Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/318

 266 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS patched to the islands James H. Blount, of Geor gia, as a special commissioner to make full exami nation and report. On December 18, 1893, in a special message to congress, he transmitted the report of the com missioner with all the evidence and papers con nected with the case. In his message, after review ing all the facts and confirming the finding of the commissioner, he declared that he believed &quot;that a candid and thorough examination of the facts will force the conviction that the provisional govern ment owes its existence to an armed invasion by the United States. . . . The lawful government of Hawaii was overthrown without the drawing of a sword or the firing of a shot, by a process every step of which, it may safely be asserted, is directly traceable to and dependent for its success upon the agency of the United States acting through its diplomatic and naval representatives.&quot; Referring to the principles which should govern the case, he said: &quot;I suppose that right and jus tice should determine the path to be followed in treating this subject. If national honesty is to be disregarded and a desire for territorial extension or dissatisfaction with a form of government not our own ought to regulate our conduct, I have entirely misapprehended the mission and character of our government and the behavior which the conscience