Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/320

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268 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS absolutely and permanently, but temporarily and conditionally until such time as the facts can be considered by the United States. . . . "By an act of war, committed with the partici pation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and without authority of congress, the gov ernment of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been overthrown. A substantial wrong has thus been done which a due regard for our na tional character as well as the rights of the injured people requires we should endeavor to repair." He concluded by informing congress that he should not again submit the treaty of annexation to the senate; that he had instructed our minister "to advise the queen and her supporters of his de sire to aid in the restoration of the status existing before the lawless landing of the U. S. forces at Honolulu on January 16 last, if such restoration could be effected upon terms providing for clem ency as well as justice to all parties concerned"; and he commended the subject "to the extended powers and wide discretion of congress" for a solu tion "consistent with American honor, integrity, and morality." These proposals of the president met with strong opposition in congress, and in February, 1894, the senate committee on foreign relations made a re port upholding Minister Stevens in his course with relation to the revolution. Previous to this, in De-