The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-01-18

sent its commissioners to Washington
for the sole purpose of procuring the
confirmation of the recognition by
Minister Stevens of the new govern
ment and to enter into negotiations for
a political union with the United
States. Tue protest of the ex-queeu
made on jan. II is, equally with the
letter, devoid OF evidence of any mu-
tual understanding for the sub
mission of her claims to
the throne o the United States 1t
is very evidently protest against the
alleged action of Minister Stevens as
we'll as the new government, and con-
tains notice of her appeal to the
United States. Document was received
exactly as it would have been received
if it had come through the mail, the
endorsement of its receipt upon the
paper was made at the request of the
individual tho brought it, as evidence
of its safe delivery.
''-As to the ex-queen'S notice OF her
appeal to the United States it was a
matter of Indifference to us. Such an
appeal could have been prevented, as
the mail service was in operation as
usual That such notice and our re .
ceipt of it without comment should be
made the foundation of claim
that we have submitted our right
to exist as a goverpment TO the United
States had never occurred to us until
suggested to us by your government,
The protest OF the ex-queen, already
quoted, is here quoted "You may
not be aware, but such Is fact, that
at no time uutil the present action of
the claim Of the president of the
United States of his right to interfere
in the Internal ,ffairs of this country
by you on Dec. 10, has this govern
ment been officially informed by the
United States government that any
such course was contemplated, and
not until the publication of Gresham's
letter to the president of the United
States on the Hawaiian question had
we any reliable intlmation of
such policy The adherents
of the eX-queen, however, indeed
claimed from time to time that such
wa the case. but we have never been
able to attach serious importance to
these rumors, further than the effect
of feeling sure i'll our perfect diplo-
matte relations with your country, and
relying upon the friendship and fair
ness of a government whose dealings
with us has ever shown full recogni.
tion of our independence as sovereign
power without auy tendency to take
advantage of the disparity of strength
between the two countries.
eff your contention that Presi-
dent Cleveland believes that
this government and the ex.queen
have submitted their respective
claims to the sovereignty of this coun-
try to adjudication of the United
States is correct, then may ask when
and where has the president held this
court of arbitration2 This govern
ment has had no notice of sitting of
such tribunal and no opportunity of
presenting evidence of its claims. If
Mr.. Blount's Investigations were part
of the proceedings of such court, this
did not know it and was
never informed of it; indeed, as l have
mentioned above. we never knew until
the publication of Secretary Gresham's
letter to President Cleveland a few
weeks ago that the American ex-
ecutive had policy of inter
ference under contemplation. Even
if we had known that Mr.. Blount was
authoritatively acting as commits
sioner to take evidence upon the ques-
tion of the restoration of the eX-Queen
the methods adopted by him In max
ing his Investigations were, | submit,
to such an examination or
any examination upon which human
interests were to be adjudicated.
'As | ain reliably informed he selec
ted Witnesses and examined them in
secret, freely using leading questions,
giving no opportunity for cross-exami-
nation and often not permitting
by witnesses themselves.
1t is hardly necessary for me
TO suggest that under such mode of
some witnesses would be
almost helpless in the hands of an as
Jute lawyer and might be drawn into
saying things which were not half
truths. and, standing alone, would be
or even false in effect. 1t
IS not likely that an investigation con-
luced in this manner could result in
4 fair, full and truthful statement OF
5he case in point. Surely the destinies
)f friendly government, admitting
oy way of argument that the right of
arbitration exists, may not be passed
lpon eX parte, and secret investiga-
jion, without the knowledge of such
government or an opportunity by it 10
De heard or even to know who the
witnesses were.
Mr.. b -ount came here as a stranger
md at once entered upon his duties.
He devoted himself to the work of col
Getting information both by examina-
ion of witnesses and collection of
tatistcs and other documentary mat
;er with great energy and industry,
giving up substantially his whole time
20 its prosecution. He was here but |
/ few moDths and during the time was
10 occupied With this work that he
lad little opportunity of receiving |
hose impressions of state affairs which |
pest come TO him incidentally through |
vide social intercourse with the people |
II the country and personal acquaint.
tnce with its various communities and |
Industrial enterprises. He saw the |
,ountry from his cottage in the center
If Honolulu, mainly through the eyes of |
witnesses whom he examined, Under |