Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-12-28

reason wnlcn IN January, 1895, leo
considerable portion OF American ana
other foreign merchants and traders re-
siding ut honolulu to favor the anneXa-
ton Of Hawaii TO the United States. It
is sufficient ~ note the tuct and to OBJ
serve that the project was one which
was zenlously promoted by the minister
representing the United States III that
country. lie evidently hud an ardent
desire that it should become 4 fact ac-
complisned by his agency anu during
his ministry, and was not inconveniently
ScrupuiOus as to the means employed 10
that end. OF course the assumption of Il
protectorate was promptly disavowed by
our government, but the American fig
remained over the government building at
Honolulu, and the forces remained on
guard until april, aud after Mi. blount'S
arrival on the scene, when both were re-
moved.
Here follows brief statement of the
occurrences following MIR. Blounts ar
rival on the scene, tcge Their with extracts
from his report which has already been
published.
The president then sums UP the condi-
lions of the situation as follows: Ine
lawful government of Hawaii was over
thrown without the drawing OF a sword
or the firing Of Il shot by a process every
step of which, it may safely be asserted,
is directly traccabe to and dependent for
it's success upon the agency OF the Unit
ed States government through It's dl-
plomatic and naval representatives. But
for the notorious predictions OF the
United States minister for annexation
the committee of safety, which should be
called the committee of annexation would
r"?"" ~" "vist"d. But for the landing
of the United States forces upon false
sl>....,, l>"irc.,nE the danger 10 IAe
and property the committee woHld never
have exposed themselves to the pains
and penalties of treason by undertaking
the subversicn of the queens government.
But for the pl essence of the United States
force in the immediate vicinity and in
position to afford all needed protection
ind support the committee would not
have proclaimed the provisional govern
ment from the steps of the government
occupation of Honolulu under false pre-
texts by the United States forces, and
but for Minister Stevens recognition OF
the provisional government when the
United States forces We're it's sole support
and constituted its only military strength,
the queen and her government would new
er have yielded to the provisional govern
ment even for a time, and for the sole
purpose of submitting her case to the
enlightened justice of the United States.
Believing. therefore. that the Uniteo
States could not, under the circumstances
justly mourning the imputation of &C
quirng them by unjustifiable methods,
shall not again submit the treaty of an
neXatiOn to the senate for its considcra-
ton. and in the instructions to Minister
Willis. Il copy of which accompanied
this message. | have directed him to so
inform the provisional government but
in in the present instance our duty, does
not, in my opinion, end with refusing
to consumatc this questionable transac-
ton. 1t is the boast of our government
that it seeks to do justice in all things
ness of those with whom it deals. mis-
take the American people il they favor
the olious doctrine that there is no such
thing as international morality, that
there is one law for Il strong nation and
another for a weak and that even by
with impunity dcspOil Il weak one of its
territory. by an act Of war committed
with the participation of a diplomatic
representative of the United States and
without authority of congress. II govern
mcnt Of feeble but friendly and coil
tiding people has been ovrrthrown.
4 substantial wrong has thus been
done. which due regard for our national
character as well as the right of the in
jurcd people required that we should en-
dcavor TO repair. The provisional gov
crnmcnt has not assumed a republican or
other constitutional form, but has re-
manned a mere executive cOunci ! or
oligarchy, set up without the assent of
the people. 1t has not seen fit to find Il
permanent basis for popular support and
has given no evidence Of an intention to
do SO. Indeed. the representatives of
that government assert that the people Of
Hawaii are unfit for popular government
and frankly avow that they can best be
fulcd by arbitrary or dcspotic power.
The law of nations is founded upon rea-
son ana justice and the rules Of conduct
governing individual citizens or subjects
Of Il civilized state as equally applicable
as between enlightened nations. The
considerations that international law is
without Il court for its enforcement, and
that obedience TO the commands practi-
cally depends upon good faith instead of
upon the mandate OF Il superior tribunal,
only give additional sanction to the law
itself. and brand any deliberate infrac
ton Of it not merely IS Il wrong but as a
disgrace. A man of true honor protects
the unwrittcn word which binds his con-
science more scrupulously. if possible,
than he does the bond, the breach of
which subjects him to legal liabilities,
and the United States in aiming to main
tain itself as one Of most enlightened
of nations would do its citizens gross in
justice if it applied to its internal rela-
tons any other than high standard of
honor and morality. On that ground the
United States cannot properly be put in
the. position of cOuntenancing wrong
after its commission any more than in
that Of conscnting to it in advance. On
that ground it cannot allow itself to re-
fuse to redress an injury inflicted
through an abuse Of power by officers
clothed with its authority and wearing
its uniform, and on the same ground if
a feeble but friendly state is in danger of
being robbed Of its dependence and it's
sovereignty by misuse Of power of the
United States, the United States cannot
fail to vindicate its sense Of justice. by
an earnest effort to make all possible
reparations. These principles apply to
the present case with Irresistible force,
when the special conditions of the queens
surrnder of her sovereignty are recalled.
She surrendered not to the provisional
government, but to the United States.
She surrendered not absolutely and per-
manently, but temporarily and condi-
tionally, until such time rs the facts
could be cOnsidcrd by the United States.
Furthermore, the provisional government
acquiesced in her surrender, in that man
ner, and if those terms not only by their
conSenf hut fhr0urh rho ,,oritiyn oc4o re-