Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-26
THE HAWAIIAN CASE
Senator Morgan's Committee Makes
An Interesting Report.
OPPOSED TO THE PRESIDENTS POLICY
Republican Senators Add a Supple
ment Concerning Blount.
A MINORITY REPORT ALSO

Senator Morgan. chairman OF the Senate
committee on foreign relations. today pre-
sented the report Of the investigation Of
the committee made under the following
resolution:
Resolved. That the committee on foreign
relations shall inquire and report whether
any, and II so, what, irregularities have
occurred In the diplomatic or other inter-
course between the United States and Ha-
wall In relation to the recent political revo-
luton in Hawaii. and to this end said COM
mittee Is authorized to send for persons
and papers and administer oaths to wit
nesses."
The report prepared by Senator Morgan
Is concurred in by Senators Sherman. Frye.
Doiph and Davis. the republican members
OF the committee. who also make supple
mental report, taking more positive ground
than the Morgan report, while Senators
Butler, Turpie, Daniel and Gray, demo-
crats, submit minority report. These
reports with the testimony taken in the
secret inVestiSauon make bulky docu-
ment and are a comprehensive review Of
the Hawaiian question.
Scope of the Inquiry.
Senator Morgan says in his report that
The inquiry related. first to the conduct
d the government as shown In its official
acts and correspondence. and second, to
the conduct of the civil and military Off
GERS of the government in the discharge
OF their public duties and functions. These
are matters which do not concern Hawaii
at this time. He also says the future pol
Icy Of the government as to annexation
has been excluded from the consideration
OF the committee, except where 1t Is al
iuded to as an incident to the investiga-
ton.
Mr.. Morgan lays down the proposition on
the first page of his report that "as a gov
ernment dealing with Hawaii and with any
Iorm OF government in that country, the
United states can have no separation or
break In its line of policy corresponding
TO any change in the incumbency Of the
ONCE OF President 1t is IN all respects as
much the same government in every right
and responsibility as If it had been under
The same president during the entire period
covered by the recent revolution In Ha-
wall and the succeeding events.
The President however has a right to
change his opinion. and change of policy
on the part of one president from that in
ausurated by his predecessor or predeces-
sors must be regarded simply as a change
OF mind in the same person. A determine
ton against monarchism in the island fol-
lows next, the report saying that We ex-
ercise at least moral suzerainty over
that country.
Hawaii it adds. els an American state
ana Is embraced in the American COM
mercfal and military system. In this atti-
tude OF the two governments Hawaii must
be entitled TO demand Of the United States
an fndulgent consideration, IL not an ac-
i've sympathy, when she is endeavoring
10 accomplish what every other American
state mas ach1eved-the release of her peo-
pie from the Odious anti-republican regime
wnicn denies to the people the right to gov
ern themselves. and subOrdinates them TO
the supposed divine right of a monarch
whose title to such divinity originated in
bartty."
The Landing of Troops
Coming the LANDING %ba x.o.-. 49,
the United States steamer Boston Senator
Morgan details the facts of the ten days'
eruse IN which Minister Stevens had par
ueipateu ana says that upon the minister's
return 10 the harbor "a condition of affairs
existed In Honolulu which led naturally
oo 70 .ns apprehension that violence or civil
coHinouon would ensue, in which the
peace and security of American citizens
residlnS IN that city would be put in peril
as had been done on three or more sepa-
rate occasions previously when changes
occurred or were about TO occur in the gov
eminent OF Hawaii. Whatever we NAV
conclude were the real causes of the sit
uauon then present in Honolulu the fact
Is that there was a complete PARALYSIS of
executive government in Hawaii. The ac-
on tion or the queen In an effort to overturn
bs bas eonsusuuon OF 1887, to which she
mad sworn obedience and support, had
been accepted and treated by a large and
powerful body of the people as a Violation
oi ner eonstitutional obligations, revolu-
tlonary In Its charcter and purposes and
thar IL amounted to an act of abdication
on her part, so far her powers and
tne rights of the people under the con-
sutuuon or 1887 were concerned. This
state of opinion and this condition of the
executive head of the Hawaiian govern
ment neutralized its power to protect
american citizens and other foreigners
IN their treaty rights and also their rights
under the laws OF Hawaii. There was not
IN honolulu at that time any efficient
executive power through which the rights
or American citizens residing there could
be protected In accordance with the local
laws. 1t is evident that the queens gov
ernment at that time had no power to
prevent the landing of troops from any
quarter, no power TO protect itself against
INVASION, no power to conduct civil govern
ment, SO far as the executive was con-
corned. II the effort to exert such power
was antagoni1ed by any opposing body Of
people in considerable numbers. Indeed
no effort seems to have been made to exert
the civil authority except through the pres
ence OF a small and inefficient body of
policemen The authority Of the queen
was not respected by the people; it was
opposed, and no force appeared to be used
Tor the purpose of overcoming the opposi-
tton. 1t yielded to silent but ominous
opposition. Without reference to the ques-
ucn whether in strict law the action Of
the queen in her effort TO overturn the
constitution of 1887 and to substitute one
by proclamation which she had pre-
pared. was a revolution in government, or
an effort at revolution, or amounted to an
abdi cation. the result was that an interreg-
nun. existed. There is welI-settled
aut lority for the position that at the mo-
ne'lt when the queen made public her de-
clson 10 absolve herself from oath to sup
port the constitution or 1887 her abdication
was complete. If the people chose to
regard 1t. That constitution and the
queens oath to support it was the only
FOUNDATION for her regal authority and
when she announced that her oath was
eHhulled In its effects upon her own con-
sElence she could no longer rIghtfully hold
once under that constitution. LiliuOkalani
EdLi only been kept on her throne by the
Iyrbearlng tolerance Of the white people,
VINO owned so 00OO.OOO Of the property on
ne Islands II required nothing but the
CCelermined g action Of what was known as
tne missionary party to overthrow the
queen. and that action had been taken be-
LIZ lhe troops from the Boston landed.
mere was no executive head of the gov
eEhlneht or Hawaii; it had perished."
No Executive and No Law.
The report then calls attention to the
iac1 that in landing the troops there was
10 demonstration and that in passing the
peiace they saluted the queen. 1t adds:
iier attitude "a that nme was that of
heipIessness. because she found no active
or Courageous support in her isolated posi-
uon. winch was self-impCsed and was re-
kfElLed by Few her former Sr1biaa+S In