Category: May 2024

TURPIE AMENDMENT ENDS PRESIDENT CLEVELAND’S RECOGNITION OF LILI’OUKALANI

After the 1893 overthrow of Queen Lili’oukalani, a Provisional Government (PG) sought to annex Hawai`i to the U.S. President Cleveland was opposed to the effort after receiving the July 1893 report of special commissioner James Blount detailing how the U.S. Minister to Hawaii supported the overthrow (“Blount Report”). When Cleveland was unable to resolve a resulting power standoff between the PG and Queen, he referred the issue to Congress. In January 1893, Sen. David Turpie (D-IN), introduced a resolution prohibiting further U.S. intervention on behalf of the Queen. The Senate, which supported annexation, commissioned a report by Sen. John Morgan (D-AL). The February 1894 “Morgan Report” contradicted Blount & exonerated all involved in the overthrow other than the Queen. Bolstered by this report, the Turpie Resolution passed. Cleveland ended support for the Queen and recognized the PG & Republic of Hawaiʻi. Congress annexed the Hawaiian Islands via the “Newlands Resolution” signed July 7, 1897.

Sources:

“HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION RESISTANCE – 1897,” Aloha Quest.  Retrieved 2/9/2023, HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION RESISTANCE - 1897 (alohaquest.com)

“The 1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii,” National Archives.  Retrieved 2/9/2023, The 1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii | National Archives

Wikipedia

Photo:  Frank Davey (1860-1922), 8/12/1898. Annexation of Hawaii. President Dole accepting the resolution Annexation from U.S. Minister Harold Smith. Public Domain.  Source: Hawaii State Archives. Call Number: PP-35-8-012