Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-12-18

remained mere executive council or
oligarchy, set up without the assent OF
the people. 1t has not sought to find q
permanent basis Unpopular support and
has given no evidence of an intention
to do so. Indeed, the representatives
of that government assert that the peo-
pie of Hawaii are unfit for popular gov
eminent and frankly eyow that they
can be best ruled by arbitrary or des-
potic power.
The law of Il. tons is founded upon
reason and justice: and the rules of
conduct governing individual relations
between citizens or subjects of q civil
lied state are equally applicable as be-
tween enlightened nations. The con-
siderations that international law is
without court for its enforcement,
and that obedience to its commands
practically depends upon good faith.
instead of upon the mandate of su.
perior tribunal, only give additional
sanction to the law itself and brand
any deliberate infraction of it not mere
ly as wrong but as a disgrace. A
man of true honor protects the unwrit-
ten word which binds his conscience
more scrupulously, if possible, than he
does the bond 4 breach of which sub
iects him to legal liabilities and the
United States in aiming to maintain it
self as one of the most enlightened of
nations would do its citizens gross in
justice if it applied to its international
relations any other than high stand
ard of honor and morality. On that
ground the United States can not prop
erly be put in the position of counte-
nancing a wrong after its commission
any more than in that ofconsenting to it
in advance. On that ground it can not
allow itself to refuse to redress an in
irlrv inflicted through IN abuse of pow
er by officers clothed with its authority
and wearing lis uniform and on the
same ground, if feeble but friendly
state is in danger Of being robbed OF
its independence and its sovereignty
by misuse of the name and power oil
the United States, the United States
can not fail TO vindicate its honor and
its sense of justice by an earnest effort
to make all possible reparation.
These principles apply to the present
case with irresistible force when the
special conditions of the Queens sur
render of her sovereignty are recalled.
She surrendered not to the provisional
government, but to the United States.
She surrendered not absolutely and
permanently, but temporarily and con
ditionally until such time rs the facts
could be considered by the United
States. Furthermore, the provisional
government acquiesced in her surrender
in that manner and on those terms, not
only by tacit consent, but through the
positive acts Of some members of that
government who urged her peaceable
submission, not merely to avoid blood
shed, but because she could place i'm
plcit reliance upon the justice of the
United States, and that the whole sub
ject would finally be finally considered
at Washington.
l have not, however, overlooked an
incident of this unfortunate affair which
remains to be mentioned. The men,
bers of the provisional government and
their supporters, though not entitled to
extreme sympathy, have been led to
their present predicament of revolt
against the government of the Queen
by the indefensible encouragement and
assistance Of our diplomatic representa-
tive. This fact may entitle them to
claim that in our effort to rectify the
wrong committed some regard should
be had for their safety. This senti-
ment is strongly seconded by my ankle
ty to do nothing which would invite
either harsh retaliation on the part OF
the Queen or violence and bloodshed in
any quarter In the belief that the
Queen, as we'll as her enemies, would
be willing to adopt such course as
would meet these conditions, and in
view of the fact that both the Queen
and the provisional government had at
one time apparently acquiesced in Il
reference of the entire case to the
United States government, and
considering the further fact that in
any event the provisional government
by its own declared limitation was only
"to exist until terms of union with the
United States of America have been ne
gotiated and agreed upon," | hoped
that after the assurance to the members
of that government that such union
could not be consummated l might
compass peaceful adjustment of the
difficulty.
Actuated by these desires and pur-
poses, and not unmindful Of the inhe-
rent perplexities of the situation nor of
the limitations upon my power, in
structed Minister Willis to advise the
Queen and her supporters of my desire
to aid in the restoration of the status
existing before the lawless landing Of
the United States forces at Honolulu on
the 10th of January last, if such resto-
ration could be effected upon terms
providing for clemency as well as jus
tice to all parties concerned. The con.
ditions suggested, as the instructions
show, contemplate general amnesty
TO those concerned in setting up the
provisional government and recogni-
ton of all its bona iide acts and obliga-
tions. In short, they require that the
past should be buried, and that the re-
stored government should reassume its
as if its continuity had not
been interrupted. These conditions
have not proved acceptable to the
Queen, and though she has been in
formed that they will be insisted upon,
and that, unless acceded to, the efforts
of the President to aid in the restora-
ton of her government will cease,
have not thus far learned that she is
willing to yield them her acquiescence.
The check which my plans have thus
encountered has prevented their pre-