New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-19
hitting her case to the enlightened justice Of
the United States

hitting her case to the enlightened justice Of
| the United States.
Believing therefore, that the United States
| could not under the circumstances disclosed,
annex the islands without justly mourning the
| imputation of acquiring them by unjustfable
methods. shall not again submit the Treaty
| Of Annexation to the Senate for its considera-
tion and in the instructions TO Minister Willis,
4 copy of which accompanies this message, /
| have directed him to so inform the Provisional
| Government.
| TO UNDO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
But in the present instance our duty does
not, in my opinion, end with refusing to con-
summate this questionable transaction. 1t has
| been the boast Of our Government that II seeks
| to do justice in all things without regard to the
| strength or weakness of those with whom it
deals.
| | mistake the American people II they favor
| the odious doctrine that there Is no such thing
| as international morality; that there is one law
for strong nation and another for weak one,
| and that, even by pdirection. strong power
may, with impunty despojl weak one Of its
| territory.
BY an act of war, committed with the par
| ticipaton Of a diplomatic representative Of the
| United States and without authority Of Con-
| gress the Government Of a feeble but friendly
and conhdng people has been overthrown
substantial wrong has thus been done which a
| due regard for our National character, as well
as the rights of the injured people, requires we
| should endeavor to repair The Provisional
| Government has not assumed a republican o.
| other constitutional FORM but has remained a
| mere executive council or oligarchy, set up with
| out the assent of the people. 1t has not sought
| clio ofr
and has given no evidence Of an intention to do
80. Indeed. the representatives of that Govern
ment assert that the people of Hawaii are unfit
| for popuIar government and frankly avow that
| they can be best ruled by arbitrary or despotc
power.
The law OF nations is founded upon req son
| and Justice and the rules Of conduct governing
individual relations between citizens or subjects
of a civilized state equally applicable as be-
tween enlightened nations. The considerations
that international law Is without court for Its
enforcement, and that obedience to It's COM
mands practically depends upon good faith, In
| stead of upon the mandate Of superior trib-
unal only give additional sanction to the law
itself and brand any deliberate infraction OF II
not merely as a wrong but as disgrace. A
man Of true honor protects the unwritten word
which binds his conscience more scrupulousy,
II possible, than he does the bond breach OF
which subjects him to legal liabilities; and the
United States. in aiming to maintain itself as
one of the mos. enlightened of nations. would
do its citizens gross injustice If it applied to Its
international relations any other than hgh
standard of honor and morality.
On that ground the United States cannot
properly be put in the position Of countenanc-
ing wrong after its commission any more than
in hat Of I'M IN N
ground 1t cannot allow itself to refuse to redress
an injury inflicted through an abuse OF power
by officers clothed with its authority and wear
ing it's uniform, and on the same ground. II
feeble but friendly state Is in danger OF being
robbed OF its independence and its sovereignty
by misuse Of the name and power or the
United States. the United States cannot fail tc
vindicste its honor and it's sense Of justice by
an earnest effort TO make all possible reparation
TERMS OF THE QUEENS SURRENDER.
These principles apply 70 the present case VIII
irresistible force when the special conditions o.
the Queens surrender Of her sovereignty are re
called She surrendered not 10 the Provisional
Government but to the United States. She sur
rendered not absolutely and permanently bu
temporarily and conditionally until such time a.
the facts could be considered by the United
States Furthermore. the Provisional Govern
ment acquiesced in her surrender in that man
ner and on those terms, not only by tact con
sent but through the positive acts Of some mem
bers Of that Government who urged her peace
able submission. not merely to avoid bloodshed
but because she could place implicit reliance
upon the justice Of the United States, and thai
the whole subject would be finally considered a
Washington.
I have not however overlooked an incident @
| cot oh IN no mon
toned The members of the Provisional Gov
eminent and their supporters, though not en-
titled to extreme sympathy have been led t
their present predicament Of revolt against the
government of the Queen by the indefensibe en-
couragement and assistance of our diplomatic
representative This fact may enttle them t
claim that in our effort to rectify the wrong com
mitted regard should be had for theii
safety. This sentiment is strongly seconded by
my anxiety to do nothing which would invite
either harsh retaliation on the part Of the Queer
or violence and bloodshed in any quarter Ir
the belief that the Queen. well as her enc
mics would be willing to adopt such course
as would meet these conditions ant
in view OF the fact that both the
Queen and the Provisional Government had d
one time apparently acquiesced In reference Of
| the entire case to the United Stitcs Government
and considering the 1urtn'. TACT tnat III any
| event the Provisional Government by It's ov'
declared limitation was only ito exist until terms
of union with the United States ~ America have
been negotiated and agreed upon" hoped thai
after the assurance to The members Of that Gov
eminent that such union could not be consum
mated might compass a peaceful adjustment
of the difficulty.
INSTRUCTIONS TO MINISTER WILLIS.
Actuated by these desires and purposes. ant
not unmndful of the inherent perpexities Of
the situation nor of the limitations upon m!
power instructed Minister Willis to advise the
Queen and her supporters o: my desire to aid il
the restoration Of the status existing before th'
, lawless landing OF the United States forces a