Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-21

properly and 10 as 10 protect II instead of at
distance. and so as 10 command the Hawa TAT
government building and palace Adm. Skier
rett the oficor In command Of our naval force
on the Pacific station has frankly stated that
IN his opinion the location Of troops was lnadvis
able II they we're landed for the protection OF
| A erioan citizens whose residences and places
ofbusiness as we'll ne the legation and consulate
were In Distant part OF the city but the looa-
uon selected was wise ono II landed for the
purpose OF supporting tho provisional govern.
mont Thus II appears that Hawaii
was taken possession OF by the Uni cd States
| forces without the consent or wish OF the gov
ernment Of the islands or any bo1y else so far
as shown except tho United States minister.
The anomalous state Of affairs that
followed Is then discussed and the
course Of Minister Stevens is declared
10 be without diplomatic warrant The
president says:
believe that candid and thorough oxami.
nation Of The facts will force the conviction
that the provisional government owes It's exist
ance 70 an armed Invasion BY the United
| States Fair ndgd p1ople with the evidence
before hem will hardly ol I'm that tho Hawaii
IN government was overthrow BY the people
| Of the islapds or that the provisional govern
ment has ever existed with their consent lido
not understand that any member Of this gov.
erninont claims that the people would uphold II
on the question
As apprehend tho situation. we nre brought
face 10 face with the following conditions:
The lawful government Of Hawsn was over
thrown without the drawing ofa sword or the
hrng OF a shot, by process every step Of
which, II may safely bo asserted, In directly
tracoable TO and dependent for It's success upon
the agency Of the United States government
through its diplomatic and naval representa-.
uyes.
Hut for the notorious predictions Of tho
United States minister for annexation. tha com.
mitiee Of safety, which should DO called the
committee OF annexation, would never have
existed
But for the landing OF the United States
forces upon false proterts respecting the dan
ger 10 life and property the committee would
never have exposed themselves 10 the pains
aud penalties Of treason by under akinR the
subversi0n Of the queens government
but Tor tho presence Of the United States
forces In the Immediate Vicinity aud In posi-.
tion TO aford all need protection and sup
port the committee would not have proclaimed
tho provisional government from the steps Of
the government building
And nntllY but for the lawlcss occupation
OF Honolulu under false pretox by the Unitsi
Status forces and but Tor Minister Stevens
recognition Of tho provisional government
when tho United States forces were It's solo
support and constituted Its only military
strength thu queen aud her government would
never have yielded 10 the provisional govern.
mont evcn for o time aud for tho solo purpose
OF submitting cnso 10 tho enlightened jus
tice Of the United States
Believing therof re-, that the United States
could not under the circumstance disc uscd
annex these Islands vi hout iIstl incurring
the imputation OF acqu rinf tnem by ulinsu
nable metho's I shall not ng In submit the
treaty Of annexation to tn sen tte Z r its con.
all la
Willis, n cop Of winch ac'1mp tni0s this do u.
ment, have directed him 10 so inform the pro
visional government
Tho law OF nNtions IL founded upon reason
and justice and the rules Ot conduct govcrur'
individual citiI o. subj 'cts u ciyiizs
state nro equally applicable as bet yeen tu iglt.
ened nations The considerations that in.rr
national llw Is without coirt fur its enforlc
mcnt and that obedience TO tho crmmun IN
practically depends upon good faith iustrad OF
upon tho mandate o. u superior trib nal oul
give additional sanction 20 the law / sell
and brand any delibnrlto infrnction Of
II not merely Us wrong but rs disgrace
man OF true honor protects IN,
unwritten word which binds hli conscience
more scrupulluslY, II possible, than ho does
the bond, breach ~ which sub, i,cts him tolHgal
! abilities, ana IA United s ates, IN aiminr 20
maintain itself as one OF tn most cnl yhtened
II applied to rs international RELATIONS any
other than high stan ard ~ honor and mora.
Ivy On that grOund tho United States ~nnot
properly be put 80 the position NJ countenauciug
wrong nfitr lis conui sion any moro han In
that OF eonson ing 10 10 In advance Ga lnIt
ground IL Caunit allow Itself 10 refuse &, re-
dress an injury inflicted through an aruto OF
power by officers clothed with itsAuthurlty
wearing its uniform aud on tho same gruutd If
u feeble w iricndly state is 10 danger of b ',ng
robbed or II, indGpcn iUn'o and itH Sovereignty
b. misuse Of power II cannot fail TO y,ndicAtr
It's honor aud It's sense Of justice by an earnest
EFFORT 10 make oil p1tsib.o repATatlon These
principles apply 10 tho present oiso with irre
sstinlo force, when the special oondi Ions Of
the queens surrender OF hir s0versiguty o e.
recalled She surrendered not TO the provision.
al government but to tho United States SHE
surrendered not ABSOLUTELY and permanent.
ly but temporarily and oonditiOnally until such
tmo as the faols could be- considered BY the
United states Furthermore tho provisional
government acQuiraoed In her surrender Ia that
manner and On those terms not ouiy by tld
consent but through tha positive acts of some
member OF the government who urgo her
poaeenblo submi sion. not merely to Nv "a
b o2d hid, but because sh' could place implicit
reliance upon Va justice " the United states
and that OF the whole subject would b. nnally
considered At Washington
have not however overlooked an incident
OF this unfortunate urAir which remains 10 b,
mcnti med Tho members Of the proyislonu Al
government and their slpportcrs, though u
entitled TO extreme sym.athy, have been led
" iheir present prrdioAmcnt OF ryult
against the gov rnmont OF tJe QUO o.
b. the indofens.blo encouragement and
assistance OF our diplomatic rrprcs, ntatiyr
This fact may eutiue them 10 claim ha. In
every oIOrt to roctfy tho wrong NJ tue com.
mitteo soinn re ara sh lu.d DO had Tor m ir
Aafetf THIS sentiment Il rnugl. seconded
by my anxiety to do nothing which would In
vito either harsh retaliation On Tho part u the
queen or violence and oodshrd In un' quar-
ter
In tho b'llcf that the queen, us well As her
enemies would ho willing 10 adopt such
course as would meet hrsc conditions ant Ia
view OF lhe f,ct hat both the Il ieon aud the
provisional govcrlm nj h,d nt one time M
parenly ucqui' seed In n reforcnoo of the ,utir.
ease TO the UnutN States government and
considering the further fact that In any e,tnt
the present government b. its own de. Ared
Limitation Was only ito oxist until terms OF
union with tho Unltcd States OF America have
been nogotlitcd and pgreod upon" hoped
that after the assurance 10 members Of
That govern me II that such union could not be
contaminated might compass u peaceful nd.
iustmont Of the dniculty
Actuated by these desires and purposos and
not unmindiul OF the inherent perpleriueH OF
the situation nor OF the limitations upon my
20 or, Instructed minister willis to advise
tho queen and hor supporters OF my desire to
aid In the restoration OF the status existing he.
lore the lawless landing Of tho United States
forces u Honolulu on the 10Th of Jan.
uarv last II such restoration could DO Effected
upon terms providing for elrmeney as well
as justice to all parties concerned The eondl.
tonH suggested as the last Instructions show
contemplate n general amnesty to those con.
eernea In setting up the provisional govern.
ment and u recognition Of ali its bona fide act,
and obligations In short thcv require that the
past shou be buried and that the restored