The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-25
CLEVELAND DID NOT CHANGE.
TOOK A STAND AGAINST ANNExA-
TION FROM THE START.

Thinks 1t One of the strangest
Things of These Strange Times
That Bis Position ON the Hawaiian
Question should BE Ssisunderstood.
Regards Annexation as Opposed
10 Our National Policy and a Per-
version of Our National Mission.
Princeton, N. j., Jan. 24.-"It is one OF
the strangest thing of these strange
times that my position on the Hawaiian
question should be misunderstood"
That is the way ex-President Grover
Cleveland expressed himself when shown
the statement relative to his position made
by Senator Morgan 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 following state
ment TO the Associated Press:
"I do not believe in discussing matters
of this kind as a private citizen. / do not
care, however, to be mlsrepresented.
81 will, therefore, say that ever since
the question of Hawaiian annexation was
presented | have been utterly and con-
stantly opposed to It. The first thing did
after my Inauguration in March, 1898, was
to recall from the federal Senate the an
nexation treaty then pending before that
body
Il regarded. and still regard, the propos-
ed annexation OF these islands as not only
opposed TO our national policy, but as a
perversion of our national mission.
THE mission of our nation is TO build
up and make a greater country out OF
what we already have instead of annex
ing islands.
II did not suppose there was any one
In public life who misunderstood my posi-
ton In this matter. II had been said that
| was partial to the former monarchy and
desired to see 1t restored In order that L
might treat with 1t for the purpose OF
annexation
How could have such an idea, II re-
garded annexation as contrary to cur
national policy?
''The same answer can be made 10 the
statement that my opposition to Hawaiian
annexation was based on dissatisfaction
with the treaty pending In the Senate at
the time OF my second Inauguration.
was opposed to annexat tlon as such.
In regard TO the Hawaiian monarchy.
aside from any question OF annexation and
without harboring previous designs OF re-
storing that monarchy, / investigated the
relations of our representatives to its
overthrow.
This investigation showed me that our
Interference in the revolution of 1898 was
| disgraceful l would gladly, therefore,
for the sake of our national honor and our
country's fair name have repaired that
wrong.
IN regard TO cuba my position was fully
made known 10 Congress in the various
measures in which these subjects were
discussed. / opposed the recognition of
belligerency then and my position was per-
fectly well known Indeed, so very unmis-
taxable were my views on this subject
| that the Attorney General and / were
| threatened by frenzied men and women
with dire calamities to be visited upon my
self and children, because of what they
saw ht TO assert was my enmity to Cuba.
my position on all these questions was
made perfectly clear In the official docu-
| ments of the time and there can be no
| possible mistake.
1T Is very difficult for me to understand
how Mr.. Morgans evidently wrong inn
preston was gained in regard to this ques-
| tior
Indeed, 1t is one OF the strangest things
| Of these strange times that my position
In these matters should be called into
question:"