The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-01-04

ty until such time as the Government |
of the United States shall, upon the |
facts being presented to it, undo the |
action of its representative and re-
instate me in the authority which 1 |
claim as the constitutional sovereign |
of the Hawaiian Islands.
"Done at Honolulu, the 18th day of |
January, A. D. 1898.
LILIOKULANI, Il.
SAMUEL PARKER,
Minister of Foreign Affairs. |
VIM. II. CORNwELL,
Minister of Finance.
JNo. F. CoLBURN,
Minister of the Interior.
A. p. PETERSON,
Attorney
s. B. DOLE AND OTHERS composing
the Provisional Government of
the Hawaiian Islands,"
(Endorsed) Received by the hands
of the late Cabinet this 18th day of
January, A. d. 1898, SANFORD B.
DOLE, Chairman of Executive Coun-
Gil of Provisional Government"
You may not be aware, but such is
the fact, that at no time until the pre-
sentation of the claim of the President
| of the United States of his right to in
terfere in the internal affairs of this
country, by you on December 10th,
| has this Government been officially
! informed by the United States Gov
| eminent that any such course was
| contemplated. And not until the pub
| LEGATION of Mr.. Gresham's letter to the
President of the United States on the
| Hawaiian question, had we any rell-
able intimation of such policy. The
adberents of the ex-queen have indeed
] claimed from time to time that such
was the case, but we have never been
able to attach serious Importance to
their rumors to that effect, feeling
secure in our perfect diplomatic rela"
| tions with your country, and relying
| upon the friendship and fairness of a
Government whose dealings with us
had ever shown full recognition OF our
| independence as sovereign power,
| without any tendency to take advant-
| age of the disparity of strength be-
| tween the two countries. Ii your
contention that President Cleveland
| believes that this Government and
| the ex.oueen have submitted their res
| pective claims to the sovereignty OF
| this country, to the adjudication of the
| United States is correct, then, may 4
ask, when and where has the Presl-
dent held his Court of Arbitration
This Government has had no notice of
the sitting of such a tribunal and no
opportunity of presenting evidence OF
ITS claims. If Mr.. Blount's investiga-
tions were a part of the proceedings OF
such a Court, this Government did
not know it and was never informed
of it; indeed, as 1 have: mentioned
above, we never knew. until the pub
LEGATION of Secretary Greshams letter
to President Cleveland, few weeks
ago, that the American Executive
had a policy of interference under
| CONTEMPLATION. Even ii we had
known that Mr.. Blount was authori-
tatiyely acting as Commissioner to
take evidence upon the question OF
the restoration of the ex-queen,. the
methods adopted by hina in making
his Investigations were, ! submit,
, unsuitable to such an examination or
any examination upon which human
interests were to be adjudicated. AS
am reliably informed, he selected
his witnesses and examined them In
secret freely using leading questions,
giving no opportunity for cross
, examination and often not permit
ting such explanations by witnesses
. themselves as they desired to make OF
J evidence which he had drawn from
them. 1t is hardly necessary for me
to suggest that under such mode OF
examination, some witnesses would
, be almost helpless in the hands OF an
astute lawyer, and might be drawn
| into saying things which would be
ONLY half-truths and standing alone
| would be misleading or even false ln
effect. Is it likely that, an 1nvestlga.
ton conducted in this manner coulo
result in a fair, full and truth1ul
statement of the case in point Sure
Iy the destinies of a friendly Govern
{ ment, admitting by way of argument
that the right of arbitration exists
+ | NAV not be disposed of upon an eA
, parte and secret investigation made
: without the knowledge of such GOV
/ eminent or an opportunity by 1t to be
l heard, or even to know who the VII
1 neSSeS were.
MT. Blount came here as stranger
= and at once entered upon his duties
4 He devoted himself to the work o.
8 collecting information both by the
!. examination of witnesses and the col
e lection of statistics and other docu'
8 mentary matter, with great energy
f and industry, giving up substantially
e his whole time to its prosecution. he
f was here but few months ana our.
o ing that time was 80 occupied WIZ
4 this work that he had little oppor'
e tunity left for receiving those impress
8 sions of the state of affairs wE1cf
: could best have come to him lnclden'
/ tally through wide social inter
r course with the people of the country
d and a personal acquaintance with lts
1t various communities and educat1ona
r and Industrial enterprises. He saw
i the country from his cottage in tn
y center of Honolulu, mainly through
l. the ewes of the witnesses whom N
d examined. Under these circum
e stances is it probable that the mos
It earnest of men would be able to torn
e a statement that could safely be re
o lied upon as the basis of decision