Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-26
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Four Democratic Senator's Censure
Minister Stevens

'"" Democrat1c senators CeMsure
Minister Stevens.
The following is the report presenting
the views Of the minority. of the committee
The undersigned, the minority of the
committee on foreign relations, submit
herewith the following views adverse to
the report Of the committee upon the sub
Ject Of the recent political revolution in
Hawaii: ....-...-..
without denying or conceding in any
manner the correctness Of the facts as
claimed. or of the statements as made in
SAID report concerning other matters there
IN mentioned, We especially dissent from
that portion thereof which declares that
the only substantial irregularity in the con-
quot OF Mr.. Stevens. the late minister, was
his declaration of a protectorate by the
United States over Hawaii. We are of the
opinion also that there are no valid rea-
sons and no course of dealing in our pa st
relations with those islands which justifies
interference by the United States with The
political internal affairs Of Hawaii any
more than with those Of any other ipdepen-
dent state or nation in this hemisphere We
cannot concur, therefore, in SO much of tne
foregoing report as exonerates the minister
OF the United States. Mr.. Stevens from ac-
tive, officious and unbecomng participa ton
III the events which led to the revolution
on the sandwich Islands on the l4th, 10th
ana Ith OF January. 1893. His own ad-
this government. his conduct for months
preceding the revolution, as well as the
facts established by the evidence before
the committee, clearly Justify such q con.
clusion
"On the other hand we are not incl,nad
TO censure Capt. Wiltse. commanding the
United States warship Boston. or the OH
GERS OF that vessel. Their position was one
Oh extreme delicacy and difficulty, ami we
appreciate their anxiety to AFFORD pro-ac-
tion to the lives and property of American
citizens The force of the United ;Sta,es
marines of the Boston, with their ord, IA w
arms, stationed at the American legation.
ana at the consulate in Honolulu w,uld
nave effectually represented the authority
ana power of the United States govern
ment and would have afforded whatevar
protectlon American interests might have
required, and at the same time would have
avoided the appearance of coercion or
uuress' either upon the people of Honolulu
or the queen in the controversy hatyvsa,
theln. rms is our opinion, after a careful
examination of the facts and circumstancas
disclosed in the evidence. But. as we h.,.s
observed, the position was a delicate
ana dlincult one. Perhaps, if we had
n neen on the ground in the presence
or his advice and counsel and of IN
environments and conditions surround-
ing Capt. Wiltse, his officers and men Ma
might have landed the forces as ne aid. but
a less formidable array would have rs,ro".
ed from the queen the excuse for ISsar.
ing that she and her government y.era
oVeraWed by the United States forces 70
Whlch she claims under protest to have
surrendered, and at the same time b,yo
atorded all necessary protection to tba
hNes and property of our citizens at that
port, IL they Were in any jeopardy
Inc moral support and good offices of
tnis government or of any government ,s
anyways permissible in promoting the ,nor,I
tone and political improvement of the ,,nv
eminent or foreign countries on terms Of
aihity with our own, but there is nothin-
III INTERNATIONAL law, in sound public policy
or IN our past history and traditions .nicb
Justihes representative of this sovaro-
inent IN interfering officiously or irnronar
~ IN the domestic or political affairs oe q
foreign country, whatever may be the char
ac'er OF It's rulers. its form of government
oI us poIitlcal condition. We have enough
10 90 TO attend to our own business
We cannot. therefore, avoid the oo,
slcuon that the inopportune zeal of Min
is.er stevens IN the project of anneyo-inn
OF the Sandwich Islands to the ITntreJ
states caused him to exceed The nronsr
llinlts OF ms official duty and of his tiiplo
matte cations to the government, "a
people of those islands. His cond,,+ ~.
the public representative of this gov,,rn'
fnent was directly conducive To hri,,yinx
ABOUT the condition of affairs whicn re
suited III the overthrow of the uueen tho
organization of the provisional govern
ment, the landing of the United states
,eNation' and upon this conclusion his con-
quot Is seriously reprehensible and deserv
ing OF public censure
M. C. BUTLER.
DAVID TUEPIE,
JOHN NJ DANIEL.
GEORGE GRAY.
Members minority.