The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-27

stipend of $4,000 year; and that IL
did. Taking the condition OF the re-
sources of the Islands
Mr.. Mitchell Will the Senator allow
me? 1t was $4,000 for two years.
Mr.. Blackburn. Two years. There
was limit, and that was the limit. he
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 a question OF
grace that con1mends itself to the con-
science and the sense OF fair dealing of
every man here.
Mr.. Spooner. I should like the SEN
ator to be, if he can, little more ex-
plicit 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
nent.
Mr.. Blackburn. There is no con-
troversy about that.
Mr.. Spooner. And that when by
revolution she was dethroned and the
government was changed, the title pass
ed to the new sovereign
! Mr.. Blackburn Yes.
MIR. Spooner Being republic.
Mt Blackburn Yes.
Mr.. Hoar. AS her successor.
/ Mr.. Spooner. That would not estab-
lish an equity
Mr.. Hear 1t is part of the story
Mr.. Spooner. Queens, like in
dividua1s, take their chances III this
world or 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 this change in government,
SO far as the Crown lands go, even
against the Republic OF Hawali, L
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
I that made the application of the money
and not
Mr.. Spooner. What | should like to
have the Senator point me to-he may
fore the Senate at the last SESSIONS
what equity is based upon the loss OF
the lands to which she had the tee l
do not see how, if she had the fee, 1t
could be lost without some judicial pro-
I ceeding. | 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 tor an
appropriation.
lust at that point and before Mr..
! Blackburn had opportunity TO proceed
in answer to Mr.. Spooner's question,
there was a depression about the com
tnittee report After prolonged d1a-
1ogue it was stated that the report on
the bill was the report which the special
committee made, after visiting the ISL
ands last summer. Finally Senator Nit
chell read the FIVE paragraphs, stating
the conclusion OF the special commit
tee as was published in the Advertiser
mor- than a year ago when the report
| of the special Committee was made pub
lie. The debate then continued as toll
lows;
MIR. Spooner. If the ex-Oueen is en-
titled to a moiety, why give her lump
sum?
Mr.. Mitchell. There is no suggestion
| in the report, from beginning to end
that she should have molety or any
other sum as matter OF absolute right
but on the principle OF national grace
and fair play, under all the clrcuIn-
stances. between great and powerful
nation and those people, it is suggested
/ that it would be good policy on the
mart of the Government, to say nothing
else. TO make her recompense OF some
kind. of some amount, not necessary
TO be gagged by the amount OF rentals
received.
I will state that the committee, or
visiting the islands, was forced into tins
inquiry very much against ITS VIII; out
as the report shows, the petition was
presented at length on the Queens par1
i and a demand was made on the COM
mittee that we investigate the facts anc
make such report as we might thlnR
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 al
sides I had been led TO believe IRON
what had been uttered in the Senate
some wears ago and what | had seen II
the papers that this lady was not en-
titled to any consideration nom any
] body. Commencing with Governor
Dole. who was born there. witness after
witness was called upon the stand an6
sworn. all classes and parties being
heard-parties who represented th'
monarchy, parties who represented those
who had pulled down the monarchy
and without solitary dissenting voice
they all testified to the high charactel
of that woman -,
They testified not only to her higi
, character, but to her many good guam
ties as a woman, literary woman
charitable woman, as a woman "ios'
character and reputation had never peer
, assailed by those who knew heT pu
only by those who did not kl'o" ne.
r And furthermore they gave II d 'i i
opinion. without dissenting tolce' una