The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-01-02


nv both houses requesting information
n Hawaiian affairs was sent TO Con-
reSs to-day. In the message the
PRESIDENT says:
t'In a recent annual message to Con-
ress briefly referred TO our relations
Fith Hawaii and expressed the inten-
lion OF transmitting further infOrms-
lion on the subject when additional
hdvices permitted. Though not able
-Vuow to report any definite change in
the situation l am convinced that the
difficulties lately created, both here
End in Hawaii, and now standing in
the way of a solution through execu-
tive action of the problem presented,
render it proper and expedient that
he matter should now be referred to
the broader authority and discretion
&C Congress, with full explanation of
the endeavors thus far made to deal
with the emergency and effect a set
tlement of the difficulty with q state
ment of the considerations which
governed my action. I suppose right
and Justice should determine the path
I be followed in treating this subject.
When the present Administration
teItered upon its duties the Senate had
Under consideration the treaty provi-
Ding for the annexation Of the Ha-
vaiian Islands territory to the United
States. Surely under our Constitution
aId laws the enlargement of our
hInits is a manifestation of the high
e4 attribute of sovereignty, and
s. puld be entered upon with extreme
c1Ation, and all things relating to the
transaction should be free from sus-
picion. Additional importance at
tsches to this particular treaty of an
nexation because of the contemplated
departure from the unbroken Ameri-
can tradition respecting the providing
of additional territory.
These islands Of the sea are more
than two thousand miles removed
from our nearest coast. These con-
siderations might not OF themselves
Gil for Interference with the compile |
ton of the treaty entered upon by the |
previous administration, but it ap- |
peared from documents accompanying |
the treaty when submitted to the /
Senate that the ownership of Hawaii |
rendered to US by the Provisional |
Government set up to succeed the |
constitutional ruler of the Islands, |
who had been dethroned, had not the |
sanction of either popular or reyolu-
tionary suffrage. 1t appeared that the /
so-called Committee of Safety, Osten
sibly the source of revolt against the /
Constitutional Government of Ha-
wall, was organized on Saturday, the
14th day Of January, that on Monday
the 18th, the United States naval
forces landed at Honolulu from a YES
sci lying in the harbor, that on the
18th the scheme of a Provisional Gov
1
nation naming its officers was on the
same date prepared and read in the
Government building; that thereupon
the United States Minister recognized
the Provisional Government thus
18th day of January, the commission
ers representing such Government
sailed for the United States in q
steamer specially chartered for the
olhasion, arriving at San Francisco on
the 18th day of January and in Wash
ington on the Sd day of February; |
lat on the next day they had their
fist interview with the Secretary of |
State, and another on the 18th, when | {
the treaty of annexation was practi-
cally agreed upon; on the 14th it was {
formally concluded and on the 18th !
transmitted to the Senate. Thus be-
tween the initiation Of the scheme for
a Provisional Government Of Hawaii
on the l4th day Of January and the ]
transmission to the Senate of the !
treaty OF annexation concluded with I
such Government, the entire interval
was thirty-twO days, fifteen Of which Y
were spent by the Hawaiian commits 5
si1uers in their journey to Washing
ton. In the next place, upon the face Of z
the papers submitted in the treaty, it G
clearly appeared there was an open Y
and undetermined issue of the most I
vital Importance. The message of a
the President accompanying the b
treaty declares: "The overthrow Of a
the monarchy was not in any way d
prompted by this Government, and 8
In the letter from the President to the c
Secretary of State, also submitted to 1
the Senate with the treaty, the follow b
ing passage occurs: "At the time the II
Government took posses n
zion of the Government buildings no a
troops or officers of the United States ;
were present or took any part what 81
ever in the proceedings, no public re- =
eOSnitiOn was accorded to the Pro- a
yi.ionaI Government by the United Il
States Minister until after the Queens b
and when they were in a
Effective possession Of the Govern c,
nent buildings, the archives, Treasury, | c
barracks, Police station and all pO- u
entail machinery Of Government" )
But a protest also accompanied il b
which said the treaty was signed by | q
he Queen and her ministers at the al
ime she made way for the Provisional e
Avernment, which explicitly stated pl
hat she yielded to the superior force d:
f the United States, whose Minister d;
lad caused United States troops TO be fu
anded in Honolulu, he declaring that of
lie would support such Provisional dI
Government. The truth or falsity Of N
his report il surely Of the first i'm al
,Ortance; the truth or falsity Of the III
eport had not been Investigated. al
onceived it my duty, therefore, to ii,
the treaty from the Senate til