Evening star., 1895-01-07
CLEvELAND'S STATEMENT
His Reply to the Delegations in Behalf Of
the Deposed Hawaiian Queen.
He Received Them rs Individuals and
Told Them No Assistance
Could BE Given.

A vague intimation made by Senator Aid
rich in the Senate last Friday, in the
| course Of colloquy with Senator Gray,
| that the withdrawal cf United State, war
| ships from Honolulu was in some wise due
| to the visit to this city of a committee Of
| royalists from the Hawaiian Islands has
| caused the President conside rable annoy
ance. Last night he furnished the press
| with the following statement on the SUBJ
ject:
''Of course such an insinuatlon is very
| absurd. Its propriety and the motive be-
hind it, 1 am sure, safely be left to
the judgment of fair and right-thinking
Americans. I am entirely willing that all
our people should know everything know
concerning the visit Of the so-called COM
mittee of royalistS.'
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
time when they could have an interview
with me and present a message from the
deposed Hawaiian queen. Though 1 could
not with pl opriety recognize them official
1y, was not disposed TO refuse them per-
scnally the courtesy of an audience. There
fore, future day and hour were fixed for
the Interview In the meantime, at my re-
quest transmitted through the Secretary
of State these gentlemen made known the
precise purpose of their visit in the follow
ing note:
AUGUST IL, 1894.
The Hon. w. Q. Gresham, Secretary OF
State:
Strive the undersigned commissioners.
having been sent by her majesty Queen
Liliuokalani, request an audience Of the
President of the United States. We desire
to ask his excellency whether there is any
hope for his doing anything for the resto-
the Hawaiian Islands.
H. A. WIDEMANN,
SAMUEL PARKER
after this note had peen submitted to
me prepared in writing, with some care,
reply to the question it contained, to be
read by me to the commissioners at our
meeting. 1 intended TO avoid all miSun-
derstanding and misconception by ahso-
lutely confining myself to such written re-
ply, of which the following is a copy:
"Gentlemen-You must permit n.e to re-
mind you that this interview is not an
official one, and that instead of receiving
you in any representative capacity, l meet
you as individuals, who have travelled a
long distance for the purpose OF laying q
certain matter before me.
You ask me if there is any hope Of my
doing anything for the restoration of the
constitutional government of the Hawaiian
Islands," / suppose that this question is
largely prompted by the fact that soon af-
ter the overturnins of the late government
of the queen, investigated the transaction
and was satisfied that there had been such
an unjustiflabie interference in aid of that
movement on the part of the representa-
tives of the government of the United
States, in its diplomatic and naval SERVICE
as to call for correction, not only to rectify
what seemed TO be wrong done to others,
but also through that rectifcation to ward
off what appeared to be danger to Amer
lean honor and probity-
Fully appreciating the constitutional linn
itations 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 there
by discharged from further duty and re-
sponsibility in the matter unless moved
thereto by congressional command The
Congress has, both by its action and It's
omission to act, siyaiiiei that nothing need
be done touching American interference
with the overthrow OF the government or
the queen.
Q,iite lately a government has been es-
tabIished in Hawaii which is in full force
and operation in all parts Of the islands.
1t is maintaining its authority and dis
charging all ordinary governmental func-
tiCnS Upon general principles, and not
losing sight Of the special circumstances
surrounding this case, the new government
is clearly entitled to Our recognition with
out regard to any of the incidents which
accompanied or preceded its inauguration.
This recognition and the attitude Of the
Congress concerning Hawaiian affairs, or
course, lead to an absolute denial OIL the
least present or future aid or encourage
ment on my part to an effort 10 restore
any government heretofore existing in the
Hawaiian Islands.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
When the day appointed for the meeting
arrived / was confined to my bed by illness
and unable to keep my engagement L
therefore signed the paper l had expected
to read, and it was delivered to the COM
missioners, who, 1 believe returned 1t at
once to Hawaii. l never saw any member
of this commission committee and have
never had any communica ton or transac-
ton with any OF them directly or indirectly
except as l have here stated
AZ TT yS IN tKERTOWN.