The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-19

themselves TO the pains and penalties o.
enes Of the United States forces in the i'm;
needed protection and support, the committed
would not have proclaimed the Provisional
iS@ GS q t t9 K. fSyfss
SSSc,ahpaifion 81 Honoglu under false ,preteXts
| lister stevens's recognition Of tho Provisional
Government when the United states forces
were us sole support and constituted its only
| military strength the Queen and her Govern
| ment would never have yielded to the Pro-
| yislonal Government. even for n. time and FOR
the sole purpose OF submitting her case TO the
enlightened justice OF the United States
Feeling, therefore. that the United States
annex the islands without Justly mourning the
! imrutatton OF acquiring them by unlustiIlnhle
~ annexation to the senate for its consilera-
ton, and In the Instructions to Minister Willis,
have directed him to so inform the Provisional
government
But in the present instance our duty docs
not IN my opinion, end with refusing to con
summate this questionable transaction. It
has been the Toast OF our Government that 1t
seeks to DO Justice in all things without regard
TO the strength or weakness OF those with
whom It deals. mistake the American peo-
Is no such thing as International morality,
That there Ia one law for II strong nation and
direction strong power may with impunty
despoll a weak one OF lite territory.
ny an ACT OF war, committed with the mar
tclnatlon OF diplomatic representative OF the
United States and without authority OF Com
gress. the Government Of u feeble but friendly
anu connuinR people has been overthrOwn. A
su6stantial wrong has thus been done. which
a due regard f9r our national character. as
wei as the rights OF the injured neople. re-
guires we should endeavor to repair Tho
irovisional Government has not assumed
has remained a mere executive c Igi 0 or
ollRarchy get up without the assent Of the
Peep people; 1t has not sought to il9d "a permanent
eviden CO OF an intention to do Indeed the
representatives Of that Government assert
government and frankly avow that they can
be best ruled byarbitrary or despotic power
and Justice. and the ruos OF conduct govern
ing individual relations between citizens or
cable as between enlightened nations. The
conslderations that international law H. with
out court for its enforcement. and that
pendg upon good faith, Instead OF upon tho
mandate OF superior tribunal. only give ad.
any deliberate infraction OF it not merely as
2 wrong but as disgrace man OF true
binds his conscience more scrupulously. il
possible. than he does the bond, q breach
the. United States. In aiming to maintain
itself as one Of the most enlightened Of ma
tons. would do its citizens gross injustice II
other than a high standard of honor and
morality. On that ground the United States
countenancing wrong after its commission
any more than IN that OF consenting to it in
On that ground it cannot allow itself to re-
fuse to redress an injury inflicted through an
abuse OF power by officers clothed with its au.
thorlty and wearing Its uniform and. on tho
came ground, II u feeble but triendl yStatci is in
danger OF being robbed of its Independence
Of the United states. the United states cannot
fail to vindtcate its honor and it's sense OF Jus
tee by an earnest effort to make all possible
These principles apply to the present case
with irresistible force when the special condi-
tons OF the Queens surrender Of her sover-
eighty are recalled. She surrendered not to
the Provisional Governor but to the United
states. She surrendered not absolutely and
permanently. but temporarily and condition
ally. until such time rs the facts could be con-
sidered by the United States Furthermore. |
the Provisional Government acQuiesced in her |
surrender in that manner and on those terms. |
not only by taelt consent but by the positive
urged her peaceahle submission not merely to !
avoid hloodshed. tut because she could place |
I'm plicit reliance upon the Justice OF the United |
States. and that the whole subject would be |
finally considered at Washington, |
OF this unfortunate affair which remains to be- |
mentioned. The members OF the Provisional |
entitled TO extrem" symnatSy' have BEEN led led
TO their present pred irament Of revolt against |
the Government OF the Queen by the indeens-
diplomatic represent alive. This fact may en-
title them TO claim that in every effort to rec
should he had for their safety. This senti-
ment is strongly seconded by my anx-
either harsh retaliation on the part OF the
Queen or violence and bloodshod il ~
as her thH %Ud 9 Ee iii S
such course as would meet these conditions,
and IN view OF the fact that both the Queen
time apparently acquiesced in a reference OF
tho entire case to the United States Govern
my event. the present Government by It's own
declared Limitation, was only to, exist until
America have beer s" NEGOTIATED and I'n asSecd
Tho members Of that Government that such
union could not be consummated might com
pass peaceful adjustment Of he difficulty.
Actuated BY these desires and purposes and
he situation nor OF the limitations upon my
power. instructed Minister Willis to advise
i'd IN the 9estoration Of the status s Visiting
before the lawess landing u the nted States
orces at Honolulu on the 10Th OF January last.
erms providing for clemency as well as ius-
ice to al parties concerned. Tho conditions
'iste general amnesty to those concerned |
n setting up the Provisional Government and
'ations In short they require the past should
hould be buried. and that the restored Govern
? emit should reassumeits authority a. II its con
inuity had not been interrupted. These condi- |
Ions have not proved acceptable to the Queen, |
nd though she has been informed that they
o. the Efforts oi the " Presdent p to aid in the
estoration OF her Government will cease. |
ave not thus far learned that she is willing to
I"id them her acquiescence. The check
Ihich my plans have thus encountered has
reventsd their presentation 10 the members of
he Provisional Government. whie unior-
innate public misrepresentation OF the situa-
on and exaggerated statements OF the senti-
lsnts OF our people have obviously Injured
he prospects OF successful executive media
on.
therefore submit this communication with
9 accompanying exhibits, embracing Mr..
lounts report the evidence and statements {
,ken by him at Honolulu. the Instructions ]
iyen both Mr.. BlOunt and Minister Willis. ,
hand. q
In commencing this subject 10 the extended
overs and wide discretion OF the Congress s
eslre 10 add the assurance that shall ho |
ueh gratinsd to cooperate in any legislative
Ian which may bs devised Tor III" solution Of
le problem before US which Is consistent with Y
merlcan honor Integrity and morality. '
GHOyEH tLENELAN r
xECuTIyE MANSION. WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, 9
INSTRUCTIONS TO WILLIS e
he A uthOrIty OF Congress Not Recognized =