Template:396-397 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 10:56, 18 December 2005

2005-12-18T10:56:31Z

Jere Krischel at 04:19, 9 December 2005

2005-12-09T04:19:34Z

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exist and to continue to exist was conclusively settled, as the report
so forcibly states, against the Queen and in favor of the Provisional
Government, by the act of the administration of President Harrison
recognizing such Provisional Government, by the negotiation by that
administration with such Provisional Government of a treaty of annexation
to the United States; by accrediting diplomatic representation
by such administration and by the present administration to such Provisional
Government; therefore, it incontrovertibly follows that the
President of the United States had no authority to attempt to reopen
such determined questions, and to endeavor by any means whatever to
overthrow the Provisional Government or to restore the monarchy
which it had displaced.
While it is true that a friendly power may rightfully tender its good
offices of mediation or advice in cases such as that under present consideration,
it is also true that the performance of such offices of mediation
or advice ought not to be entered upon without the consent previously
given by both the parties whom the action or decision of the
friendly power may affect. Such consent was not given in the present
instance. The Provisional Government never so consented; it was never
requested to consent. It denied the jurisdiction of the present administration
on every proper occasion. Therefore the proceedings by the
President, which had for their result his request and monition to the
Provisional Government to surrender its powers, to give up its existence
and to submit to be displaced by the monarchy winch it had overthrown,
had no warrant in law. nor in any consent of one of the parties
to be affected by such proceedings.
Fifth. The avowed opinion of the President of the United States,
in substance, that it is the duty of this Government to make reparation
to the Queen by endeavoring to reinstate her upon her throne by
all constitutional methods, is a clear definition of the policy of the
present administration to that end. The instructions to Messrs. Blount
and Willis must be construed to be other and more ample forms of expression
of that policy. No other presumption is permissible than that
their actions at Honolulu were with intent to carry out that avowed
policy. These considerations make immaterial any discussion, in this
connection, of the personal intentions, circumspection, or good faith of
these gentlemen in the performance of the task to which they had been
plainly commanded by the present administration.
JOHN SHERMAN.
WM. P. FRYE.
J. N. DOLPH.
CiJfcSHAiAN K. D A V I S .

ADDITIONAL VIEWS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
The undersigned, members of the Committee on Foreign Belations,
submit herewith the following views adverse to the report of the
committee, upon the subject of the recent political revolution in Hawaii.
Agreeing as we do with the conclusions submitted by the chairman
of the committee that no irregularities were committed either in the
appointment of Special Commissioner Blount or in the instructions
given him by the President, and without denying or conceding in any
manner the correctness of the facts as claimed, or of the statements as
made, in said report concerning other matters therein mentioned, we
especially dissent from that portion thereof which declares that the
only substantial irregularity in the conduct of Mr. Stevens, the late
minister, was his declaration of a protectorate by the United States
over Hawaii. We are of the opinion also that there are no valid reasons
and no course of dealing in our past relations with those islands
which justifies interference by the United States with the political
internal affairs of Hawaii any more than with those of any other independent
state or nation in this hemisphere. We can not concur, therefore,
in so much of the foregoing report as exonerates the minister of
the United States, Mr. Stevens, from active officious and unbecoming
participation in the events which led to the revolution in the Sandwich
Islands on the 14th, 16th, and 17th of January, 1893. His own admissions
in his official correspondent with this Government, his conduct
for months preceding the revolution, as well as the facts established
by the evidence before the committee, clearly justify such a conclusion.
On the other hand, we are not inclined to censure Capt. Wiltse,
commanding the United States war-ship Boston, or the officers of that
vessel. Their position was one of extreme delicacy and difficulty, and
we appreciate their anxiety to afford protection to the lives and property
of American citizens. The force of United States marines of the
Boston with their ordinary arms stationed at the American legation,
and at the consulate in Honolulu, would have effectually represented
the authority and power of the United States Government, and would
have afforded whatever protection American interests might have
required; and at the same time would have avoided the appearance
of coercion or duress, either upon the people of Honolulu or the Queen
in the controversy between them. This is our opinion, after a careful
examination of all the facts and circumstances disclosed in the evidence.
But, as we have observed, the position was a delicate and
difficult one. Perhaps if we had been on the ground in the presence
of the minister, under the influence of his advice and counsel, and
of the environments and conditions surrounding Capt. Wiltse, his
officers and men, we might have landed the forces as he did; but a less
formidable array would have removed from the Queen the excuse for
asserting that she and her government were overawed by the United
States forces, to which she claims under protest to have surrendered,

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 exist and to continue to exist was conclusively settled, as the report
 so forcibly states, against the Queen and in favor of the Provisional
@@ Line 11: / Line 12: @@
 overthrow the Provisional Government or to restore the monarchy
 which it had displaced.
 While it is true that a friendly power may rightfully tender its good
 offices of mediation or advice in cases such as that under present consideration,
@@ Line 22: / Line 24: @@
 President, which had for their result his request and monition to the
 Provisional Government to surrender its powers, to give up its existence
-and to submit to be displaced by the monarchy winch it had overthrown,
+and to submit to be displaced by the monarchy which it had overthrown,
-had no warrant in law. nor in any consent of one of the parties
+had no warrant in law, nor in any consent of one of the parties
 to be affected by such proceedings.
 Fifth. The avowed opinion of the President of the United States,
 in substance, that it is the duty of this Government to make reparation
 to the Queen by endeavoring to reinstate her upon her throne by
@@ Line 37: / Line 40: @@
 these gentlemen in the performance of the task to which they had been
 plainly commanded by the present administration.
-ADDITIONAL VIEWS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE
+{{sc|John Sherman.}}<br/>
-COMMITTEE.
+{{sc|Wm. P. Frye.}}<br/>
-The undersigned, members of the Committee on Foreign Belations,
+{{sc|J. N. Dolph.}}<br/>
 submit herewith the following views adverse to the report of the
 committee, upon the subject of the recent political revolution in Hawaii.
 Agreeing as we do with the conclusions submitted by the chairman
 of the committee that no irregularities were committed either in the
@@ Line 65: / Line 70: @@
 participation in the events which led to the revolution in the Sandwich
 Islands on the 14th, 16th, and 17th of January, 1893. His own admissions
-in his official correspondent with this Government, his conduct
+in his official correspondence with this Government, his conduct
 for months preceding the revolution, as well as the facts established
 by the evidence before the committee, clearly justify such a conclusion.
 On the other hand, we are not inclined to censure Capt. Wiltse,
-commanding the United States war-ship Boston, or the officers of that
+commanding the United States war-ship ''Boston'', or the officers of that
 vessel. Their position was one of extreme delicacy and difficulty, and
 we appreciate their anxiety to afford protection to the lives and property
 of American citizens. The force of United States marines of the
-Boston with their ordinary arms stationed at the American legation,
+''Boston'' with their ordinary arms stationed at the American legation,
 and at the consulate in Honolulu, would have effectually represented
 the authority and power of the United States Government, and would