Huntsville gazette., 1894-03-03
THE PRorEcroRArE.

THE PRorECroHATE.
"Afterward, on the 1st day of February. 1898.
the American minister caused the flag of the
United states to be raised on the government
building in Honolulu. and assumed and de-
clared protectOrate over that nation in the
name OF the United States. This action on the
part OF our minister was without authority and
was void for want Of power II was diSavowed
by Secretary Foster and rebuked by Secretary
Gresham and the order to abandon the pro
tectorate and haul down the flag was in ac-
cordauce with the duty and honor of the
United States. TO haul down the flag of the
United States was only an order to preserve
its honor"
The matter of annexation is discussed at
some length, and while the whole tenor of the
report relating to the subject is favorable to
the annexation no direct statement AZ made
therein, the language Of the report corcluding
as follows
Whether annexation is wise and beneficial
10 DOth governments Is question that must re-
Celve the consideration of both governments
before 1t can be safely settled. The testimony
taken by the committee discloses the well-con
sidered opinion Of several of most prom
inent naval and military officers that the an
| Dexation of Hawaii is fact indispensable to
the proper defense and protection of our west
ern coast and cities But this is a matter with
which the committee is not especially charged
and reference is made to these opinions as sup
porting the statement that all intelligent men
In Hawaii and the United States who have
taken pains to consider the subject are con-
ylnced that the question is one deserving of
thorough Investigation and correct and
friendly decision" :"
Next the report states that recognition OF the
provisional government was lawful, and has
contributed to the peace of Hawaii and con-
tinuing, says
The president of the United States believed
tnat 1t was proper and necessary. in vindica
tion of the honor of the United States to an
point a commissioner TO Hawaii who would
make careful investigation into the facts and
send the facts of the case and his conclusions
to the president for his information The
commissioner, Mr. Blount, went to Hawaii un-
der circumstances of extreme embarrassment
and executed his instructions with impartial
care to arrive at the truth and he presented
sincere and instructive report to the president
OF the United States touching the facts the
knowledge of which he thus acquired. In the
agitated state of opinion and feeling in Ha-
wall at that time it next to impos-
sble to obtain full, fair and free declaration
IN respect of the facts which attended this
revolution, and particularly was this difficult
to obtain from the persons who actively par
ticipated in that movement. The evidence sub
mitted by the committee. in addition to that
prepared by Mr. Blount, having been taken
under c1rcums tanceS more favorable to the dc
velopment of the whole truth with regard to
the situation. has in the opinion of the com
mittee, established the fact that the revolu-
tionary movement in Hawaii originated with
Liliuokalani, and was promoted provided for
and, as she believed. secured by the passage of
the opium bill and the lottery bill through the
legislature, from which she expected to derive
a revenue sufficient to secure the ultimate sue
cess of her purpose, which was distinctly and
maturely devised to abolish the constitution of
1887, and to assume to her absolute power. free
from constitutional restraint of any serious
character"
THE APPOINTMENT OF BLoUNr
The report takes the side of the provisional
government as respects the counter revolu-
tion which the queen provokes. 1t is exceed
ingly severe on the ministers of the queen
The right of the president to appoint Mr.
n onI fbn
conclusions to be that such right no doub.
existed, and that the authority given to Mr.
Blount, and which he exercised was proper.
Then Mr.. Willis, mission is taken up and the
position of the president referred to in the fol-
lowing:
IF, in this course of proceedings the presi-
dent of the United States had intended to COM
pei obedience to what is termed decision in
the matter by using the force of the United
States to assist the queen in gaining the
throne that would have been act of war,
entirely beyond his power. and would not have
received the sanction Of any considerable part
of the American people, and would have no
warrant in international law. But such was
not the intention OF the president. as is shown
by contemporaneous acts, by his declarations
and by his subsequent treatment OF the sub
ject.''
After quoting official state papers bearing on
annexati on, the report concludes:
"A president informed as to the history of
his country could find no difficulty in dealing
with the question of the annexation OF Hawaii
to the United States on the ground that it is
now; and a minister of Hawaii who should fail
to inform his government of the political
changes in Hawaii that would affect that ques-
tion would neglect his duty. 1t is not Just
criticism upon the correspondence of Minister
Stevens with his government that he earnest
ly advocated annexation. In this line he was
in line with Mr. Marcy and nearly every one of
his successors as secretary of state, and with
many of Mr. Stevens predecessors as minis
ter to Hawaii. His letters to his gov
diplomatic confidence that is requisite to
secure freedom in such communications and
were not expected to come under the scrutiny
OF Ill mankind. They show no improper spirit
and are not impeachable as coloring or pre-
verting the truth. although some matter stated
by him may be classed as severe reflections.
Whatever motives may have actuated or con
troled any representative of the government of
the United States in his conduct of our affairs
in Hawaii. if he acted within the limits of his
powers with honest intentions and has not
placed the government OF the United States
upon false and untenable grounds his con
duct is not irregular. But in his dealings
with the Hawaiian government his conduct
was characterized by becoming dignity and
reserve, and was not in any way harsh or
offensive In the opinion of the committee,
based upon the evidence which accompanies
this report the only substantial irregularity
that existed in the conduct of any officer of
the United States. or agent OF the president.
during or since the time OF the revolution of
1893 was that of Minister Stevens in declaring
a protectorate OF the United States over Ha-
wai, and in placing the flag of country
upon the government building in Honolulu.
No actual harm resulted from this unauthor-
lied act but as precedent it is not TO be con-
sidered as being justified
The Minority Report.
The following is the report presenting in
part the views of the minority of the commit
tee:
Without denying or concerning in any man
he &