The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-27
Mr.. spooner. Why do you not put it

AIR. Mitchell. That is the way we
do put it. That is the way the report
puts II. 1t was stated that nothing
would go so far to harmonic matters
and quiet matters in those islands.
Mr.. Blackburn This Government
had nothing to do with any loss that
the Queen sustained in the matter of
any property belonging to herself in
fee. This Government had nothing to
do, it Is assumed by the committee in
its report, with the conversion of the
rentals from the Crown lands, even to
the provisional government and the Re
public of Hawaii.
But, answering first the question sub
mitted by the Senator from Wisconsin,
| would say that it is not exactly the
case that he described, that so often I'M
fortunately occurs where people are
brought down from affluence to want
In this case the poverty which overlook
this dethroned monarch was not the
result of any fault OF hers. 1t was as
the result of political revolution
Now, admitting for the sake OF the
argument that this Government had
nothing to do with bringing about that
condition of affairs; admitting for the
sake of the argument that this Govern
ment had no collision with or knowl-
edge OF the intention and purposes that
resulted in the dethronement of this
Queen, still the fact remains that this
Government did become the recipient OF
that very overthrow of government to
the extent of the rentals of these lands
from the date OF the annexation OF the
Hawaiian Islands until now.
Senator Hepburn here participated in
l. i
the Idaho Senator, do not appeal to
me at all as the basis of any sympathy
or the foundation for making the ap
preparation.
Then | am afraid we can not reach
the Senator's sympathy at all, res
pended Mr.. Blackburn.
Senator Clay, of Georgia, also made
some inquiries, as to whether the loss of
the Crown lands and the loss of the
rents thereof were not the entire bass
of the claim for an appropriation
Senator Blackburn said that was not
true
l have the petition here before me,
continued Mr. Clay l will state to
the Senator.
have the brief filed by her counsel,
retorted Mr.. Blackburn, in my hand.
That is not true Upon the contrary,
it is expressly set up, not as basis
upon which to predicate legal demand
against the Government, but as matter
properly TO be considered, that all OF the
property, OF the estate, OF the personality,
of which she was possessed, independent
, OF her right of sovereignty, passed from
her possession and was taken forcible
possession of by the Government that
succeeded the crown government
Now, l have but one more thing to
say. and that / have already said. There
is no ground here upon which to base
legal claim There is no ground here
upon which an action could be brought
against a government, even II the gov
eminent would waive its sovereignty
and admit itself liable TO be sued. There
is no ground here upon which bill
could be predicated III a court of equity.
That is all conceded. 1t is frankly adj
nitted that the only proposition sub
mitted to the Senate to determine IS as
to whether in good conscience and fair
dealing this bill should not pass.
SPOONER AND MITCHELL De
BATE.
Mr.. .Spooner. Mr. President, it is a
| little difficult, because somewhat I'M
gracious, perhaps, for one to antagon1ze
| a proposition so perSuaslvely presented
! as this is by the Senator from Kentucky.
| He is sympathetic man, and L think
most OF us are sympathetic men. L
| have listened to all he has had to say,
! and all the Senator from Oregon Mr..
! Mitchelr has had TO say, and L can
not, for the life of me, see from their
statement upon what conceivable basis
this appropriation can be justified.
We are not appropriating our own
) money. We are the conservatorS OF the
money belonging to the United States.
raised by taxation in one form and an
other. We go to the limit sometimes
! in appropriations out of sympathy Here
! is proposition to appropriate 100000
out of the Treasury to Lll1uokalani, the
dcthroned Queen of the Hawalians.
| 1t certainly is not enough to warrant
this appropriation that she IS a woman
of good charactcr-that, as tar as
am concerned, goes without Saying-ol
! that she is woman OF literary taste
| and ability We have many woman III
| this country of fine literary taste ane
ability struggling from day to day &c
| live. even But the Government car
not appropriate money to aid them or
any such ground as that, although KIND
! hearted people who are atfluent migh
we'll enough help, and they many time:
do; and sometimes help is withheld
where it might be easily given.
Mr.. Mitchell. At the same time tht
Senator knows there is court OF con
science. There is a court OF fair play
as between nations, between countries
between governments, that has no place
and is not recognized in a court n'
Senator is lawyer enough because hi
is one of the best lawyers if not the
| very best in the United States) to know
that
| Mr.. Spooner. yield as quickly to al
appeal to conscience, and so does th'
Senator, and so do the Senate, and s.
does the. country, as any man or body
of men in this world Where IS th'
appeal to conscience on what the gen
| afor states in this case? Nothing, Mr.
! Dae;da,,+. ahsot,,telv nothing VIII