The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-02-20
OUR NATIONAL HONOR.
Senator Gray's Speech Against the
Annexation of Hawaii-A Great
Principle Involved

| WASHINGTON, Feb. I3. - Senator
Gray, (Deml, of Delaware, resumed his
| speech in support of the resolution
from the Committee on Foreign Rela-
| tions, declaring it unwise and mex
podicnt to consider further the treaty
or project OF annexation of the Haw-
| allan territory; that the provisional
pursue its own line of policy, and that
foreign intervention in the political
affairs OF the islands would be regard
| ed as an act unfricndly to the govern
mcnt of the United States.
Alter reading some testimony show
ing statement by Soper that he had
assurances from the old man himself
lmeaning Minister Stevens) Senator
Gray said that he left no room for doubt
that the revolution in Honolulu never
would have occurred had it not been
for the assurance that the military
forces from the United States war
ship Boston would be on shore to sup
port and countenancc what was to be
done toward dethroning the queen and
establishing the provisional govern
mcDt
Senator Gray devoted much of his
speech to discussion OF the question
whether the appointment of Mr..
Blount as commissioner to Hawaii was
such an Office as required confirmation
by the Senate. lie argued that it. was
not.
He was asked by Senator Teller
whether if Mr.. Blount supplanted an
officer whose appointment did rcuuiro
confirmation by the Senate that did not
change the situation.
Senator Gray gave it rs his opinion
that 1t did not; and that Il person so
appointed for specific purpose was
not an officer under the constitution.
In conclusion, Senator Gray said:
The case is important-far more
important than the material interests
involved. The islands are very small
and insignificant. II an earthquake or
CONFUSION in those southern seas
were to swallow them 40 tomorrow
there would not be, except for feelings
OF humanity for the loss of lie, Il rip
pie on the surfaces Of the wCrld's af
fairs. But the Importance Of this ques-
ton, as | said at the outset, is one of
the international morality and you can
not, in our relations with the least
powerful government in the world,
wound or destroy or attack the intcw-
rlty Of those relations, without affect
ing the whole people Of the United
States. We are concerned in maintain
ing (mOrc than if Il powerful kingdom
good name and the fame of this great
race. It's name and fame should be
held so high that the breath of Il spcr-
sion or detraction could not reach it.
Ii we are ever to step from tho shores
Ol THIS continent out on a career of en-
pirc and colonization, let it be with
head erect, without the breath of sus-
picion or dishonOr, intrigue or low
dealings. Let it be in the light of day.
IL 1T be conquest, let it be by force of
arms and with the blast of trumpcts.
and let 1T be open and above board that
we may know when we acquire Il title
that it is by the will OF the people
whose soil and country we absorb.
lhat Is the question presented in the
papers presented to the Senate by the
President of the United States on
which we are called upon to pass That
the President should have attempted
to withdraw this country from the dis
| honorable situation in which it was
| placed by the indiscrect action of the
United States minister in January 1893,
is greatly to his credit, and will ALWAYS
| remain to the credit of that distn-
guished man as long as this record re-
| mains. You cannot blot out the record
that has been made during the last
year, and it will continue to be the
vlndlcation OF the man who tried, in
his great office, to do Justice and work
| righteousness in the international af-
| fairs of this great country with the
| people Of the earth.
- | am not so much concerned" said
Senator Teller, "as to what has been
done as am as to what is going to be
done. | ask the President if he un-
dcrstands that the whole question has
been RENTED by the President to
Congress :"
The President says So" Senator
| Gray answered.
GOu understand that" Senator Tel
Ter remarked, with an air of satisfac-
| ton. Then want to ask him whetn-
| cr an effort Is now being made by this
| government to restore the queen to
| powcr?"
" do not know Of any such effort"
Senator Gray replied. "Thc same
sources OF information are open to the
| Senator that arc open to me. do not
| know of any in question"
Senator Teller: Il want to ask the
Senator if the matter has been submit
| ted to Congress. | ask him as Il mem
be" of tho committee charged with this
| matter, what it is proposed that we are
to DO: Are we to do what the Presi-
| dent has failed to do, or are we to con
| slider the matter settled, and to let the
| provisional government rcmain?"
Senator Gray: "Whcn this rcsOu-
| tion was reported from the Committee
| ON Foreign Relations the President had
sent in message. J understood that
| he committed the matter to Congress
| because the efforts which he had made
| up to that time to restore the status
| quo and to undo the wrong which (hc
| conccivcdD had been done by the au-
| thority of the United States minister
had failed, and he submitted the whole
| matter to the wiser discretion of Con
| gross. This is my understanding. The
committee reported this resolution to
| the senate. SO far Us am concerned
| am willing to vote for it now. al
| though ! would not have been willing
| to vote Tor it II short time prior to its
| being reported. When it was reported
there was (as | understood nothing to
be done on the part OF this government
but undo what consider to have been
great wrong and outrage on the
| Hawaiian government existing on the
| 10th OF January 1893. That being 50,
| thought then, and do now. that the
interests of all concerned in these
| islands, as well as the interests of the
people OF the United States, is best
conserved by leaving the Hawaiian
| people to pursue their own line of
policy. If the provisional government
has established itself in such manner
as to be able to make itself II unity
| which If lnpino a