Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-12-21

was of itself an act OF war, unless made With
the consent Of the government OF Hawaii or for
the bona fide purpose of protecting the imper-
lied lives md property of citizens of the United
States. But there is pretense OF any such
consent on the part Of the government Of the
queen, which was at that time undfsputed and
both the de facto and de jure gv rnment In
point of fact the existing government instead
of requesting the presence of an armed force
pr tested against it
There is as little basis for the pretense that
such forces were landed for tn security OF
American life and property If so, they should
have been stationed in the viciniIy of such
property and SO as to protect it instead Of a
distance. and so as TO command the Hawa ian
government building and palace Adm. Skier
rett the officer in command OF our naval force
on the Pacific station. has frankly stated that
in his opinion the location OF troops was inadvis-
able if they were landed Tor the protection Of
A erican citizens whose residences and places
of business as we'll as the legation and consulate
were in a distant part of the city, but the loca-
tion selected was a wise one il landed for the
purpose OF supporting the provisional govern
ment Thus It appears that Hawaii
was taken possession OF by the Uni ed States
forces without the consent wish of the gov
ernment of the islands anybody else so far
as shown except the United Sta.es minister.
The anomalous state of affairs that
followed is then discussed and the
course of Minister Stevens is declared
to be without diplomatic warrant. The
president says:
/ believe that candid and thorough eXanI-
ration of the facts will force the conviction
that The provisional III government owes its exist
ance to an armed invasion by the United
States. Fair minded people With the evidence
before hem Will hardly cl I'm that the Hawaii
an government was overthrow by the people
of the islands or that the provisional govern
ment has ever existed with their consent lido
not understand that any member of this gov
ernment claims that the people would uphold it
III allowed
the question.
AS 1 apprehend ihc situation, are brought
face to face with the following conditions:
The lawful government of Hawaii was over
thrown without the drawing OF a sword or the
firing OF shot, by process every step OF
which, it safely be asser ted, is directly
traceable TO and dependent for its success upon
the agency Of the United States government
through its diplomatic and naval representa-
tives.
But for the notorious predictions Of the
United States minister for annexation the COM
mittee of safety, which should be called the
committee of annexation, would never have
existed.
But for the landing of the United States
forces upon false pre- texts respecting the dan
ger to life and property the committee would
never have exposed themselves the pains
and penalties OF treason by under akfng the
subversion of the queens government
But for the presence OF the United States
forces in the immediate vicinity and in posi-
tfon to afford all need d protection and sup
port, the committee would not have proclaimed
the provisional government from the steps OF
the government building
And. finally. but for the lawless occupation
of Honolulu under false pretex bv the United
States forces and but for Minister Stevens
recognition of the provisional government
when the United States forces were its sole
support and constituted it's only military
strength thu queen and her government would
never have yielded to the provisional govern
anf frra ipnaa and he lie
OF submitting case to the enlightened JUS
tice of the United States.
Believing theref re, that the United States
could not. under the circumstances disc osed,
annex these islands vi hout 1ustl incurring
the imputation of acQu ring them by unjusti-
fable methods. shall: not ag in srbmit the
treaty of annex ltion to the sen tte its con-
slider ton, ana in the instructions to Minister
Willis, Il cop of which accomp III eS taiS do u
ment, have directed him to so inform the pro-
visional government
The law of nttions is founded upon reason
and jus tice. and the rules of conduct governing
individual citizens subjects ciyilize /
state equally apple tb!e as Bat veeu en:ight-
ened nations. The considerations that inter-
national w IS ii hout ri for its en- ore
ment, aud that obedience to the commands
practically depends upon good faith. iCstead of
upon the late oi Il superior tri, nal onl
give al litiOnal sanction TO the law self
and brani any deliberate infracton Of
it not merel as wrong but as IL disgrace
of true honor protects the
unwritten word which binds his conscience
more scrupul1uSl-, if possible, than he does
The bond Il breach of which subjects him to legal
/ abilities, and Il United ) ateS, in aiming to
maintain itself as one of III most enlightened
ions, would do lis citizens g oSS injustice il
it applied to Its international rela lions any
other than Il high stan ari "f honor and NORA
ity. On that ground the Unitcd States cannot
properly be putin the position OF countenancii'g
,,
that of consen:ing to it IN advance Oa III IT
ground il cannot allow itself TO refuse TO re-
dress injury inflicted tn oUgh abuse of
power by officers clothed with its authority and
wearing its uniform and on The same ground II
o feeble but friendly state is in danger Of beng
robbed of its independence and its sovereignty
b. misuse OF power it cannot fail to vindicate
its honor and its sense OF justice by an earnest
effort to make all possible reparation These
principles apply to The present case with IRE
sistible force. when the special condi ions OF
the queens surrender of her sovereignty g
recalled She surrendered not to The provision
al government but 10 The United States. She
surrendered not absolutely and permanent
" but temporarily and condtionally until uch
time the facts could be considered by the
United States Furthermore the provisional
government acquiesced in her surrender in thai
manner and on hose terms. not only by taci.
consent. but through the pos tive acts OF some
member of the government who urgei heI
peaceable submit sion. not merely to avoid
b ood>hed but because she could place i'm plicii
reliance upon tn justice of the United States
| and that of the whole slhj;c would be finally
considered al Washington
have not. however, overlooked al incident
| of this unfortunate flair which remains to be
mentioned The members OF The provisional
| government and their supporters though
| entitled to extreme sympathy, have been LED
| to their present predicament OF revolt
| against the government of tae queer
b. the indefenSible encouragement and
assistance of diplomatic representative
This fact may entitle them to claim that III
| every effort to rectify the wrong OF the com
| mittee some re<srd should be had for n il
| safet This iment is s;rongl seconded
! by anxiety to do nothing which would in
vite either harsh retaliation on the part of the
| queen or violence and b oodShed in an quar-
ter.
! enemies would be VII !ng adopt such
| view of the flct that both the queen and th'
! provisional government had at time ap
parently acquiesced in a reference of the entir.
! case the United States government ant
considering the further fact that in any even
the present government b. its own declared
limitation vas onlv Ito eX st until terms o
| union with he United States of America hav
| been negoti ted and agreed upon" I hopes
| that, after the assurance TO members o
| that government that such union could not b
| consummated, I might compass peaceful ad
| jus tment of the difficulty
| Actuated by these desires and purposes an,
| not unmndful of the inherent perplexities q