Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1894-02-27
HAWAII IN THE SENATE
A REPORT TO SUIT ALI.
SHADES OF OPINION.

and stevens, Except ON One
Point. ~ Well a. the ASiimluis.
traii0n-T Report Made 10
the senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-A volume of
nearly 5000 printed pages, exclusive Of
maps, was laid before the Senate today
representing the testimony taken by the
Senate committee on foreign relations
and their findings thereon under the rcso.
luton directing them to inquire whether
any, and, il so, what irregularities have
occurred in the diplomatic intercourse
between the United States and Hawaii
iD relation to the recent revolution.
The report Of the majority Of the COM
mittcc is prepared by Chairman Morgan
Of Alabama. 1t exhaustivcly reviews
the facts, laws and precedcnts, justifcs
Stevens actions, except in proclaimips
protectoratc, and finds nothing irrcgu'
lar in the appointment Of Blount, but in
effect says the evidence taken by the
committee under more iaAorablc circum-
stances leads the committee to different
conclusions than those which he, Blount,
formed.
This report is concurred in as to all its
essential findings by the Republican nlem-
bers Of the committee, Sherman, Frye,
Dolph and Davis. They characterize it
as an exceedingly able document, but
they dissent on five points. 1. They
condemn the appointment Of Commis-
siOncr BlOunt as unconstitutional. 2.
They say the executive orders, placing
the navy in the harbor of Honolulu
under orders Of Blount or Willis, were
without authority of law. 3. That the
order Of I!lount to Admiral Skcrrett to
lower the flag was unlawful and sus-
ceptiblc Of beirg construed as uniricndly
to the provisional government, and they
regard the consultations Of Bloun. and
Willis with the dcposed Queen as vic.
lativc OF the International law and un-
warranted. 4. They consider that the
President had no right to reopen the
predetermined question asto the legality
of the provisional government. 5. They
regard any discussion Of the good faith
Of either Blouut or Willis, us immaterial,
inasmuch as what they did in regard to
the reinstatement Of the Queen was sim
ply the performance OF a task plainly
commanded OF them by this administra.
tion.
The report Of the minority. signed
by Butler. Turpic, Daniel and Grav,
without denying or conceding the cor
rectncss of other portions of the report,
disscnts from that portion OF it which
declares that the only irregularity in the
conduct of Stevens, late minister, was
his declaration OF protectorate by the
United States over Hawaii. The report
says:
"Whilc exempting from ccnsure Capt.
Witt of the Boston and his officers, be-
cause their position was one Of extreme
lclicacy and difficulty and we appreciate
their anxiety to afford protection to the
lives and property OF American citizens,
VIC cannot avoid the conviction that the
inopportune zeal of Minister Stevens in
the project Of the annexation of the
Sandwich Islands to the United States
caused him to exceed the proper limits Of
his official duty and his diplomatic rela.
tions to the govcrnmcnto OF those islands.
His course as a public representative Of
this government was directly conducive
to bringing about the condition of affairs
which resulted in the overthrow of the
Queen, the organization OF the provision.
al government, the landing OF the United
States troops, and the attempted scheme
Of anucxation; and upon this conclusion
bis conduct is seriously reprehensiblc and
deserving Of public ccnsurc.''
Butler aud Turpie file a supplemental
report in which they say that while the
question Of annexation was not sub
mitted to the committee, they think it
not improper to say they are heartily in
favor Of the acquisition of those islands
by the United States in proper manner,
but not by taking advantage OF disscu.
tions for which they believe the United
States is i'll some manner responsible.
In the Senate Morgan, chairman Of the
committee OIL foreign relations, reported
the foregoing opinion Of the committee
on the subject Of Hawaii. At 1910 the
Senate proceeded to executive business
and at p. m. adjourned until tomor-
row to enable Democratic Senators to
resume the caucus meeting,