Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-03-03
BLAMEs NO ONE.

pOrU OF Une lnVeSblRaUlOH Ol UndJ COIn-
mittee made under the following reso-
luton:
Resolved, That the committee on foreign re-
lations shall inquire and report whether any,
and, II so, what, Irregularities have occurred In
the diplomatic or other intercourse between
the United States and Hawaii in relation to the
recent political revolution in Hawaii, and to
this end said committee is authorized TO send
for persons ana papers and 10 administer onths
TO Witnesses"
The report prepared by Senator Nor
gan is concurred in by Senators Sher-
man, Frye, Dolph and Davis, the re-
publican members of the committee,
who also made a supplementary report,
taking more positive grounds than the
Morgan report, while Senators Butler,
Turpie, Daniel and Gray (democrats)
submit a minority report. A synopsis
of the document is as follows:
Scope of the Investigation.
Senator Morgan in his report says that the
inquiry rel nted first, to the conduct of the gov
ernment as show In its official acts and corre-
spondence; and, second TO the conduct OF the
civil and military officers OF the governmental
the discharge Of their public duties and func-
tions
The report practically begins with declara-
tion against monarchism in the Hawaiian
islands, saying that we exercise at least
moral suZerainty over that country. Hawaii
1t says is an American state ana Is embraced
in the American commercial and military sys-
TEN. In th' attitude OF the two governments
Hawaii must be entitled to demand OF the
United States an indulgent consideration II not
an active sympathy.
Stevens Course Justified.
Coming to the landing of the troops from the
United States steamer Boston, Senator Nor
gan says that condition Of affairs existed in
Honolulu which led naturally to the apprehen.
sion that violence or civil commotion
would ensue, in which the security of Amer
lean citizens residing in that city would be
put in peril, as had been done on three occa.
sions There was not in Honolulu at that time
any efficient executive power through which
the rights OF American citizens residing there
could be protected. The authority of the queen
was not respected by the people. An interreg-
mum existed.
Vas Virtually an Abdlcatton.
There is well-setted authority for the position
that at the moment when the queen made public
her decision 10 absolve herself from her wish
and support the constitution OF 1887, her
abdication was complete, II the people chose
so to regard 1t Liliuokalani had only been
kept on her throne by the tolerance Of the
white people, who owned s5OOOO,00O of the
property on the Islands. 1t required nothing
| but the determined action Of what was known
| as the missionary party to overthrow the
queen ana tnat aCt,On nau Deen laken DelOre
| the troops from the Boston landed There
WAS no executive head OF the government of
! Hawaii 1t had perished. The report then
calls attention to the fact that in landing the
| troops there was no demonstration and that in
| passing the palace they saluted the queen, who
| was helpless
Right of Shelter Undcr the Flag.
| In view of this state of facts the report lays
| down the following proposition: In u country
| were there Is no power OF the law to protect
| the citizens OF the United States there can be
| no law OF nations nor any rule Of comfy that
can rightfully prevent our flag from giving
| shelter to them under the protection Of our
| arms"
| The committee agrees that such was the con-
| dition OF the Hawaiian government at the time
the troops were landed, and that 1t was the
| right OF the United States TO land troops upon
| those islands at any place where 1t was neces
| sary in the opinion OF our minister to protect
the citizens OF our country.
stevens and Wiltz Exonerated.
Cogniza nee is taken OF the charge that tho
landing OF the troops was intended TO over
throw the queen with the purpose OF procuring
the ultimate annexation of the Islands to the
United States. but the report declares tina
the purpose of Minister Stevens and Capt
Wiltz was legitimate and that they acted il
good faith and with no interests except pro
tecting American citizens and preserving
order Tho intensity OF the queens opposition
to the missionaries is referred to.
The report speaks OF the queens desire fo
the Punishment or death of those who had op
posed her and says that America should no
hesitate in the support OF government set VI
to oppose her
Willis Did His Best.
Continuing the report says:
1.-The president says that on the first intima
tion OF these harsh declarations he at ono
laid them before congress and abandoned tn
| further exercise OF his good offices t
| bring about reconciliation. Mr.. Willis
however, regarding his instructions u
continuing to require his intercession be
| yond the point where the president con
sidered that 1t should cease, held sec
! ond and third interview with Liliuokalani
; Mr.. Willis, in what he did, obeyed what h
conceived to be his instructions, and beins
80 distant from Washington 1t is matte
| OF regret but not OF surprise that ther
was an apparent want OF harmony bt
tween his action In continuing his inter
! views with Liliuokalani after the presiden
had determined that the full duty OF the gov
. ernment had been performed When crow
falls in any kingdom OF the western hemis
phere 1t is pulverized, and when scepter de
parts 1t departs forever; and American opinio
cannot sustain any American ruler in the q
, | tempt 10 restore them, no matter how vtrtuou
, and sincere the reasons may be that seem
justify him"
stevens Duty Was Plain.
Mr.. stevens recognltlon OF tne new govern
ment Is justified, the report making the poinl
at was his duty ut the safest possible perio
5 10 assist by his recognition, the terminatio
/ OF the interreguum, so that citizens OF III
a United States might be safely RENTED to th
care OF that government for the care OF thei
rights. Afterward on February l, lS9
' the American minister caused the flag
| the United States to be raised and assume
and declared \ protectorate over Hawaii Thl
net OH the part OF our minister was without o.
thority and was void for want OF power 1t wG
g disavowed by Secretary Foster and rebuked h
8 Secretary Gresham, and the order to abandc
q the protectorate and haul down the flag was
accordance with the duty and honor OF Il
United States"
The matter of annexation is discussed
some length, and while the whole tenor OF Il
a report relating TO the subject is favorable
annexation no direct statement was mat
therein p
Effect of Recognition.
' Next tho report states that recognition
| the provisional government was lawful and HI
contributed To tho peace OF Hawaii The +
port takes the side OF the provisional COVER
ND.