Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-07
AWAKE AT LAST.
President Excited Over Ha-
waiian Discussion in Senate.
Says He Was Sick and Didn't Even
See Queen Lifts ENJOYS.
Their Visit Had Nothing to Do With Warships
Withdrawal from Hawaii.

Washington, Jan. 6-Thc Senate dc
bate on Senator Lodges resolution in re
gard to Hawaiian matters ELECTS Il state
ment from the President The attention
| for the President has been called to a hint
thrown out in the Senate discussion of
| Friday, that the visit of a certain ''com-
mittee of Royalsts from the Hawaiian Is
| lands was connected in some way with
the departure of American ships from that
locality The President said:
"Of course such an insinuation is alb
surd. It's propriety and the motive behind
| it, am sure, can safely be left to the judg-
mcnt of.fair and right thinking Amcri-
cans. / am entirely willing that all cur
people should know everything l know
concerning the visit of the su-callcd com
mittee OF Royalsts Last year, in the
latter part of July, or early in August
three gentlemen from Hawaii arrived
here and asked, through the secretary of
state, my designation of a time when they
could have an interview with me and pre-
sent a message from the deposed Hawaiian
Queen. Though | could not with pro
priety recognize them officially, | was not
disposed to refuse them personally the
courtesy of an audience. A future day
and hour was fixed for an interview.
In the mcantimC,a at my request, trans
mitted through the secretary of state,
these gentlemen made known the precise
purpose of their visit in the following
note:
Aug II, 1894.
Hon. W. @. Gresham, Secretary of State:
Sir-We, the undersigned commission
ers sent by Her Majesty, Queen Liliuo-
kalani, request an audience of the Presi-
dent of the United States. We desire to
ask His Excellcncy whether there is any
hope for his doing anything for the rcsto-
ration of the constitutional government of
the Hawaiian Islands. (SignedD
J. A. Cummings, Samuel Parker.
"After this note was submitted to me,
prepared i'll writing with some care, a
reply to the question it contained, to be
read by me to the commissioners at our
meeting intended to avoid all misun-
dcrstanding and misconception by alb
solutcly combining myself to such written
reply, of which the following is a copy:
g Gentlemen You must permit me
to remind you that this interview is not
official, but instead of receiving you in
representative capacity, | meet you as in
dividuals who have travelled a long dis
tancc for the purpose of laying certain
matter before me. You ask if there is any
hope of my doing anything for the rcstora
ion of the constitutional government of
the Hawaiian Islands.
d" suppose this question is largely
prompted by the fact that soon after the
overturning of the late government of the
Queen, investigated that transaction and
was satisfied that there had been such an
unjustifiablc interference in aid Of that
movement on the part of the representative
of the government Of the United States in
its diplomatic and naval servicc,as to call
for correction not only to rcctify what
seemed wrong done to others, but
through that rectifcation TO ward off
what appeared danger to American
honor and probity.
Z" Fully apprecating the constitutional
limitations of my executive power, and
by no means unmindful of the hindrances
that might arise l 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 exc
cutive branch of the government was
thereby discharged from further duty
and responsibility in the matter, unless
moved thereto by Congressional command.
Congress has, by its action and omission
to act, signilicd that nothing need be done
touching American interference with the
overthrow of the government of the Queen.
Quite latclya government was Cstab
lishcd in Hawaii which is in full force
and operation in all parts Of the islands.
1t is maintaining authority and dis
charging all ordinary government
functions. Upon general principles not
losing sight of the special circumstances
surrounding this case, the new govern
ment is clearly entitled to our recognition
without regard to any incidents which
accompany or preceded its inauguration.
This recognition and attitude of Congress
concerning Hawaiian affairs, of course,
lead to an absolute denial of the least
present or future aid or encouragement
on my part to an effort to restore any
government heretofore existing in the
Hawaiian Islands
(Signed) Grover Cleveland
when the day appointed for the meet |
ing arrived. was confined to my bed by
illness and was unable to keep the engage
mcnt. / signed the paper I expected TO
read and it was delivered to the commits
soners, who. believe, returned at once
to Hawaii. l never saw any member Of
this commission or committee, and never
had any communication or transaction
with any of them directly or Indirectly,
except as l have here stated. 49,