The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-12-28

autnOIlty. one knew Jn2C she could
not withstand the power of the United
States, but she believed that she might
safely trust to its justice. According
ly, some hours after the recoRniztion
OF the provisional government by the
nlted States minister, the palace, the
barracks and the police station, with
all the military resources of the coun-
try, were delivered up by the Queen
upon the representation to her that
her cause would thereafter be review
ed at Washington, and while protest
ing that she surrendered to the supe-
rior force Of the United States, whose
minister had caused United States
troops to he landed at Honolulu and
declared that he would support the
provisional government. and that she
yielded her authority to prevent collis.
ion OF armed forces and loss of life, and
only until such time as the United
States. upon the facts being presented
to it should undo the action Of It's rep
resentative and reinstate her In the au-
thOrity she claimed as the constitu-
tional sovereign of the Hawaiian Is
lands"
Mr.. Cleveland cites a number of pre-
cedents as telling against the action of
the United States in the present case,
among them the admission of Texas as
a part of our Union, the revolutions In
Brazil, Chile and Venezuela, and sums
up as follows:
''As apprehended the situation, we
are brought face to face with the fol
lowing conditions.
"The lawful government of Hawaii
was oVerthrOwn without the drawing
of sword or the firing of a shot, by a
process every step of which. it may be
safely asserted, Is directly traceable to
and dependent for its success upon
the agency of the United States. acting
throu gh its diplomatic and naval rep
resentatives.
"But for the notorious predictions
of the United States minister for an
neXation, the committee of safety,
which should be called the committee
of annexation, would never have ex-
listed.
"But for the landing Of the United
States forces, upon false pretexts res
pectiDg the danger to life and proper
ty, the committee would never have
exposed themselves to the pains and
penalties of treason by undertaking
the subversion of the Queens govern.
ment.
"But for the presence of the United
States forces in the immediate vicinity
and in position to afford all need pro-
lection and support, the committee
would not have proclaimed the provis-
ional government from the steps of the
government building.
"And, finally, but for the lawless &C.
cupation 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 were it's sole
support and constituted its only mill
tary strength, the Queen and her gov.
ernment would never have yielded to
the provisional government, even for a
time, and for the sole purpose Of sub
mitting her case to the enlightened
justice of the United States.
"BelieviDg, therefore, that the Uni
ted States could not, under the circum-
stances disclosed, annex the islands
without justly mourning the imputa.
tion of acquiring them by unjustilia-
tile methods, l shall not again submit
the treaty of annexation to the Senate
for Its consideration, and tu the in
StrucilOns to Minister Willis, copy of
which accompanies this message, 1
have directed him to 50 inform the
provisional government"
Mr.. Cleveland S 3 here that, in his
oplnion, our duty does not end with re.
fuslng to cOnSummate this Questiona-
bic transaction, but that "a substan.
tlal wrong has thus been done, Which
a due regard for our national charac
t., as well as the rights Of the injured
people, requires we should endeavor to
: repair" and that the United States
cannot properly be put in the position
OF countrnancing a wrong after its
commission any more than In that OF
consenting to II In advance. On that
ground, 1t cannot allow itself to refuse
to redress an Injury inflicted through
an abuse of power by ctAcers clothed
with its authority and wearing the
uniform; and. on the same ground, If a
feeble but friendly State Is in danger OF
being robbed of It's independence and
IFS sovereignty by q misuse of the name
and power of the United States, the
United States cannot fail to vindicate
It's honor and its sense Of justice by an
earnest effort to make all possible rep.
aration
The President says: II have not
however, overlooked an incident of this
unfortunate affair which remains to
be mentioned. The members of the
provisional government and their sup
porters, though not entitled to extreme
sympathy, have been led to their pres
ent predicament Of revolt against the
government Of the Queen by the inde.
tensible encouragement and assistance
OF our diplomatic representative. This
fact may entitle them to claim that in
i our effort to rectify the wrong com
mitted some regard should be had fol
their safety. This sentiment is strong
ly seconded by my anxiety to do moth
: ing which would invite either harst
retaliation on the part of bhe Queen OF
violence and bloodshed in any quarter.
In the belief that the Queen, as we'll as
ner enemies, would be willing to adOpt
such course as would meet these con
ultlons, and in view Of the fact that
) ooth the Qoeen and the provisional
government had at one time apparent
acqulesced In reference of the en-
.l[e case to the United States govern
mthent, men and considering the further fac,
ernnoant Sr"T im any y event the provisional gov
tion, was only to exist until terms o.
union with the United States Of Amer
ica nave been been negotiated and agreed
upon, L hoped that after the assnrance
to she members Of that government
that such union could not be conan N