St. Paul daily globe., 1895-01-07
GROVER WAS JUST.
The President Punetupes a
Silly Yarn in Regard to
Hawaii.
AUEEN ILLS COMMISSION
fried to Get the President to
Aid the able-Colored
Lady,
RUT He FIRMLY REFUSED,
Telling Them Congress Had
Tull Power in the Prem
ises.
RUT HE FIRMLY REFUSED,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The attention
f President Cleveland having been
lalled to a hint thrown out in the senate
discussion on Friday that the visit OF a
certain committee Of royaiiStS from the
Hawaiian islands" was connected in
lone way with the departure of Amerl~
ian ships from that locality, the presI-
lent said tonight to an Associated Press
Cporter:
"Of course such an insinuatiOn is very
lbsurd. Its propriety and motive be-
bind it, am sure, can safely be left to
he Judgment of fair and right-thinking
Americans. ! am entirely willing that
Ill our people should know everything
concerning the visit of the so-called
committee of royalists.' Last year, in
bhe latter part of July or early in Aus
gust, three gentlemen from Hawaii ar
rived here and asked, through the Sec
fetary of state, my designation OF
lime when they could have an interview
with me and present message from
the deposed Uawalin queen. Though l
could not with propriety recognize them
officially, | was not disposed to refuse
them personally the courtesy OF an au-
1Ience. Therefore, a future day and
hour were fixed for the interview.
Meantime, at my request, transmitted
Though the secretary Of state, these
gentlemen made known the precise
purpose Of their visit in
The Following Note:
"'Wasbington, Aug 1, 1S94.-To the Hon.
W Q. Gresham, Secretary OF State-Slr: we
The undersigned commissioners sent by her
majesty, Queen LiliuOkalani, request an
audience Of the president OF the United
States. We desire to ask his eXcelency
whether there is any hope for his doing any
thing for the restoration of the constitutional
government Of the Hawaiian islands.
"'J. A. CUMMINGS,
"'H. 4. WIDEMAN,
"'SAMUEL PARKER
"After this note had been submitted
20 me prepared in writing with some
care reply to the question it contained,
to be read by me to the commissioners
at our meeting. [ intended to avoid all
misunderstanding and misc0nceptlon by
absolutely confniug myself to such
written reply, of which the following is
a copy:
"'Gentlemen: You must permit me
to remind you that this Interview is not
an official one, and that instead or re-
ceiYing you in my representative ca
pacitv. | meet you as individuals who
nave travelled long distances for the
purpose of laying q certain matter be-
fore me. You ask me if there is any
hope of my doing anything
Tor the Restoration
of the constitutional government of the
Hawaiian islands. l suppose that this
question is largely prompted by the fact
that soon after the Oyerturnlng OF the
late government Of The queen / investi-
gated that transaction, and was satisfied
that there had been such an unJuStltla~
BILE interference in aid of that movement
on the part of the representatives OF the
government of the United States in its
diplomatic and naval service IS to call
for correction, not only TO rectlty what
seemed 10 be a wrong done to others, but
also through that rectiicatiOn to ward
off what appeared to be danger 10 Amer
lean honor and probity. Fully appre-
ciating the constitutional limitations OF
nv executive power, and by no means
unmindful of the hindranceS that might
arise. [ undertook the task. Having
failed in my plans | committed the ell
tire subject to the congress OF the
United States, which had abundant
power and authority i'll the premises,
The executive branch of the govern
ment was thereby discharged from
further duty and responsibility In the
matter unless moved thereto by con-
grpsslonaI command. The congress
has. both by its action and its omission
to act, signfied that nothing need be
done touching American interference
with the overthrow of the government
of the queen. Quite lately a govern
ment has been established III HAWAII,
which is
In Full Force.
and operation in all parts of the Islands.
It is maintaining its authority and dis
charging all ordinary governmental
functions. Upon general principles,
and not losing sight of the special cir
cumstances surrounding this case, the
new government is clearly entitled to
our recognition without regard to any
of the incidents which accompanied or
preceded its inauguration. This recog-
milton and the attitude Of the congress
concerning Hawaiian affairs, OF course,
led to an absolute denial Of the least
present or future aid or announcement
on my part to an effort to restore any
government heretofore existing in the
Hawaiian islands.
borrower CLEVELAND
"When the day app0 nted for the
meeting arrived L was confined to my
bed by illness. and was unable to keep
my engagement. |, therefore, signed
the paper had expected to read. and it
was delivered to the commissioners,
who, | believe, returned at once to Ha-
wall. l never saw any member of this
commission or committee, and have
never had any communication or trans
action with any Of them, directly or in
directly, except as | have here stated"