The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-01-10
HE DENIES 1T.
Cleveland Makes Public q Letter He
Wrote to His "Royal" Visitors.
They Were Not Recognised a. . Commit
tee But the President Could Not Re.
fuse Them, Personally, the Courtesy
Of an Audlence-The Letter.

VAehlN0ION. Jau. O. i ne Seuape QSe
bate on Senator Lodges resolution in
regard to Hawaiian matters has elicit
ed statement from the president as
follows: The attention of the president
having been called to hint thrown
out in the senate discussion on Friday
that the visit of a certain committee
of royalists from the Hawaiian islands
was connected in some way with the
departure of American ships from that
locality, the president said: OF course,
such an insinuation is very absurd.
Its propriety and the motive behind it,
! am sure. can safely be left to the
judgment of fair and right thinking
Americans. am entirely willing
that all our people should know
everything know concerning the
visit of the so-called Committee of
royalists.'
Last year in the latter part of July. or early
in August, three gentlemen, from Hawaii ar
rived here and asked through the secretary of
state, my designation Of time when they
could have an interview with me and present q
message from the deposed Hawaiian queen.
Though could not with propriety. recognize
them, was not disposed to refuse them per-
sonally the courtesy Of an audience therefore
future day and hour were fixed for the inter-
view. In the meantime. at my request. trans
mitted through the secretary of state, these
gentlemen made known the precise purpose OF
their visit in the following note:
August II, 1894.
The Hon W. 9. Gresham, Secretary of State:
Sir-We. the undersigned commissioners
sent by her majesty, Queen Liliuokalani re-
quest an audience of the president of the
United States We desire to ask his excel
lency whether there is any hope for his doing
ANYTHING n
tional government Of the Hawaiian islands.
j. A CUMMINS,
H. a. WIDEMANN,
SAMUEL PARKER
After this note had been submitted to mo
prepared in writing with some care reply to
the question it contained, to be read b. NE to
| the commissioners at our meeting. intended
| to avoid all misunderstanding and miscoIccp-
| ton by absolutely contiring myself to such
written reply, Of whi:h the following is q
! copy:
Gentlemen-You must permit re to remind
| you that this interview is not ali official one.
and instead of receiving you in any representa-
| tive capacity, I meet you as individuals who
| have Travelled q long distance for the purpose
| of laying certain matters before me.
| You ask me IL there is any hope of me do
ing anything for the restoration OF the consti-
| tutional government of the Hawaiian islands +"
| ] suppose that this question is largely promp.-
| ed by the fact that so On after the overturning
| OF the late government OF the queen inves-
| gated that transaction and .ras satisfied that
| there had been such an unjustifable interfer-
| ence in and OF that movement. on the part of
| the representatives of the government of the
| United States. in its diplomatic and naval SER
vice, as to call for correct ton. not only to rec
| tify what seemed to be a wrong done to others
but also through that rectification to ward of
| what appeared to be o danger to honor and
probitv.
| Fully appreciating the constitutional limits
| Of my executive power, and by no means un-
mindful Of the hindrances that might arise.
undertook the task. Having failed in my plans
| committed the entire subject to the congress
Of the United States, which had abundant
power and authority in the premises. The ex.
| ecutivc branch Of the government was thereby
discharged from further duty and responsible.
ity in the matter, unless moved thereto b.
congressional command. The congress has
both by It's acts and its omissions to act, signi-
fed that nothing need be done touching Amer.
ican interference with the overthrow Of the
government of the queen.
Quite lately O government has been estab-
lished in Hawaii which is In full force and
operation in parts Of the islands. 1t is main
tanning its authority ana discharging all
ordinary governmental functions. Upon
general principals. and not losing sight of the
| special circumstances surrounding this case
| the new government Is clearly entitled to ouI
recognition without regard to any Of the Incl.
dents which accompanied or preceded its in.
| auguration.
The recognition and the attitude Of the con
gress concerning the Hawaiian affairs, o
course, led to an absolute denial of the leas
present or future aid or encouragement on ny
part to an effort to restore any government
heretofore existing in the Hawaiian islands
| GROVER CLEVELAND.
When the day appointed for the meetini
arrived l was confined to my bed by illness
and unable to keep my engagement. there
fore signed the paper l had expected to rea'
and it was delivered to the commissioners
who, believe, returned Mt once to Hawaii.
never saw any member of this commission o
committee. and have never had any communi
cation or transaction with any of them direct
ly or indirectly except as have here stated