Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-02-03
PAST HISTORY UNEARTHED

6peC1al 10 tne IN. L. Gun sdyS
The Washington Star today pub
fishes two-column article attack
ing the honesty and veracity OF
ex- Queen Liliuokalani OF Hawaii,
who is again in Washington as a
claimant for compensation from
the Government for what she calls
the crown lands belonging to her
as Queen.
The article contains among other
documents a letter written by
Grover Cleveland to Liliuoka.
lani's agents, Messrs. Cummins,
Parker and Widemann, who came
to Washington in 1894, under the
deposed Queens instructions, to
plead with the Cleveland Admin
istration. On arriving in Wash
ington the Commissioners sent
the following note to Secretary Of
State Gresham:
ave, the undersigned, Messrs.
Cummips, Parker and Widemanp,
Com missiouers sent by her Males
ty Queen Liliuokalani, request an
audience of the President of the
United States. We desire to ask
of bis Excellency whether there
is any hope for his doing any
thing for the restoration of the
constitutional Government of the
Hawaiian Islands,"
Tire reply came in the following
letter from President Cleveland,
hand'd to the Commissioners
Aug. l5, 1894, by Secretary Ores
ham:
Gentlemen: You must permit
me to remind you that this utter
view is not an official one, and
that, instead Of receiving you 10
any representative capacity, l
meet you as individuals who have
travelled a long distance for the
purpose of laying a certain matter
before me.
"You ask me if there is any
hope of my doing anything for
the resto, alton of the constitu-,
tional government of the Hawai-
ian Islands, l suppose that this
question is largely prompted by
the fact that soon after The over
turning of the late government of
the Queen l investigated that
transaction and was satisfied that
here had been such an unjustifia-
BILE interference in aid of that
movement on the part of the rep
resentatives of the government OF
the United States in it's diplon
attic and naval service, as TO call
for correction. not only to rectify
what seemed to be a wrong done
to others, but also, through that
rectification, to ward off what ap-
peared to be danger to Amer
lean honor and property.
"Fully appreciating the consti-.
tutionsl limitations of my execu-
tive power, and by no means I'M
mindful of the hindrances that
might arise / undertook the task.
Having failed In my plans. I
committed the entire subject to
the Congress of the United States
which had abundant power aud
authority in the premises. The
executive branch of the Govern
ment was thereby discharged from
further duty and responsibility in
the matter, unless moved thereto
by Congressional command.
.sThe Congress has, both by its
action and it's omission TO act,
signifed that nothing need be
done touching American inter.
ference with the overthrow of the
Government of the Queen.
"Quite lately Government has
been established in Hawaii which
is in full force and operation in all
parts of the islands. 1t is maintain
ing its authority and discharging all
OF ordinary government functions.
Upon general principles, and not
losing sight of the special circum-
stances surrounding this case, the
new Government is clearly emit.
tied to our recognition, without
regard to any of the incidents
which accompanied or preceded
it's inauguration. This recogni-
ton and the attitude Of the Con
sress concerning Hawaiian affairs
OF course lead to our absolute de.
NAL of the least present or future
aid or encouragement on my part
to an effort to restore any Govern
ment heretofore existing in the
Hawaiian ia1ap do