The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-03-01

on her
The legislature OF Hawaii undertook
to make provision, so far as it felt that
it was able to do it. by voting her a
stipend of $4,000 year; and that il
did Taking the condition of the re-
sources of the islands
Mr.. Mitchell viii the Senator allow
me? 1t was $4,000 for two years.
Mr.. Blackburn. Two years. There
was limit, and that was the limit. The
two years limit applied to that grant
made by the legislature OF the islands
of Hawaii.
The whole case is stated This de-
throned Queen has no rights in law.
She can not prosecute any demand
against the Government. 1t is conceded
in advance. 1t is simply question of
grace that commends itself to the con-
science and the sense of fair dealing of
every man here.
MIR. Spooner | should like the SEN
ator to be, if he can, a little more ex-
plcit as to her equity from the stand
point OF the United States. | understand
that it is conceded that the Crown lands
belonged to the Crown, to the Govern
ment.
MI. IDldIkDllll. mere Is no COLI
troversy about that.
Mr. Spooner. And that when by
revolution she was detlironed and the
government was changed, the title pass
ed to the new sovereign
Mr.. Blackburn. Yes.
Mr.. Spooner. Being republic.
Mi Blackburn Yes.
Mr.. Hoar. As her successor.
Mr.. Spooner. That would not estab-
lish an equity.
Mr.. Hoar. 1t is a part of the story.
Mr.. Spooner. Queens, like in
dividrals, take their chances in this
world OF the vicissitudes OF life. Peo-
pie have fortunes and lose them. Many
a woman who has lived in luxury finds
when her protector is removed by the
hand OF death that her method of living
must change, and all that. 1t is all
very sad, but OF course it is perfectly
clear from the Senator's statement that
no claim could possibly have arisen in
equity by TINS change in government,
against the Republic Of Hawaii, /
should think.
Mr. Blackburn The United States
has seen fit to apply to the uses of
the Hawaiian Islands the money here
described, but it was the United States
that made the application of the money
and not
Mr. Spooner. What | should like to
have the Senator point me to-he may
have done so when the matter was be-
fore the Senate at the last sessions
what equity is based upon the loss of
the lands to which she had the fee. |
do not see how, if she had the fee, it
could be lost without some judicial pro-
ceedng. | would not suppose annexa-
ton could do it, but there may be some
thing in that phase OF the case which
would afford an equitable basis for an
appropriation.
Just at that point and before Mr..
Blackburn had opportunity to proceed
in answer to Mr.. Spooners question,
there was a depression about the COM
mittee report. After a prolonged dia-
the bill was the report which the special
committee made, after visiting the ISL
ands last summer. Finally Senator Nit
chel read the five paragraphs, stating
the conclusion OF the special commit
tee, as was published in the Advertiser
moro than year ago when the report
OF the special Committee was made pub
lie. The debate then continued as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Spooner. If the ex-Queen is en-
titled to a moiety, why give her a lump
sum.
Mr.. Mitchell. There is no suggestion
in the report, from beginning to end,
that she should have moety or any
other sum as a matter OF absolute right,
but on the principle of national grace
and lair play, under all the circum-
stances, between great and powerful
nation and those people, it is suggested
that it would be good policy on the /,
part OF the Government, to say nothing
else, to make her recompenSe of some
kind, OF some amount, not necessarily
to be gagged by the amount OF rentals
received.
| will state that the committee, on
visiting the islands, was forced into this
inquiry very much against its will; but, !
as the report shows, the petition was :
presented at length on the Queens part |
and demand was made on the COM !
mittee that we investigate the facts and
make such report as we might think
proper under the circumstances. We
did. We inquired into the sentiment |
Of the people there, and we found one |
Thing that very agreeably surprised me, !
Mr., President. Before | visited those /
islands and heard the testimony OF all
sides | had been led to believe from
what had been uttered in the Senate ,
some wars 400 and what | had seen in