The record-union., 1894-01-15

was aubhOrItatlV6ly acJlng as COnuilS-
sioner to take evidence upon the question
of the restoration of the ex-Queen, the
methods adopted by him in making his
investigation were, | submit, unsuitable
to such an examination or any eXamlna-
ton upon which human interests were to
be adjudicated. AS | am reliably in
formed, he selected his witnesses and eX-
amined them in secret, freely using lead
ing questions, giving no opportunity tor
a cross-eXamination and often not per-
nitting such explanations by witnesses
themselves as they desired to make OF
evidence which he had drawn from them.
at is hardly necessary for me to sug-
geSt that under such mode of eXamlna-
ton, some witnesses would be almost
helpless i'll the hands of an astute lawyer,
and might be drawn into saying things
which would be only half-truths, and
standing alone would be misleading or
even false in effect. Is it likely that an
investigation conducted in this manner
could result in a fair, full and truthful
statement of the case in point? Surely
the destinies of a friendly Government,
admitting by way OF argument that the
right of arbitration exists, may not be
disposed OF upon an eC pdf'te and secret
investigation made without the knowl-
edge OF such Government, or an oppor-
tunity by it to be heard, ,aor even to know
who the witnesses We're.
BLOUNTS WORK.
"Mr. Blount came here as a stranger
and at once entered upon his duties. He
devoted himself to the work of collecting
information, both by the examination of
witnesses and the collection of statistics
and other documentary matter, with
great energy and industry, giving up
substantially his whole time to its prose-
cution. He was here but few months,
and during that time was so occupied
with this work that he had little oppor-
tunitv left for receiving those impress
sions of the state of affairs which could
best have come to him incidentally
through a wide social intercourse with
the people of the country, and a personal
acquaintance with its various commune
ties and educational and industrial enter
prises.
He saw the country from his cottage
| in the center of Honolulu, mainly through
the eyes of the witnesses whom he ex-
amiDed. Under these circumstances is IL
| probable that the most earnest of men
| would be able to form statement that
could safely be relied upon as the basis
of decision upon the question OF the
standing of a Government?
''In view, therefore, of all the facts in
relation to the question of the Presidents s
authority to interfere, and concerning
which the members of the Executive
were actors and witnesses, l am
able to assure your excellency that by no
action OF this Government on the 18th day
of January last, or since that time, has
the authority devolved upon the Presi-
the internal affairs Of this country through
| any conscious act or expression of this
Government with such an intention.
'You state in your communication !:
| After a patient examination OF Mr..
! Blount'S report, the President is satisfied
that the movement against the Queen, If
not instigated was encouraged ana sup
ported by the representative Of this Gov
| ernment at Honolulu; that he promised
in advance to aid her enemies in an at
tempt to overthrow the Hawaiian Gov
ernment and set up by force new GOV
ernment in its place; that he kept his
promise by causing detachment of
tro8ps to be landed from the Boston on
the 10th of January 1893, and by recog
nizing the Provisional Government the
| next day, when it was too teK0le to de-
| fend itself, and the constitutional Govern
ment was able to successfully maintain
its authority against any threatening force
other than that Of the United States al
ready landed
A DENIAL.
"Without entering into discussion of
the facts, l beg to state in reply that l am
unable to Judge of the correctness of MIR.
| Blounts report, from which the 'Presi-
| dents conclusions were drawn, as have
had no opportunity of examining such
report. But | desire to specifically and
emphatically deny the correctness OF each
and everyone OF the allegations Of fact
contained i'll the above-quoted statement,
yet, as the President has arrived at a pos
tive opinion in his own mind in the mat
| ter, | will refer to it from his own stand
point.
My position is briefly this: If the
| ha
revolutionists in the establishment Of the
| Provisional Government, that Govern
ment is not responsible for their wrong
doing. 1t was purely private matter Tor
discipline between the United States
| Government and its own officers. There
is, | submit, no precedent in interna-
| tional law for the theory that such action
of the American troops has conferred
upon the United States authority over
| the internal affairs of this Government.
| Should it be true, as you have suggested,
| that the American Government made
| itself responsible to the Queen, who, it is
alleged, lost her throne thr rough such ac-
ton, that is not matter for me to dis
cuss except to submit that, if such be the
case it is matter for the American Gov
| ernment and her to settle between them.
! This Government, recognized SoVer-
| eign power, equal in authority with the
| United States Government and enjoying
perfect diplomatic relations with it, can
| not be DESTROYED by 1t for the sake OF dis
charging its obligations to the ex-Queen.
! 81 pom these grounds, Mr.. Minister. in
! behalf of my Government, respectfully
/ protest against the usurpation OF It's au-
thority as suggested by the language of
| your communication"
| Here follows a recapitulation of the acts
| of the followers OF the eX-Queen which
| led to the revolution, with all of which
| the public is familiar.
| CLEvELAND's PROPOSITION DECLINED.
''If the American forces had been alb
sent the revolution would have taken
| place for the sufficient cause, for it had
nothing to do with their presence.
| 81, therefore, in all friendship for the
| Government of the United States, which
! you represent. and desiring to cherish
! the good will of the great American
| people, submit the answer Of my Govern
ment to your proposition, and ask that
you transmit the same to the President OF
/ the United States for his consideration.
Though the Provisional Government
is far from being "a great power and
could not long resist the forces of the
| United States in hostile attack, we deem
! our position TO be impregnable under all
/ legal precedents. under the principles of
diplomatic intercourse and in the forum
! OF conscience. We have done your Gov
ernment no wrong; no charge OF discour-
tesy is or can be brought against us. Our
only issue with your people has been
that, because we revered its institutions
! of civil liberty, we have desired to have
/ them extended To our own distracted
( country. and because we honor its flag,
and deeming that its benetcent and au-
/ thoritative presence would be for the best
interests OF all our people, we have stood
ready to add our country, a new star, to
! its glory, and to consummate a union
which we believed would be as much for
the benefit of your country as ours. If
this is an offense we plead guilty to it.
Il AN instructed to inform you, Mr..
nistca, icirn