The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-16
AN ARGUMENT OF AN ANNEXATION
SHRIEKER

The Washington Post is one Of the An
nexation- Shriekers at all hazards who
would have this government Iatify and
sustain whatever Unauthorized acts Its
representatives have performed in Hawai-
whether they are condemned as fragrant
violations Of international law and justice
or whether they are not. Mr.. ii. o. Ciaugn'
ton. well known to the people of Virginia
as an eminent lawyer, and as once a mem
Der Of Virginia's Senate, has addressed TO
1t the following letter:
Although it is inferrible from your edi-
torials that you are opposed to the policy
/ of the administration even il the theory
/ upon whith il is based be tue, yet You
have not distinctly expressed your opiuion
| upon this point.
| My respect for your opinion constrains
! me respectfully to ask that you will an
| swer the following question: III IL be true
that the armed forces Of the United States,
carrying the American flag, have invaded
the territory Of "a friendly power and
either by force or menace overthrow
the existing government, no matter how
Infamous, Is It, or is it not the duty Of
the government to repair the wong done
by so fragrant a violation of the law Of
rations and the foreign policy of the
United States, by restoring the condi-
tons which existed at the time Of such
overthrow, without regard to the popular
sentiment of either country"
Your answer TO this question will
greatly oblige many of your readers anx-
ious TO be Informed upon this important
subject. Very respectfully
Ii. o. CLAUGHTON.
The Posts answer to this is that Mr..
Harrison ratified the acts of Minister
Stevens and Captain Wntse, and
acfI owledged the government which
they set up In Hawaii as the
de facto government of Hawaii
1t was beyond the power Of Mr..
Harrison's successor in the Presidential
office to undo and set aside his act. IL
thinks that this acknowledgements fasten-
ed an iron-bound clamp upon his success
sors conscience and hand which nothing
short Of an act OF Congress declaring war
upon Hawaii could possibly break.
1t seems TO us that the Post has here
cohiounded the President that may be |
with the presidential office. The Post
would hardly contend that If Mr.. Harri- |
son had discovered before he went out of |
office that he had been deceived by |
Minister stevens and THAI a most eyre |
gious fraud had been imposed upon him. |
Mr.. Harrison himself would have been es-
topped 10 recall his acknowledgment, and |
20 retrace steps that he had been falsely
led into taking. No schoolboy would con-
tend for such a proposition as that Ii is
perfectly clear then that If Mr.. Harrison
had discovered the actual state Of the
case before his term expired, he could
have undone what he was led into doing.
Why then may not the President what
ever his name be. do the same thing
when the fraud is discovered? IL pertains
10 the President to do this and not the
man. The sole consideration 10 restrain
The President is the question whether
pr not so much time has elapsed and the
tights OF so many third parties have in
ervened. that 10 undo the fraudulent
work would work greater injustice than
o leave II as it is. II IL would. ne
Mould not interfere. IL II would not. he
hould interfere. But, as matters now
tand, Mr.. Cleveland should refer the
Whole matter 10 Congress