The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-14
Last Instructions to Willis.

The last instructions to Minister Willis
referred TO in the Presidents letter of
transmittal as the only instructions not
sent to Congress are dated yesterday. They
were sent under cover of a telegram to
W. A. Cooper, the dispatch agent at San
Francisco, instructing him TO forward the
following telegram to Mr.. Willis. by the
steamer Mariposa tomorrow (to-day):
Your Nos. IA IS, inclusive, show that you
have rightly comprehended the scope of
your instructions, and have, as far as was
in your power, discharged the onerous task
confided in you. The President sincerely re-
grets that the provisional government re-
fuses TO acquiesce in the conclusion which
his sense of right and duty and a due re-
gard for our national honor constrained him
to reach and submit as a measure of justice
TO the people of the Hawaiian islands and
their deposed sovereign. While it is true
that the provisional government was created
to exist only until the islands were annexed
TO the United States; that the Queen finally,
but reluctantly, surrendered TO an armed
force Of this government illegally quartered
in Honolulu, and representatives of the
provisional government (Which realized its
impotence and was anxious to get control
her, that If she would surrender, her case
would be subsequently considered by the
United States, the President has never
claimed that such action constituted him
an arbitrator in the technical sense or au-
thoTIzed him to act in that capacity between
the provisional government. You made no
such claim when you acquainted that gov
ernment with the Presidents decision. The
solemn assurance given to the Queen has
President to act as arbitrator, but a fact
material to a just determination of the
Presidents duty In the premises.
In the note which the Minister of For
ult.. it is stated in effect, that even If the
constitutional government was subverted
by the action of the American minister
and an invasion by a military force of the
United States the Presidents authority is
limited to dealing with our own
take no steps looking to a cor
rection of the wrong done. The
President entertains a different view of his
responsibility and duty. The subversion Of
the Hawaiian government by an abuse Of
the authority of the United States was in
required the President to disavow and con-
denim the act OF our offending officials, and,
within the limits of his constitutional
power. to endeavor to restore the lawful
On the 18th ult the President sent a
special message to Congress communicating
structions given TO him and TO you. on
the same day, answering a resolution of
the House of Representatives. he sent cop
les of all correspondence since March 4,
1889, on the political affairs and relations
of Hawaii, Withholding for sufficient rea-
SON only, Mr.. stevens's No. 7e OF oct. s,
1892 and your No. 3, of Nov. l5, 1893. IT,
President therein announces that the condi-
tions of restoration suggested by him to
the queen ndQ not proved dcSSptaDle 10 nef.
and that since the instructions sent to you
TO insist on those conditions, he had not
learned that the Queen was willing TO az
sent TO them. The President thereupon sub
mitted the subject TO the more extend ed
powers and wide discretion of Congress,
adding the assurance that he would be
gratified TO cooperate in any legitimate
plan which might be devised for a sclu-
ton of the problem consistent with
American honor integrity and morality.
Your reports show that, ON further re-
Election, the Queen gave her unqualified
assent in writing To the conditions sug-
gested, but that the provisional govern
ment refused TO acquiesce In the Presl-
| dents decision. The matter now being in
the hands of Congress, the President Will
keep that body fully advised OF the situa-
ton and will lay before IL, from time to
time the reports received from you. in
cluding your No. g. heretofore withheld,
and all instructions sent TO you. In the
meantime. while keeping the department
fully informed OF the course Of events, you
| will until further notice, consider that
| your special instructions upon this subject
| have been fully complied with.
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