever been or as IL
ever will be. until the United States shall
decide That 1t will annex no more territory
unless with the consent of the people to be
annexed, to be ascertained by a plebiscite
Complaint is made also that this project
OF annexation was attempted to be con-
summated in too great haste.
That raises question of due consider
alton; for, IL the people Of both countries
desired it. or if, according to every prece-
dent to be found in the various lamentations
OF countries and states to the United States
the respective governments desired it,
speedy action in completing the cesson
was desirable for many obvious reasons
among which the injurious disturbance of
commerce ana danger to the public peace
growing out of a protracted agitation of SO
grave matter are conspicuous.
But this is question of long standing
which has been under favorable considera-
ton by the kings and people of Hawaii
ana the government and people Of the
United States for more than fifty years
1T is well understood and it's Importance
increases with every new event of any
consequence in Hawaii, and with the falling
in of every island in the Pacific ocean thai
Is captured by the great maritime powers
Of Europe
After quoting official state papers bearing
on annexation the report concludes:
"A President informed as to the history
OF his country could find no difficulty in
dealing with the question of the annexation
or Hawaii to the United States on the
ground that 1t is new; and a minister to
hawaii who should fail to inform his -ov-
eminent of the political changes in Hawaii
that would affect that question would neg
lect his duty
ts
respondence of Minister Stevens with his
government that he earnestly advocated
annexation. In this he was in line with
Mr.. Marcy and nearly every one of his
successors as Secretary of State, and with
many of Mr.. Stevens predecessors as min
lister to Hawaii. His letters 10 his govern
ment were written under the dipl )matic
confidence that is requisite to secure free
dom In such communications and were rot
expected to come under the scrutiny Of All
mankind. They show improper spirit
ana are not Improbable as coloring or
perverting the truth. although some mat
tiers stated by him may be classed as Sc
we're reflections Whatever motives nav
have actuated or controlled any representa-
tive OF the government of the United States
In his conduct of our affairs in Hawaii if
he acted within the limits of his powers
with honest intentions, and has not placed
the government of the United States upon
false or untenable ground, his conduct is
not irregular.
But in his dealings with the Hawaiian
government MS conduct was aracterized
by becoming dignity and reserve and was
not in any way harsh or offensive In the
opinion OF the committee, based upon the
evidence which accompanied this report,
the only substantial irreguiarity that ex-
listed in the conduct of any officer OF the
United States, or agent of the President
curing or since the time of the revolution
of lS'3, was that of Minister Stevens in
declaring protectorate of the United
states over Hawaii and in placing the flag
OF our country upon the government build
ing in Honolulu. No actual harm resulted
from this unauthorized act, but as a prece-
dent IL is not to be considered as being
Justified. The committee have not con-
sidered II necessary to present any resol,I-
tons stating the conclusions that are indi-
Gated in this report, and ask that it be re-
ceived and adopted by the Senate, and that
they be discharged from the further consid-
Grafton of the resolutions under which this
report is made"
THE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.
Republicans Hold That BlOunt's Ap-
pointment aud Acts Were Illegal.
The republican members agreeing TO Mr.
RlnIInt'c S,,lp he f,li