Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-01-18

civilization which has so conspicuousl
aided In giving this country an honorable piac
position of these islands and the important
and to both countries, profitable, reciprocal
together with our weakness sovereign ma
ton, all point with convincing force to polit
necessary logical result from the circum
stances mentioned. This conviction il
emphasized by the favorable expires
| period in favor of annexation. conspicuous
among whom are the names of w. L. Marcy
| William Fl. Seward, Hamilton Fish and James
G. Blaine, all former secretaries of state and
especially so by the action of your last ad
ministration in negotiating treaty OF annexa
the senate with a view to its ratification. We
shall therefore. continue the project OF
as conspicuous feature OF our foreign
| policy. confidently hoping that sooner OIL
later it will be crowned with success. to the
| lasting benefit of both countries. The addi
tional portion of your communication referring
| to our domestic affairs with view OF interior
ing therein. is new departure in the relations
| of the two governments. Your information
that the president of the United States expects
beg the to
| stitutional authority with the question
Are you willing to abide by the de
dismissed in a Single word. but for the cir
cumStance that your communication contains,
roneous conclusions based thereon. that are so
prejudicial to this government that can not
permit them to pass unchallenged Moreover
| the Importance and menacing character OF
this proposition make it appropriate for me
| to discuss somewhat fully the questions
| raised by it. We do not recognize the right of
the president of the United States to interfere
| in our domestic affairs. Such right could be
| conferred upon him by the act of this govern
| ment, and 10y that alone, or it could be acquired
| by conquest. This l understand to be the
| American doctrine conspicuously announced
| from time to time by the authorities of your
| government.
President Jackson said in his message to
| congress in 1886: The uniform policy and
practice of the United States is to avoid all
! interference in disputes which mostly relate to
the internal government OF other nations and
| eventually to recognize the authority Of the
| original controversy"
| This principle of International law has been
| consistently recognized during the whole past
I Intercourse Of the two countries. and was re-
| Gently recontirmed in the instructions given
| by Secretary Gresham to Commissioner
Bount of March IL. 1893. and by the latter pub
| 1ished in the newspapers in Honolulu in a
| letter of his own to the Hawaiian public. The
words of these instructions which 1 refer to
The United States claim no right to inter-
| fere in the political or domestic affairs or in
| the internal conflicts Of the Hawaiian islands
other than as herein stated (referring to tn,
| protection of American citizens), or for tn.
| purpose of maintaining any treaty other
rights which they possess
The treaties between the two countries con-
| fer no right Of interference. Upon what then,
| Mr.. Minister, does the president of the United
States base his right Of interference? Your
| communication is without information upon
| this point excepting such as may be contained
| in the following brief and vague sentences:
she tthe ex-queenl was advised and assured
by her ministers and leaders of the movement
for the overthrow of her government that If
she surrenderered under protest, her case
YOU'D t5s be fairly
The queen finally, yielded to the armed
| force OF the United States. then quartered in
of the president when informed of what had
occurred, to undo che action of the minister
and reinstate her and the authority. which sh@
claims as the constitute ional sovereign OF
Hawaiian islands,
Also, 1T becomes my further duty to advise
you. sir. the executive of the provisional gov
eminent. and your ministers, OF the presi-
dents determination of the question which
your action and that of the queen devolvei
upon him, and that you are expected to prompt
ly relinquish to her constitutional authority
L understand that the first quotation is re-
Which your action and that of the queen de-
yolved upon him the president of this
has arrived at his conclusions from COMMITS.
sioner Blounts report. We have had We:
no opportunity of examining this document.
but from extracts published in the papers. and
for reasons set forth hereafter we are not dis
posed to submit the fate of Hawaii to its state
ments and conclusions.
If your contention that President Cleveland
believes that this government and the ex-
queen have submitted their respective claims
adjudication of the United States is cor
rect, then may 1 ask. when and where has
the president held this court of arbitration?
This government has had no notice of the sit
ting of such tribunal, and. no opportunity of
presenting evidence OF its claims If Mr.
Biounts Investigations were part of the pro-
ceedings OF such court the government
did not know it, and were never informed of
never knew until the publication OF Secretary
Greshams letter to President Cleveland. few
weeks ago: that the American executive
temptation. Even If we had known that
Mr.. Blount was authoritatively acting
a commissioner to take evidence upon the
question of the restoration of the exqueen the
methods adopted by him in making his investi-
cations were, submit unsuitable to such
examination or any examination upon which
human interests were to be adjudicated.
Final Instructions to Minister Willis.
The final instructions sent to Minis
ter Willis by the Mariposa, which sailed
at a. m. are as follows:
WILLIS MINISTER. HONOLULU: Your num-
bers. IA to IS inclusive. show that you have
rightly comprehended the scope of your in
structions. and have. as far as within your
power, discharged the onerouS task confided to
The president sincerely regrets that the pro-
visional government failed to acquiesce in the
conclusion which his sense of right and duty
and due regard for national honor constrain
him to reach and submit as a measure of JUS
their deposed sovereign. While it is true that
the provisional government was created to
eXSlt only until the ISLANDS were annexed TO
the United States; that the queen finally. but
surrendered to an armed force
of this government illegally quartered in
Honolulu. and representatives of the
provisional government which, realizing its
impotencv. was anxious to get control Of the
queens means of defense, assured 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 arbitrator in the technical
sense. or authorized him to act in that capaci
ty between the constitutional government and
. f,n Gil nn1 INF pv,nh NO
such claim when you acquainted that govern |
ment with the presidents decision.
The solemn assurance given to the queen has
been referred to not authority for the pres- |
dent to act arbitrator, but fact material
to a just determine ton OF the presidents duty
in the premises.
fairs addressed to you on the 23i ultimo, it is
stated in effect that even If the constitu- |
action Of the American minister and an |
invasion by the military force of the |
United states. the presidents antn1r,ty Is
ficialsa and that he can take no steps looking to
the correction of the wrong done. The presi- |
dent entertains diferent.view OF his RESPONSE |
waiian government by an abuse of the authori- |
ty OF the United States was in psalm violation |
Of the international law and required the preSi-
dent to disavow and condemn the act Of our Of |
Tending official and. within the limits OF his |
power to endeavor torestore the |
lawful authority.
On the 18th ultimo the president sent mes
sage to congress communicating copies of Mr.
Blount's reports and the instructions given to
him and you. On the same day. answering a
of the house of representatives, he
sent copies Of all correspondence since March
1. 1899 the political affairs and the relations
Of Hawaii. withholding for obvious reasons
only Mr.. Stevens No: 20 OF October 8, 1892.
The president therein announced that
the conditions of restoration suggested by
him to the queen had not proved acceptable to
to insist upon those conditions. he had not