The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-03-20

| parties, whose Intervention would have
| secured, with their consent, the final
solution OF that question. In the absence
OF such communal on his part 10 the
! claims OF LilIuoaalani or resistance on
| his part 10 the recognized ri1hts OF the
| Provisional Government, there Is no
reason for withholding approval of the
! conduct OF the President of the United
| States in thus accepting and executing
| a function which ne was entitled TO per
| form, in submitting the question, IN due
| and final form, to the contending parties
or factions in Hawaii, whether they pre-
! ferred TO maintain the authority OF the
| Provisional Government, with whatever
results may follow from that. or return
TO the monarchy under Lilrokalani.
| Therefore your committee conclude TO
| report that the President OF the United
| States mas not, in this particular, in any
| wise been party TO any Irregularlty or
| any mpropriety OF conduct in his high
! Office.
The committee find nothing worthy o!
| criticism in the negotiation OF the treaty
! OF annexation with the Provisional GOV
| eminent of Hawaii.
| The revolution In Hawaii had the
! effect OF displacing one chief OF the exc
/ cntive department and substituting an
other. Except the Queen and her cab
| met, no officer of the Government was
removed. rhe legislative body, incluG-
| ing the house of mobiles and house OF
representatives. and their presiding Off
GERS, remained in commission The
| supreme court and all other judicial
magistrates and the officers OF the
/ courts were LETT undisturbed, and, when
the interregnum ended, they pursued
| their duties without change or Interrupt
| ton; commerce with foreign countries
nd hot cla nd in
way prevented, and the commercial and
banking houses were open for business,
| which resumed activity when the exc
cutive head of the Government was
again in the exercise OF lawful authority
The Government had not been dis
placed and another substituted, but only
q department which was left vacant had
been rehabiitated.
When this was done and the fact was
recognized, the Government of Hawaii
was as competent to treat OF annexation
to the United States as it had ever been,
or as it will ever be until the United States
shall decide that it will annex no more
territory unless with the consent of the
people TO be annexed, 10 be ascertained
by q plebiscite.
Complaint is made also that this pro-
ject of annexation was attempted TO be
con animated in too great haste.
That raises a question OF due consider
alton; for, if the people OF both coun-
tries desired 1t, or if, according to every
precedent to be found in the various an
neXatlons OF countries and States to the
United States, the respective govern
ments desired it, speedy action in COM
plotting the cession was desirable for
many obvious reasons, among which the
injurious disturbance OF commerce and
danger to the public peace growing out
OF a protracted agitation OF so grave a
matter, are conspicuous
But this is a question of long stand
ing, which has been under favorable
consideration by the kings and people OF
Hawaii and the Government and people
OF the United States for more than fifty
years.
1t is we'll understood, and lis import
ance increases with every new event of
any consequence in Hawaii, and with
the falling-in of every island in the Pa
cific Ocean that is captured by the great
maritime powers of Europe. The COM
mittee have copied, in the Appendix 70
this report, portions OF the remarks OF
Hon. William +. Draper in the House of
Representatives on the 18th OF February,
1874, which refer in very clear and con-
else way to the progress OF foreign inter
vention in the Pacific Ocean by Euro
pean powers.
a President informed as to the history
of his country could find no difficulty la
dealing with the question of the annex
alton of Hawaii to the United States on
the ground that it is new; and a minister
to Hawaii who should fail to inform his
Government of the political changes in
Hawaii that would effect that question
would neglect his duty.
1t is not Just criticism upon the cor
l..
Government that he earnestly advocated
annexation. In this ne 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
minister to Hawaii. His letters to his
Government were written under the
diplomatic confidence that is requisite to
secure freedom in such communications,
and where not expected to come under
the scrutiny of all mankind. They show
no improper spirit and are not impeach- |
able as coloring or perverting the truth,
although some matters stated by him
may be classed as severe reflections. |
Whatever motives may have actuated or
controlled any representative OF the Go !
vernment of the United States in his |
conduct of our affairs In Hawaii, If ne |
acted within the limits Of his powers, |
with honest intentions, and has no;
placed the Government of the United !
States upon false and untenable grounds,
his conduct Is not Irregular.
But, in his dealings with the Hawaiian |
his conduct was character |
ised by becoming dignity and reserve, |
and was not IL any way harsh or often |
sive In the opinion OF the committee, |
based upon the evidence which accom- |
panies this report, the only substantial |
irregu !arity 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 1898, was |
that OF Minister Stevens in declaring a |
protectorate of the United States over
Hawaii, and in placing the flag of our |
upon the Government building |
in Honolulu. No actual harm resulted |
from this unauthorized act, but as a |
=. l.. J