Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-05-02

increased in value up to $3,000,000, yet
from 1891 10 1898 they declined about
$1,700,000. From Cuba our imports of
sugar and molasses showed an increase
in keeping with the decrease in our i'm
portations OF those articles from other
quarters, and our exports also increased.
Indeed, SO far as the arrangements were
framed on the sound democratic doc
trine of liberalizing the conditions of
trade, trade increased. But, the result
of their operation showed not Only that
they were to a great extent worthless
for that purpose, but also that the re-
taliatory attachment with which they
were operated worked most injuriously.
IL is said that "the proceedings of
the present administration respecting
Hawaii form composite of bunders,
cruelty and usurpation." As in the
case of the discriminating sugar duty.
the facts are stronger than epithets and
refute this charge.
More than fifty years ago the govern
ment Of the United States, acting upon
what was then understood to be an
American doctrine, recognized the ma.
tive government of Hawaii "as gov
eminent suited to the condition of the
people, and resting on their own choice.
Not only were we the first to take that
step, but we insisted that other powers
should respect the independence which
we had acknowledged. Such was our
traditional and honorable policy. This
policy in January and February, 1893,
was suddenly reversed. In the closing
weeks Of President Harrsnn's admins.
tration, the country was startled by the
news that the established government of
the Hawaiian Islands had been over.
thrown by IA revolution in the city of
Honolulu. The steamer that brought
this news brought also 10 the country
commissioners from so-called provi-
slonal government, rendering a treaty
of annexation to the United States.
While people were inquiring with won
der how this revolution could have been
accomplished without premonition, and
without the firing Of q shot, President
Harrison sent to the Senate for rattica-
ton a treaty concluded by him with
these commissioners, providing for the
incorporation of the islands into, and as
part of, the United States.
by the documents which accompanied
tile Presidents message it for the first
time appeared, after they had been
printed and considered, that United
States Minister Stevens and the forces
landed from the ship.of war Boston had
been to some extent, but to how large
an extent could not then be known, &C.
tive in deposing the Queen. 1t APP
peared that the deposition occurred
January nth, 1898; that the commits
sioners to the United States were ap-
pointed January 18TH, and sailed for
SanFranciscoJ January 10Th and thatthey
communicated their arrival in WASH
tngton by a letter to Secretary Foster,
dated February Sd. The treaty OF an
neXation was concluded February 14th,
and sent to the Senate February 18th.
This indecent haste did not meet with
the response that was demanded of the
Senate. The country knew nothing,
and could know nothing, of the circum.
stances surrounding the transaction, and
the Senate committee on foreign rela-
tons, given pause by the significant and
suspicious intimations gathered from
the official documents referred to, de-
clined to act on the treaty before the
close of the session on the ensuing 4th
OF March, though urged by the then
Secretary of State to immediate action.
This caution on the part of the COM
mittee was amply vindicated by subse.
quent information.
President Cleveland, Immediately
after his inauguration, was confronted
with this situation. There was more
than enough IN the facts, as disclosed
by the papers, to put him upon inquiry
as to how far the honor and good name
of the United States might be involved
in this unusual and preclpltate proceed
ing. He accordingly withdrew the
treaty, without prejudice, for further
investigation. To properly inform him
self Of the situation, before and after the
overthrow of the established govern
menL in those distant islands, 1t was
absolutely necessary that he should send
there trusted agent, to see with his
eyes and hear with his ears what the
President could not see and hear with
his own. His choice fell upon the Hon.
James II. Blount of Georgia. No better
selection could have been made. Mr..
Blount had just retired from public life,
after twenty years OF honorable and
useful public service in the House of
Representatives, with testimonial from
his colleagues as to his character and
worth, such as has been rarely accorded
to public man. Within the limits of
this article, we can only refer the reader
to the instructions given to Special Com
missioner Blount by the Secretary of
State, and .he report made by him To the
Secretary, after patient and intelligent
investigation, extending through four
months.
From the testimony thus collec ted,
In rnrE,lt ,nl t., al,
emeute, it abundantly appears that the
overthrow OF the established govern
ment was accomplished by an under
standing between the conspirators and
United States Minister Stevens, by which
resistance on the part OF the government
was prevented by demonstration of
the naval and military forces of the
United States. By this means the Queen
was induced to surrender This she did
in formal paper signed by ner, and re-
ceiyed and filed by the president of the
provisional government, without COM
mcnt or dissent. In this she says,
among other things:
yield to the superior force of the
United States of America, whose minister
plenipoteutiary, his eXCellcnGy, John L.
Stevens, has caused United States troops to
ne lunueu VT Iloiolulll, ana declared THAT
he would support the said provisional
government,
The COMMITTEE of Safety" consisting
of the IL managers Of the revolution
(sevGn OF whom were Americans), and
who, on January 18th, proclaimed the
provisional government, on the 10Th,
the day before, sent letter, signed by
themselves, to United States Minister
Stevens, in which they say;
I'VE appeal to you and the United
| States forces at your command Tor assist
| ance. y \ We are unable IN uro,