Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-01-18
Minister Willis Commended.

The last instructions to Minister
Willis referred to in the presidents let
ter of transmittal as the only instruc-
tionS not sent to congress are dated
yesterday.
They were sent under cover of a tele-
gram to w. A. Cooper, the dispatch
agent at San Francisco, instructing
him to forward the following telegram
to Mr.. Willis, by the steamer Mariposa
tomorrow (to-day):
January Il, 81. To Willis. Minister, Homo
lulu: Your numbers, IA to 18 inclusive, show
th.t you have rightly comprehended the scope
of your instructions and have. far in
your power, discharged the onerous task con-
fided in you The president sincerely regrets
that the provisional government refuses to ac-
quiesce in the conclusion which his sense OF
right and duty and q d ne regard for
tional honor cons trained him to reach and sub
init it a measure of justice to the people of
the Hawaiian islands and their deposed SOW
ereign
While it is true that the provisional govern
ment created to exist only until the ISL
ands were annexed to the United States and
that the queen finally but reluctantly surren-
dered to an armed force OF this government IL
legally quartered in Honolulu and representa-
tive of the provisional government which real
lied 8 impotence and anxious to get control of
the queens means of defer J,assur d her that,
IL she would surrender, her case would be SubSe-
Quently considered by the United States the
president has never claimed that such action
constituted him an arbitrator in the technical
sense authorized him TO act in that capacity
between the provisional government You
made no such claim when acquainted that
government with the presidents decision.
The solemn assurance given to the queen has
not been referred TO as authority for the preSi-
dent to act as arbitrator, but as a fact material
to a just determination of the presidents duty
in the premises.
In the note which the minister of foreigl af-
fairs addressed to you the 23d ultimo it is
stated in effect that even if the constitutional
government was subverted by the action of the
American minister and an invasion by
military force of the United States,
the presidents authority is limited to
dealing with our own unfaithful officials, and
that he can lake no steps looking to q correc-
tion of the wrong done. The president enter
tains different view of his responsibility and
duty. The SubverSion of the Hawaiian govern
ment by abuse of the authority of the Unit
ed States was in plain violation of the interna-
tional laws and required the president to dis
avow and condemn the act of offending
officials and within the limits of his constitu-
tional power to endeavor to restore the lawful
authority.
On the 18th ultimo the president sent spe-
cial message to congress communica ting copies
of Mr.. Blounts reports and the instructions
given to him and to you On the same day, an
swering a resolution of the house of rep
resentatives, he sent copies of all correspond
ence since March 4, 1889, the political
affairs and relations of Hawaii, withhold
ing for sufficient reasons only Mr.. Stew
ems No. 20 of October 8. 1s92 and your No of
November Is, 1893 The president therein an
nounces that the conditions of tora ton sug-
gested by him to the queen not having proved
acceptable to her aud since the ins tructions
sent to you to insist upon those conditions he
has not learned that the queen was willing to
assent to them.
The president thereupon submitted the sub
ject to the more extended powers and wide dis
cretion of congress, adding assurance that
he would be gratifed to cooperate in any
legitimate plan VIII ch might be devised for a
solution of the problem, consistent with Amer
icau honor, integrity and morality.
Your report shows that further reflection
the queen gave her unqualified assent in
writing, to the conditions suggested, but that
the provisional government refused to ac-
qufese in the presidents decision The mat
ter being in the hands of congress the
president will keep that body fully advised of
the situation and will lay before il from
time to time the reports received from yoa, in
cluding your No. 8 heretofore withheld and
all instructions sent to you. In the meantime
while keeping the department fully informed
OF the course of events you will until further
notice consider that your special instructions
upon this subject have been fullT complied
with GRE HAM.