Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-02-15
STEVENS SCORED.
The E1-Mini.ter to Hawaii Severely cris

While the Hawaiian matter was En-
| der debate in the house on February 3,
| Mr.. Rayner, of Maryland, democrats
member of the committee on foreign
affairs, in reply to TRADE against
President Cleveland's policy. by MIR.
HIT. reviewed the acts of Ex-Minister
Stevens with scathinE condemnation.
holding him responsible for wrong
that cannot be rectified, and declared
it MS his belief that President Cleveland
would be sustained in his course. Dir.
Raynor's speech was. in substance as
follows:
IT desire to be fair in the brief discussion
that shall devote to the subject. am not
sufficient of partisan to applaud every act
that proceeds from my own party. and TO CRIT
icise and condemn everything that Is done by
my opponents. have endeavored with an un-
prejudiced mind to investigate this case in all
OF its elaborate details and have tried to arrive
at an honest conclusion, without any political
bias whatever, and shall give You the conclu.
sions that I have reached and the judgment
that have arrived at for whatever it may be
worth.
~ my opinion is this: In the first place, am
convinced beyond all manner Of reasonable
doubt that Mr.. Stevens, the minister OF the
United States, was an active participant IN the
overthrow of the monarchy in the kingdom OF
Hawaii; and. in the second place. the president
having submitted the matter to congress am
satisfied that. according to the usages and
principles OF International law, we have no
right by the use Of arms or force to remedy the
wrong that has been committed, and that all
efforts for reaceable solution OF the matter
having terminated We have no further right TO
intervene, and that it is our duty for the
present to recognize the de facto governments
that is now in charge. and our duty in the fu-
ture to recognize such form of governments as
may be determined upon by the wishes and suf-
frages of the people Of the island.
Now, as to the proof that the monarchical
form OF government was overthrow by the
armed forces Of the United States and that the
said government would not have been over
thrown but for such unlawful Intervention upon
our part: There is no difficulty about this
branch Of the investigation whatever. No one
can come to an honest conclusion upon 1t until
he reads the testimony and impartially an
alyzes the facts that have been submitted
We could not select a stronger case before any
impartial tribunal OF the country in favor OF
the proposition that Is now asserted that the
abdication of the queen was not to those who
constitute the provisional government, but ives
made to the for ces OF the United States, and to
no one else. What would like very much to
have is the honest Judgment Of the house upon
this question when have submitted the facts
that strike me as the salient points in this con-
troversy.
"Our political opponents will not discuss the
question in,this house whether Mr.. Stevens was
guilty OF q crime against the government 10
which he was the accredited representative and.
was guilty Of violating the laws of nations, be-
cause in my deliberate judgment the testimony
Is 50 overwhelming upon this point that there
is no doubt whatever Of his guilt even admit
ting for the sake OF argument that SO far as he
was personally concerned his intentions were
honorable and his motives inspired by the high
est principles OF patriotism.
Mr.. Rayner at some length quoted
from the Hawaiian evidence submitted
to congress concerning the landing OF
the troops and the esta blishment OF
the provisional government, arguing
that the queen would not have been
overthrow except by the interference
of the American marines, and, refer
ring to Minister Stevens, he said:
1--WE will convict him by his own letters writ
ten months before these troubles began; by hts
own admissions and confessions, evidence that
is recognized rs the very strongest evidence in
law. His is 81 defense that is utterly falsified
by every fact that Rliiters through the whole
of the testimony and the correspondence that
has been submitted to US. You talk about
taking down the flag Of the United States I
want to know what right had the government
OF the United States to raise its flag over the
capital Of the islands. charge that the iing
Of the United States had no more right to wave
over the government buildings at Honolulu
than, the minister OF the United States would
have right to-day to raise it over the govern
ment buildings In Brazil or in any other terri
tory where the people were powerless to resist
him.
Again, speaking of Mr.. Stevens, he
continued:
Mr. Stevens has undertaken TO defame and
malign almost everyone who has appeared
against him in this case have nothing to
charge against him personally He may be u
man of the most honorable motives and of the
most devoted standard OF moral conduct The
only trouble about him is that he is entirely too
good. He belongs to race of beings who appear
to have dropped down upon this earth through
sheer mistake He is compelled. I have no
doubt to carry around with him very heavy
pair OF weights to keep himself from being sud.
denly translated into Heaven
Our friend Mr.. Boutelle, whose ability rec
ognize, and whose earnestness Of purpose adj,
mire has gotten possession of the flag idea. or
rather, the flag idea has gotten possession OF
him.; he is with the flag like the lrishman is
witt, the shiilalah: whenever you see a head hit
it: whenever YOU see place to plant the flag
run her up"
The question of Mr. Blount's appoint
ment was also argued by him, as was
the. real position of the de facto gov
eminent" Mr.. Rayner continued:
Let me CO to the second branch of this
discussion What shall we do now? Nothing.
Mr.. Speaker. absolutely nothing. great
wrong has been commit ted: a crime has beeu
peTpetratea that cannot De 1uStlned DeIore the
nations of the world. The president, in the ex-'
ercise of his power and authority, has offered
to redress this wrong 1t was his duty to do
this If he was, right in the premises. then he
was right in the conclusion and such will be the
intelligent1verdiet of his countrymen He could
not have stood by with folded hands and sane
toned by his .Silef1ce the concealment OF this in-
iquity.. It Was grave and delicate question to-
deal with, andha has treated it with the unflncn-
ing integrity and courage that has charact er--
lied all OF his official acts He has assumed tho
whole Of the. responsibility. and when his con.
duct is cainly considered he will be
fully Justified at the bar OF public oEaln-,-
ter at the head of this conspir Acy.,
then it. becasse the duty OF the president
under every dictate OF justice to attempt to-
make restoration of the rights that had been
plundered. We have nothing to do with the
character Off the queen or her form OF govern
ment She u.ay be as great q tyrant as ever
welded the seepter OF oppression; she may be
possessed. OF the most wage and ferocions In
slincts That is not the issue The quest sOn Is,
wassshe robbed OF her Inheritance? Was sho
dethroneda Was she despoNed OF her kingdom-
ard her crown by the infamous in Interference OF /
administer of the United States? II soit was
right i. was honorable in. the highest degree,
IL was in accordance Wits our traditiMns and.
with every impulse OF the national con-
science 10 make an honest and peaeeable at
tempt to, redress the gr:akance whicA she hatE
suffered and to restore abe title ofswhch sho
had been robbed. This attempt has aeen mado1
and the provisional government haserefused ",
accede. the demand, and. the president has su -
mitied the whole ma ter to congress for our
&C tipu and determination. What isstO be d0raa9.
This is the practical atfeStion.
Il want 10 be very plain aboabt this. AS far
as I'M ncerned,. would make no furtaer
effort whatever in behalf Of nhe fallen sosere
sign OF these islands. In opinion she has