Huntsville gazette., 1893-12-23

l
! sion Oh thls scheme OF annexation. A very
| pt!SI anu imperfect reference to the facts and
eviaences at hand will exhibit its character
anu the incidents in which it had its birth.
| STEVENS PREPARED THE WAY.
II Is unnecessary to set forth the reason
| which. in January, 1893 led considerable nor
aion OF American and other foreign merchants
/ ana traders residing at Honolulu to favor the
| annexation OF Hawaii to the United States. II
Is surclent to note the fact and to observe
Inat the project was one which was zealously
prompted Dy the minister then representing
| the United States in that country He eyi,
! dently had an ardent desire that it should be-
come fact accomplished by his agency and
curing his ministry, and was not inconyeniept-
| ily INSCRIPTIONS as TO the means employed
| TO that end On November 10. 1892
nearly two months before the first
version of the Hawaiian government
and the attempted transfer of Hawaiian terri
| tory to the United States, he addressed long
| letter TO the secretary of state in which the
case for annexation was elaborately argued on
moral political and economical grounds He
| refers to the loss of the Hawaiian sugar inter
eStS from the operation OF the Mckinley bill
| and the tendency to still further depreciation
| OF sugar property unless some positive measure
! Oh relief was granted. He strongly inveighs
and emphatically declares for annexation. He
| says:
In truth the monarchy here is an absurd
| anachronlsm. 1t has nothing on which it log
| lcally or legltlmately stands. The feudal basis
| on winch 1T once stood no longer exi sting the
monarchy now is only an impediment to good
| government-an obstruction to the prosperity
| and progress of the islands,
he iurther says: "As crown colony OF Great
britain or territory of the United States. the
| government notifications could be made
| readlly. and good administration OF the law Sc
| cured. Destiny and the vast future interests
| OF the United States il the Pacific clearly in
dicate VINO at distant day may be responsible
| for the government of these islands Under a
| territorial government they could be as easily
| governed rs any of the existing territories Cf
| the United States
| Hawaii has reached the parting of the wavs
| Sne must now take the road which leads to
| Asia or the other which outlets her in Amer
| lea, gives her an American civilization and
| binds her to the care of American deStlny'
| He also declares: "One of two courses seems
| 10 me absolutely necessary to be followed
either bold and vigorous measures for annexa-
tlon or 'customSunion and ocean cable from
| the California coast to Honolulu Pearl harbor
perpetually ceded to the United States with
| an implied but not expressly stipulated Amer
| lean protectorate over the islands. believe
| the former to be the better, that which will
| prove The more advantageous TO the islands
| and the cheapest and least embarrassing in
| the end to the United States II it was
| wise for the United States through Secre-
! tary Marcy, thirty-eight years ago, to offer
4 to expend 100000 to secure a treaty of
| annexation, il certainly can not be chimerical
| or unwise to expend 100000 to secure annexa-
| tion il the near future To-day the United
States has five times the wealth she possessed
| in 1854, and reasons now existing for annexa-
| tion are much stronger than they were then. 1
| can not refrain from expressing the opinion
| with emphasis, that the golden hour is near at
| hand"
These declarations certainly show disposi-
| tion and condition OF mind which may be use
| fully recalled when interpreting the Sgnifi-
! canoe OF the minister's concerted acts or when
| considering the probabilities OF such conduct
| on his part as may not be admitted.
| In this view 1t seems proper to also quote q
| letter written by the minister to the secretary
| of state on March g. 1892. nearly year prior to
| the first step taken toward annexation. After
l ~ ha hnf fhn xiofi,
1 ernment of Hawaii might besoverturned by an
| orderly and peaceful revolution, Minister Ste
| yens writes as follows:
| Ordinarily in like circums tanceS the rule
seems to be to limit the landing and movement
| of the United States forces in foreign waters
and dominion exclusively to the protection of
| the United States legation and of the lives and
| property of American citizens. But as the re-
| latlonS of the United States to Hawaii are ex-
| ceptional, and in former years the United
| States officials here took somewhat excep-
| tional action in circumstances OF disorder I
desire to know how far the present minister
| and naval commander may devate from estab-
lished international rules and precedents in
contingencies indicated in the first part of this
Dispatch
| TO minister of this te nper, full, of zeal for
annexation, there seemed to arise in January,
| 1898, the precise opportunity for which he was
watchfully waiting-an opportunity which by
| timely deviation from established international
| rules and precedents might be improved to
| successfully accomplish the great object in
| view; and we are quite prepared for the exul-
| tant enthusiasm with which letter to the
| state department dated February ]. 1893, he de-
! clares the Hawaiian pear is fully ripe
and this is the golden hour for the United States
| to pluck it,
THE PRoTECToRATE PROCLAIMED.
| AS further illustration of the activity of the
| diplomatic representative, attention is called
to the fact that on the day the above letter was
written Hunable longer to restrain his ardor,
| he issued proclamation whereby in the
name OF the United StateS,'' he assumed the
| protection OF the Hawaiian islands and de-
| cared that said action was taken pending
| and subject to negotiations at Washington" :"
| OF course this assumption of protectorate was
| promptly diSavowed by our government, but the
| American flag remained over the government
| building at Honolulu, and the forces remained
| on guard until April, and after Mr.. Blount's
| arrival, and he knew when both were removed
| A renewed statement OF the occurrences that
led to the Subversion OF the constitutional
| government of Hawaii, in the interests of an
| nexation to the United States, will exhibit the
| true complexion of that transaction.
Saturday, January IA, 1893, the queen or Ha-
| wall who had been contemplating the procla
| nation of new constitution, had in difference
to the wishes and remonstrances OF her cabi-
| net, renounced the project for the present, at
| least. Taking this rellnqulshed purpose
as a basis of action, citizens OF Homo
lulu, numbering from fifty to one hun
| dred mostly resident aliens, met in a
| private office and elected a so-called commit
| tee of safety, composed OF thirteen persons,
| seven of whom were foreign subjects, and con-
| sisted of five Americans. one Englishman and
| one German. This committee, though Its de-
/ signs were not revealed. had in view nothing
| less than annexation to the United States. and
| between Saturday. the l4th, and the following
| Monday the 10th OF January, though exactly
| what action was taken may not be clearly dis
| closed. they we're certainly In com.
| munication with the United States
/ minister On Monday morning the
| queen and her cabinet made public procla-
| nation with notice which was special
| ly served upon the representatives OF all for
| eiCn governments that any changes in the con :
| stitution would be sought only in the methods
| provided by that instrument. Nevertheless
| at the call and under the auspices OF the com
| mittee OF safely, mass-meeting OF citizens
was held on that day to protest against the
! queens alleged illegal and unlawful proceed
| incs and purposes. Even at this meeting I ne
| committee Of safety continued to disguise their
! real purpose and contented themselves with
| procuring the rassage of a resolution denounc-
! inc the queen and empowering the committee
| to provide ways and means to secure the per
| manent maintenance of law and order. ana tne
| protection of life, liberty and property In
| Hawaii
THE APPEAL TO MINISTER STEVENS.
This meeting adjourned between ana
| O'Clock in the afternoon. On the same DAY
| and Immediately after such adjournment the
committee unwilling to take further steps
| without the cooperation OF the Unlfed states
minister addressed shim q note representing
| that the public safety was menaced ana tnae
lives and property were in danger ana con-
I'll. All aSf fol1