The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-12-18
Continued from LIST poge)

for the purpose, and hearing OF their
intention to send delegation OF
their number to present their side
Of this conflict before you. l re-
qested the favor OF sending by the
same vessel an envoy to you, TO lay
before you my statement as the facts
appear to myself and my loyal
subjects.
This request has been refused, and
l now ask you that in justice to my
self and to my people that no steps
be taken by the Government OF the
United States until my cause can
be heard by you.
l shall be able to dispatch an en-
voy about the End day of February,
as that will be the first available OPP
portunity hence, and he will reach
you with every possible haste that
there may be no delay in the settle
ment Of this matter.
/ pray you, therefore, my Good
Friend, that you will not allow any
conclusions to be reached by you
until my envoy arrives.
beg to assure you OF the continu-
ance Of my highest consideration.
LILIUOKALANI, r.
Honolulu, January ID, 1898.
This communication was received
at the State Department on the 3D.
day of February, 1898, before the
treaty OF annexation had been con-
cluded, or even considered. In this
note from the Queen to my "Great
and Good Friend" the President of
the United States, is presented a
state of facts, as Mr.. Cleveland says
in his special message, transmitting
the correspondence to Congress,
upon the face of the papers sub
mitted with the treaty it clearly APP
peared there was open and unde-
termined an issue of facts OF the
most vital Importance" There was
an issue CT facts and it was of vital
Importance to both governments,
because it involved the very exist
ence OF the Constitutional Govern
ment in Hawaii, and to the United
States it involved the destruction OF
a foreign policy as old as the Gov
eminent itself; it involved our ma
tional honesty, our good faith, and
our integrity as nation.
When Mr.. Cleveland was indicted
into Office on the 4th of March, he
ascert aimed that this treaty was then
pending before the Senate, and true
to himself and the great trust con-
fided in him by the American peo-
pie, true to-the traditions and poll
cies of the Republic, approaching
national honesty above territorial
acquisition, he withdrew the treaty
from the further consideration OF
the Senate ''to cause an accurate,
full, and impartial investigation to
be made as to the facts attending the
subversiou of the Constitutional
Government OF Hawaii"
Is there a member of this House,
Mr.. Speaker, who will risk his repu-
tation on the assertion that the Pre-
sident was wrong in withdrawing
this treaty from tho Senate ia order
that he might determine this ques-
ton Of fact, which had been sub.
mitted to him for arbitration, and of
such vital Importance to both ma
tions and people9 | think not, sir. 1
can not believe that partisan preju-
dice can control the action of men,
bers Of this House when the nations
integrity, its honor, and the preserv-
alton Of its traditions and policies
are the stakes at issue.
But, sir, this is not all; there was
another communication in which
| the head Of our Government was di-
rectly appealed to. Where feeble
and defenseless neighbor appealed
to our strong and powerful Govern
ment for national justice and fair
ness. The American people are to
be congratulated upon the fact that
this appeal finally reached the ears