Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-18

stitute the provisional government, who
were certainly charged with the knowl-
edge that the queen instead of finally aban-
doning her power had appealed to the JUS
tice of the United States for reinstatement
in her authority; and yet the provisional
government with this unanswered protest
in it's hand fastened to negotiate with the
United States for the permanent Danish
ment of the queen from power and for
sale of her kingdom.
Compared With Texas.
Our country was in danger of occupying
the position of having actually set up
temporary government on foreign soil for
the purpose Of acquiring through that agen-
cy territory which we had wrongfully put
in its possession. The control Of both sides
of a bargain acquired in such a manner Is
called by a familiar and unpleasant name
when found in private transactions. We
are not without a precedent showing how
scrupulously we avoided such accusations
In former days. After the people Of Texas
had declared their independence of Mexico
they resolved that on the acknowledgment
of their Independence by the United States
they would seek admission into the Union.
Several months after the battle Of San
Jacinto, by which Texan independence was
practically assured and established, Presi-
dent Jackson declined to recognize it, al
leging one of his reasons that in the
circumstances 1t became us ito beware Of
a too early movement. as it might subject
US, however unjustly. to the imputation Of
seeking to establish the claim of our neigh
bors to territory with a view to its SUBJ
sequent acquisition by ourselves" This is
in marked contrast with the hasty recogni-
ton of a government openly and concededly
set up for the purpose of rendering to us
territorial annexation.
I believe that candid and thorough ex-
| animation Of the facts will force the convic-
ton that the provisional government owes
its existence to an armed invasion by the
United States. Fair-minded people with the
evidence before them will hardly claim that
the Hawaiian government was overthrow
by the people of the islands or that the pro-
visional government has ever existed with
their consent. / do not understand that any
member of this government claims that the
people would uphold it by their suffrages if
they were allowed to vote on the question.
While naturally sympathizing with every
effort to establish a republican form of gov
eminent, 1t has been the settled policy of
the United States to concede to people of
dependence in the management of their
domestic affairs that we have always
claimed for ourselves; and it has
been our practice to recognize revolution
airy governments as soon as 1t became
| apparent that they were supported by the
people For illustration of this rule need
| only to refer to the revolution in Brazil in
1889, when our minister was instructed to
recognize the republic $50 soon as q ma
jority of the people of Brazil should have
| signified their assent to its establishment
and maintenance" to the revolution in
Chile in 1891, when our minister was direct
ed to recognize the new government IF it
was accepted by the people; and to the revo-
luton in Venezuela in 1892, when our rec
ognition was accorded on condition that
the new government was ''fully established.
In Possession OF the power Of tho nation,
and accepted by the people"
Summing Up the Case.
AS I apprehend the situation, we are
| brought face to face with the following
conditions:
The lawful Government of Hawaii was
overthrown without the drawing of a
sword or the firing Of shot by a process
every step of which, IL may safely be
serted, is directly traceable to and depend
ent for it's success upon the agency of the
United States acting through it's diplomatic
and naval representatives.
! But for the notorious predictions of the
United States Minister for annexation, the
Committee of Safety, which should be called
the Committee Of Annexation, would never
have existed.
But for the landing of the United States
forces upon false pretexts respecting the
danger to life and property the committee
would never have exposed themselves to
the pains and penalties of treason by I'M
dertaking the subversion of the Queens
government
But for the presence of the United States
forces in the immediate vicinity and in
position to afford all needed protection and
support the committee would not have pro-
claimed tine provisional government from
the steps of the Government building.
And finally, but for the lawless occu-
patton of Honolulu under false pretexts by
the United States forces, and but for Min
ister Stevens recognition of the provisional
government when the United States forces
were it's sole support and constituted its
only military strength, the Queen and her
Government would never have yielded to
the provisional government. even for
time and for the sole purpose of submit
ting her case to the enlightened justice of
the United States.
| Believing, therefore, that the United
States could not, under the circumstances
disclosed, annex the islands without Justly
mourning the imputation of acquiring them
by unjustifable methods, shall not again
submit the treaty of annexation to the
Senate fot its consideration, and in the
instructions to Minister Willis, a copy of
which accompanies this message, / have
directed him to SO inform the provisional
government.
| The Duty of the Government.
| But in the present instance our duty does
not, in my opinion. end with refusing to
consummate this questionable transaction.
1t has been the boast of our Government
that 1t seeks to do justice in all things
without regard to the strength or weak
ness of those with whom it deals. l mis-
take the American people if they favor the
odious doctrine that there is no such thing
as International morality, that there is
one law for a strong nation and another
for a weak one, and that even by indrec-
ton a strong power may with impunity
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