The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-02-02
HONEST GROVER.
BX- resident Cleveland De-
nOunCtS MOreaO.
Annexation is Contrary to Americas
National Policy and Her Inter
ference IN the Revolution of
1893 Was a Disgrace

PRINCETON, N. j., Jan. 24,-"It is
one OF the strangest things OF these
strange times that my position upon
the Hawaiian question should be
misunderstood"
That is the way ex-President
Grover Cleveland expressed himself
when shown the statement Of
Senator Morgan relative to his posi-
ton in the Senate to-day. In order
that there could be no misunder-
standing of his position on the part
OF the public he authorized the fol-
lowing statement to the Associated
Press:
81 do not believe in discussing
matters OF this kind as a private
citizen. l do not care, however, o
be misrepresented
81 will, therefore, say that ever
since the question of Hawaiian an
nexation was presented / have been
utterly and constantly opposed to it.
The first thing after my Inaugural
tion in March, 1898, was to recall
from the Federal Senate an annex
alton treaty then pending before
that body. i regarded, and still re-
gard, the proposed annexation of
these islands as not only opposed to
our national policy, but as perver-
sion of our national mission. The
mission OF our nation is to build up
and make greater country of what
we already have instead of aunexing
islands.
81 did not suppose there was any
one in public lie who misunder-
stood my position in this matter.
1t has been said that l was partial
to the former monarchy and desired
to see it restored in order that l
might treat with it for the purpose
OF annexation. How could | have
had such an idea il l regarded an
nexation as contrary to our national
policy? The same answer can be
made to the statement that my
opposition to Hawaiian annexation
was based merely upon dissatislac-
ton with the treaty pending before
the Senate at the time of my second
Inauguration. was opposed to an
nexstion as such.
in regard to the Hawaiian mon
archy, aside from any question of
annexation and without harboring
any. previous designs of restoring
that monarchy, | investigated the
relations of our represent alive to it's
overthrow. This investigation con-
vinced me that our interference in
the revolution OF 1898 was Disgrace
full. / would gladly, therefore, for
the sake of our national honor and
our country's fair name, have re-
paired that wrong.
"In regard to the Cuban question
my position was fully made known
t. Congress in the various messages
ia which the subject was discussed.
l was opposed to the recognition OF
the belligerency Of the island and
nay position was perfectly well
known. Indeed, so very unmistaka-
BILE were my views on the subject
that / was time and again threaten
ed by frenzied men and women with
dire cala@ties to be visited upon
myself aud children because of what
they saw fit to assert as my enmity
to the Cuban cause.
"My position on all these ques
tions was made very clear in the Off
cal documents at the time and there
can be no possible mistake.
at is very difficult for me tc
understand Senator Morgan's evi
IDENTIFY wrong impressions in regard
to my position, Indeed, it is one o.
the strangest things of these time'
that my position in these matters
should be called into question"
Q -