The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-27
NOT A CUCKOO REPORT.

| nesSes, papers, state documents ana IN
! structions have been examined in regard
90 the occurrences in Hawai- during the
past Is months. The report, for the
majority report is entitled to this dis
tinction, finds that Minister Stevens in
no way contributed TO the revolution,
nor was he concerned in it.
1t declares that his actions were wise,
conservative and necessary; the COM
mittee agrees that at the time the troops
were landed in Honolulu from the Boston,
| there was an interregnum in Hawaii as
respects the executive Offices; that
| there was no executive power TO
enforce these laws of Hawaii and that
il was the right of the United States TO
land troops upon those islands at any
place where it was necessary in The
opinion of our minister to protect our
citizens. Cognizance is taken of the
charge that The landing of the troops
was intended TO overthrow the Queen
with the purpose of producing the ulti-
mate annexation of their lands TO the
| United States, but the committee agree
that the purpose Of Minister Stevens and
| Captain Witse were legitimate and
that they acted in good faith and with
no motives except of protecting Ameri-
can citizens and preserving order. Mr..
Stevens recognition of the new govern
ment is also justified.
Let the report end right there and
what becomes of the lawful wrong"
done by Minister Stevens and Captain
Willis TO Ex-Queen Liliuokalani,
which has so disturbed the President of
the United States that he has exceeded
the limits of his constitutional authority
and attempted TO wage war against a
friendly nation? President Cleveland's
whole case was founded on the charge
that Stevens was responsible for the
overthrow of the Queen and assisted in
her downfall by ordering the United
States forces to land.
Stevens is vindicated and this vindi-
cation can only be obtained 10y Cleve-
lands condemnation, for if what Stevens
did was right and lawful. if he did not
conspire 10 overthrow the Queen, and
ifhis action in ordering the troops landed
did not cause the overthrow, Mr.. Dole's
| great and good friend, Grover Cleveland,
has indeed made sorry mess of IL. His
whole case rested upon proving Stevens
guilty of conspiracy. Yet the investi-
| eating committee Of the Senate not only
declares that Stevens did not conspire,
but that he did only his duty, and that
his acts were perfectly proper.
But the report goes even further. 1t
says that the Queen herself brought
about her downfall and that she las
only herself to blame. She lost her
throne in her attempt to overthrow the
constitution to which she had sworn
obedience and support, and she had be-
come plain Mrs. Dominis before single
marine was landed from the Boston.
The report, however, does not stop
here. 1t says that Stevens one act in
excess of his authority was when he as
sumed, in the name OF the United States,
n temporary protectorate, but it will be
remembered that this action of Stevens
was promptly disavowed by the Harri-
son administration. The report taking
up the connection between Hawaii and
this country says:
Hawaii is an American State and is
embraced in the American commercial
and military system. In this attitude
of the two governments Hawaii must
he entitled TO demand of the United
States an indulgent consideration, If not
sympathy. where she is endeavoring to
accomplish what every other American
State has achieved-the release OF her
people from the odious Republican
regime which denies TO the people the
right TO govern themselves, and sub
ordinates them to this supposed divine
right Of monarch whose title to such
divinity originated in the most slavish
conditions Of pagan barbarity."
And again little later the report
says:
eve have always exerted the privi-
lege of interference in the domestic
affairs of Hawaii to a degree that
was not justified, under our view Of
international law, in reference 70 the
affairs Of Canada, Cuba or Mexico.
| The reason is that Hawaii has been
recognized as under a virtual suzerain-
~ Of the United States. This right has
never been lost sight Of aud IL is con-
spicuously manifest in the correspon.
dence Of Mr.. Willis with Mr.. Dole.
The minority report, in mild way,
censures Minister Stevens by saying:
1--WE cannot avoid the conviction that
the inopportune zeal Of Minister Stevens
in the project of annexation of the Sand.
witch Islands caused him 10 exceed
| t1...at. -. 4