years the policy of the United States, authorized negotiations, which resulted in the signing of a treaty on February 14 providing for the incorporation of the Hawaiian Islands into the United States as a territory.[1]
President Harrison's administration came to a close on March 3, and in the brief time before adjournment no action was taken on the treaty by the Senate. One of the first acts of Mr. Cleveland after his inauguration for a second term was to withdraw the treaty of annexation from the Senate. He was impressed by the declaration of the queen that she had been dethroned through the presence of the United States troops and against the will of a large majority of her subjects, and he sent a commissioner, Hon. J. H. Blount, to Hawaii to investigate and report upon the causes of the revolution and the sentiments of the people towards the provisional government. After a lengthy investigation Mr. Blount reported that the party which supported the new government constituted the intelligence and owned most of the property on the islands, that the greater part of the natives were in favor of the ex-queen, and that the revolution succeeded through the support of the United States minister and troops.
Upon the return of Mr. Blount, President Cleveland appointed a minister to Hawaii, accredited to the provisional government, but with instructions to inform the ex-queen that upon the facts reported by Mr.
- ↑ For events of Kalakaua's reign, U. S. For. Rel. 1894, Appendix ii. p. 645. For sketch of revolution, ib. 777 ; Minister Stevens's account, ib. 207. For President Harrison's message and treaty of annexation of 1893, ib. 197.
