The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-19

A4aa III IAt dAtlAC dbOkG SLalCds E1AdL1
IL to exist. 1t was neither a government do
facto nor de jure. That 1t was not in such
agencies as entitled il TO recognition is OBJ
viously proved by a note found in the files
of the legation of Honolulu. addressed by
the declared head of the provisional govern
ment TO Minister Stevens, dated Jan. II,
1893, in which he acknowledges, with ex-
pressions of appreciation, the minister's
recognition of the provisional government,
and states that Ii is not yet in the posses
sion of the station house (the place where
a large number OF the Queens troops were
quartered), though the same had been d.
manded of the Queens officers in charge.
THE QUEENS PROTEST.
Nevertheless. this wrongful recognition
by our minister placed the government of
the Queen in a position of most perilous
p~erplexity. One the one hand, she had pos
session of the palace, of the barracks and
of the police station, and had at her COM
mand at least FIVE hundred fully armed
men and several pieces of artillery. In
deed. the whole military force of her king
dom was on her side and at her disposal,
while the committee of safety, by actual
search. had discovered that there were but
very few arms in Honolulu that were not in
fhe service of the government. In this state
or things, If the Queen could have dealt
with the insurgents alone, her course would
have been plain, but the United States had
allied herself with her enemies. had recog-
nized them as the true government of Ha-
wall; and had put her and her adherents
- ShC ColtAOA OppoS1lIOl against law
full authority. She could not withstand the
power of the United States, but she be-
lieved that she might safely trust to its
justice.
Accordingly. some hours after the recog-
n1ton of the provisional government by the
racks and the police station, with all the
military resources Of the country We're de-
Ivered up by the Queen upon the repre-
sentatlon made to her that her cause would
thereafter be reviewed, at Washington.
While protesting that she surrendered to
whose minister ordered United States
troops to be landed at Honolulu, she de-
clared that she would support the pro
Vlslonal government, and that she yielded
her authority to prevent a collision of
armed forces and loss of life, and only I'M
til such time as the United States, upon
the action of its Representative and re-
instate the authority she claimed as the
constitutional sovereign Of the Hawaiian
islands
This protest was delivered to the chief
or the provisional government, who in
dorsed thereon his Acknowledgement of it's
receipt The terms of the protest were read
without dissent by those assuming to con-
stitute the provisional, government who
We're certainly charged with the knowl-
edge that the Queen, instead of abandoning
her power, had appealed to the justice of
the, United States for reinstatement of her
authority. and yet the provisional govern
mient, with this unanswered protest In its
hands; FASTENED to negotiate with the
ment of the Queen from power and for a
sale of her kingdom.
plying the position of having actually set
up a Temporary government on foreign soil
for the purpose of acquiring. through that
put in our possession. The control of a
bargain acquired in such a manner is
called by a familiar and unpleasant name
When round In private transactions. We
are not without a precedent showing how
scrupulously we avoided such accusations
in former days. After the people of Texas
had declared their Independence of Mexico
they resolved that, on the acknowledgment
OF their independence by the United States,
Several months after the battle Of San
Jacinto. by which Texas independence was
practically assured and established, Presi-
gent jackson declined to recognize it, al
legfng, as one of his reasons. that in the
circumstances it became us ITO beware of
q too early movement, as Ii might subject
us. however unjustly, to the imputation OF
seeking to establish the claim of our neigh
oors to a territory, with a view to its SUBJ
in marked contrast with the hasty recog-
milton of a government openly and con-
cededly set up for the purpose of rendering
10 US territory by annexation.
DUE TO AN ARMED INVASION.
1 believe that a candid and thorough ex-
animation Of the facts will force the con-
viction that the provisional government
yves its existence to an armed invasion by
the United States. Fair-m1nded people,
with the evidence before them, will hardly
claim that the Hawaiian government was
overthrow by the people of the islands
or that the provisional government has
ever existed with their consent. I do not
understand that any member of this gov
eminent claims that the people would up
allowed to vote on the question.
While naturally sympathizing with every
sf5SeT 5U fSt # is tba a s rfPFSliG GaIic1 torn RI tS Of
United States TO concede to people of for
eign, countries. the same freedom and indie
pendence in the management of their do
nestle affairs that we have always claimed
for ourselves. and it has been our practice
10 recognize revolutionary governments as
supported by the people. For Illustration
of this rule / need only refer to the revo-
luton in Brazil in 1889. when our minister
as soon. as q majority of the people of
Brazil should have signiied their assent to
it's establishment and maintenance; the
revolution in Chilli, in 1891. when our min
lister was directed TO recognize the new
government, IF it was accepted by the
people and TO the revolution In Venezue-
la, in 1892. when our recognition was ac-
corded on condition that the government
was fully established in possession of the
power OF the nation, and accepted by the
people" AS 1 view the situation, we are
brought face to face with the following
conditions: The local government of Ha-
wall was ove-thrown without the draw
Ing of a sword or the firing of a shot. by
a process every step of which, it may
49, 49, 10 Z IIdGcdUl6 10
and dependent for it's success upon the
agency of the United States government
through its diplomatic and naval represent
atlVes. But for the notorious prediction
OF the United States minister for annexa-
tlon, the commilIee of safety, which
should be called the committee of annexa-
tlon, would never nave existed. But for
the landing of the United States forces.
upon false. pretexts respecting the danger
TO life and property, the committee could
never have subjected themselves to the
pains and penalties of treason by under
taking the subversion Of the Queens gov
eminent. But for the presence of the
cinity, and imposition to afford all needed
protection and support, the committee
would not have proclaimed the provisional
government from the steps of the govern
ment building and, finally. but for the law
less occupation of Honolulu, under false
p~reteXts. by the United States forces. and
but for Minister StevenS's recognition Of
the provisional government when the
United States forces were it's sole stIppOrt
and constituted its only military strength
the Queen and her government would
never have yielded to the provisional gov
eminent even for a time and for the sole
purpose of submitting her case TO the en-
Hghtened justice of the United States.
A GREAT WRONG" DONE.
Believing, therefore, that the United
States could not, under the circumstances
disclosed, annex the islands without Justly
by unjustifiable methods, 1 shall not again
submit the treaty of annexation to the
Senate for it's consideration, and in the
instructions to Minister Willis, a copy of
which accommodates THE roo.eo-o 49, n