Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-21

but not expressly, stipulated Of an
American protectOrate with prefer
i cnce for the former. This, the preSl
| dent SAYS, is worth consideration rs
showing the feeling OF Stevens in re
Iation to the matter, and as likely 10
, influence his acts in case of revolution
I Moreover the president quotes from /
lcttcl. written by Stevens To the Secre-
tary Of state i'll March, 1892, nearly Il
year before the revolution i'll which he
speaks OF Il probable political overturn,
points out that in view of the eNcep-
tiOnaI relations between the United
States and Hawaii, United States Of
ficials heretofore took somewhat cNcep-
tionaI action in case Of disorder, and he
desired to know how far the present
minister and naval commander may
deyiate from established international
precedent Indicated III the first part
Of this Dispatch The message points
out the contingencies prccipitated i'll
Hawaii when Stevens eXultingly tclc-
graphcd the state departments: The
Hawaiian pear is now ripe and this
is the golden hour for the United
States to pluck it, and in furtherance
Of this desire he, February last, as
sumed Il prOtectOrate over the islands
in the rIame of the United States ana
ran up the American flag over the
government house where it remained
with government forces on guard till
BIount arrived and removed them.
The president then reviews the history
Of the movement for the queens over
throw; says the committee of safety
was composed Of thirteen persons,
seven Of whom were foreign subjects,
five Of whom are Americans, one Eng
liShman, one German; that they acted
secretly, and rs late as the afternoon
Of Monday, the day before the pro
viSional government was declared, the
committee appealed 10 Stevens saying:
we are unable to protect ourselves
without aid and therefore pray for
the protection Of the United States
forces" Then they became so panic
stricken that they asked him not to
make Il landing till the next day. Buj
he replied that he would land them,
;eld did, against the protest OF the
queens government, then the existing
government. This, says the president,
was an act of war, unless done solely
to protect the lives and property Of
American citizens. That this was
not the object is shown by the DISPOSE
ton Of the troops far from property
TO be protected, but 50 us to command
the Hawaiian government house and
palace Admiral Skerrit frankly ac-
kn0Wlcdged that such was the fact
in the disposition of the troops. There
was not the least evidence of excite
mcnt or danger to life or property
when the marines landed and
no soldiers from the vessels Of
other foreign nations in the harbor
landed. rs would have been the case
had danger threatened. The fact
Therefore seemed to be that the troops
landed without the consent or the
wish of anyone except the United
States minister. The occupation there
fore was wholly uniustitiable, bat the
troops landed and a com
mittee of safety, with a
next day to proclaim. the provisional
government TO exist till terms with
The United States are negotiated and
agreed upon They did this with the
United States troops drawn up only
Sevcnty-SiX yards away, commanding
the situation. The persons taking
part i'll the proclamation went to the
government house in small squads to
avoid observation, having first made
sure that none Of the queens support
erS were there. Meantime the queen
had 800 troops and several cannon
end could but for the presence Of the
United States troops, have dealt sum-
marily with the insurgents, for the
fact WAS there were very few arms
III the islands except those in the
hands Of the queens supporters. The
United States minister recognized this
government within an hour after the
proclamation, and While the queens
forces were still in possession of the
palace, barracks and police stations,
with all the government arms. But
the recognition by the United States
and the presence of United States
troops dominated the SituatiOn and the
queen, recognizing that she could not
contend against the United States, alb
dictated under protest in writing, in
which she submitted her case to the
sense of justice of the United
States. This protest was delivered to
the chief of the provisional govern
ment and endorsed by him. Yet this
provisional government at once began
action for annexation, the Punishment
of the queen and the sale of her king
dom. The United States was, there
fore. in danger Of the accusation Of
having set up the government for the
purpose OF acquiring territory through
it Wrongfully. The president points
out as Il precedent the case of Texas
United States several months after its
independence had been practically as
3ured: but President Jackson declined
to recognize it on the ground that too
early Il movement might subject us to
the criticism of seeking TO establish the
claim of our neighborS 10 territory
With 4 view to subsequent acquisition
by ourselves. This is in marked con-
trast with the haSty recognition of the
government conccdedly set up for the
purpose of rendering us territorial an
neXatiOn. The provisional government
. owes its existence to armed invasion
by the United States and never existed