The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-11-18
Tho Protest UnchaIisnsed.

VI n I1dWdtHuui siduuo
The Protest BnchaIisnsed:
when this PAPER was prepared at the con-
illusion OF the conference. and signed by the
queen and her ministers, q number OF persons,
including one or more representatives OF the
provisional government. were present and I'M
derstood its contents, and by their silence, at
least, acQuiesced In its statements, and when
# was carried to President Dole he Endorsed
upon n: Received from the hands OF the late
cabinet this i7th-day of January, 1893, without
challenging the truth OF any Of its assertions.
Indeed, IL was not claimed on the 18th day OF
January. or for some time thereafter, by any
OF the designated officers OF the provisional
government, or any annexationists, that the
queen surrendered otherwise than as stated In
her protest.
Recognized by Minister Stevens.
In his dispatch TO NJ. Foster Of January Is.
describing the so-called revolution, Mr.. Ste
tens says:
The committee OF public safety forthwith
took possession OF the government buildings,
archives and treasury and installed the pro-
visional government at the head OF the respec-
tive departments. This being an accomplished
fact. l promptly recognized the provisional
government as the de facto government OF the
Hawaiian islands.
Secretary Fosters Statements.
In Secretary Fosters communication OF Feb.
u "a is ~ ~ itSAuNh a. bNAtAN Inn Inv
treaty OF annexation. with the view to obtain
ing advice and consent of the senate thereto,
he says:
At the time the provisional government took
possession OF the government building, no
troops or officers OF the United States were
present. or took any part whatever in the pro-
ceedings. No public recognition was accorded
to the provisional government by the United
States minister until after the queens ahdica-
ton. and when they were in effective posses
ainn nf tha vnrarnrpant hpflifpr tho ar.hiraz
the treasury, the barracks, the police station
and all the potential machinery OF the govern
ment.
Similar language is found IN an Official letter
addressed TO Secretary Foster on February 3,
by the special commissioners sent to Washing
ton by the provisional government 10 negotiate
q treaty OF annexation.
Utterly at variancs with the Evidence.
These statements are utterly at variance
with the etidencR. documentary and oral, con,
tanned in Mr.. Blount's replies. They are CON
tradicted by declarations and letters of Presi-
dent Dole and other annexationists, and Mr..
Stevens own verbal admissions TO Minister
Blount. TIL provisional government was rec
ognized when il had little other than a paper
existence, and when the legitimlts govern
ment was in full possession and control of the
palace. the barrl ks AMI the police station.
Mr.. Stevens we'll known host lity and the
threatening presence OF the forces landed from
the Boston were all that could have caussi
serious apprehension in the mind OF the queen.
her OH ,ers and loyal supporters.
Deceived by Stevens and tn, Special
Commissioners.
II Is fair to say that Secretary Fosters
were based upon which
had received from Mr.. Stevens an I the spe-
cial commissioners but / am unable TO see
that they were deceived. The troops were
landed, not to protect American life and prop
erty. but 10 aid in Overthrowing tn, govern
ment. Their very presence implied c~oercive
against 1t.
In a statement given to Mr.. Blount by Ad-
miral Skerrett. the ranking naval officer at
he says:
Admiral SHsrrstt Remarks,
II the troops were landed simply to protect
citizens and interests. they were
badly stationed in Arion hall: hut IL the inten-
tion was TO aid the provisional government
they were wisely stationed.
Read Under thu Protection of Am ,rican
Guns.
This hall was so situated that the troops in
it easily commanded the government building
and the proclamation was read under the pro
lection OF American guns. AT an early stage
Of the movement. IL not at the beginning. Mr..
promised the annexationists that as
soon as they obtained possession of the gov
arnment building and read a proclamation of
he character above referred to. HI would AT
Dnce recognize them As n de facto government.
md support them by landing a force from our
ship then in the harGor, and he kept that
This assurance was the inspiration
If the movement, and without it the annexa-
ionists would not have exposed themselves to
he consequences OF failure.
They reliel upon no military force of their
,wn, for they had none worthy of the name.
The provisional government was established
" the action of the American minister and
he presence OF the troops landed from the
}oston: and its continued existence is due to
he belief OF the Hawaiians that IL they male
IN effort to overthrow it. they would encounter
he armed { orces of the United States.
The Absurdity of the Claim.
The earnest appeals TO the American minis
er for military protection by the officers OF the
government after it had been rec.
)ynizcd. show the utter absuriity of the claim
hat it was established by n successful revolu-
ion OF the people OF the islands. The appeals
we're a confession by the men who made them
If their weakness and timidity. Courageous
men, conscious Of their strength. and the jus
ice OF their cause. do not thus act.
1t Is not now claimed that a majority OF the
people having the right TO vote under the con.
,~titution Of 1881, ever favored the c~xiStin. au-
.hcrity or annexation to this or any other coun.
.ry. They earnestly desire that the govern
nent Of their choice shall he restored and its
independence respected
Afraid to Submit the Question to the
Natives.
Mr.. Blount states that while at Honolulu he
lid not meet q single annexationist who eX-
PRESSED willingness to submit the question to
vote OF the people. nor did he talk with one
IN that subject who did not insist that if the
I apJu - nnnnrnd Srt Tra,r GtnplI N 90 50 |
tricted as to give complete control to for
'igners or whites, and representative anncNa
ionists have repeatedly made similar state
nents TO the undersigned.
Surrendered Under a Threat OF War.
The government of Hawaii surrendered its
under a threat of war. until such
line only as the government OF the United
states. upon the facts being presented to il.
hould reinstate the constitutional sovereign.
nd the provisional government was created 10
exist until the terms Of the union with the
United States OF America should have been
and agreed upon.
A careful consideration OF the facts will, l
hink. convince you that the treaty which was
withdrawn from the senate for further consid-
ration should not be resubmitted for its action
hereon.
Justice to ths Weak.
Should not the great wrong done to \ feeble
independent state by an abuse of the All
hority of the United States he undone by re-
toring the legitimate government: Any
hing short of that will not, l re-
pectfully submit. satisfy he demands
{ justice. Can the United States con-
istently insist that other nations shall
aspect the independence OF Hawaii. while
ot respecting it themselves? Our government
Tas the first to recognize the independence OF
he islands and II should he the last TO acquire
overeignty over them by force and fraud.
Respectfully submitted.
WALTER q. GRESHAM.
ZEN. HARRISON is SATISFIED
With His Policy In the Hawaiian Matter
II Mr.. Cleveland Is with His
WAsUISGToS Nov IA S~Depial IN