The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-12-23
WHAT THE THING IS.

Annexationists in the United
States and Hawaii have been indulg-
ing in the profundities Of inter-
national law, to dig therefrom rea-
sons why it is impossible for the
Executive of the United States to
force the surrender of the Provi-
sional Government to the Queen.
Such would be an act of war on an
other nation say they, which is
forbidden by the Constitution to
the Executive without the consent
of Congress. The fact is that the
Provisional Government may at any
moment be thrown in the position
of choice between making war up
on the United States and submit
ting to the authority of the United
States Executive in recognizing an
other government as the legitimate
government of this country. With
out the consent of Congress the
United States Executive may place
the P. G. and all it's mercenary and
volunteer forces in a situation akin
to that of the Pittsburg and Chi
cago rioters, or of the wild Indians
who break away from their reserva-
tions to molest peaceful settlers.
In spite of the recognition of
Minister Stevens, illegally and
unconstitutionally given as it was,
the Provisional Government has not
since January II held an independ-
ent position toward the United
States. For over two months it was
under the protection of the flag and
forces of the United States. Its
own shelved treaty of cession of the
islands to the United States is all
the testimony needed to prove that
it has-in spite Of Minister Thurs
tons denials-placed its cause Who'll
ly in the arbitrament of the United
States. In this connection we quote
the following pointed article from
the New York Post:
A large number Of the writer's who
are claiming for the present Ha
waiian Government the rank, honors
and immunities of an Independent
nation, and denouncing Mr.. Willis
for saying he will permit no disorder
at Honolulu, seem to forget that the
Hawaiian Government has not made
; this claim for itself. The present
government is, by its own showing
simply a provisional government or
> ganized for the sole purpose of get
ting the country annexed to tn,
. United States. It has never claimed
to be an independent republic, o
oligarchy. or anything else known
l to international law. A de Eacto gov
!, ernment, created for the sole pur
;, pose of giving the country ava,
to foreigners, has no standing il
9 the family of nations. We canno
= make war on it, because we can
S not make peace with it. The theor,
a that the little bureau sitting at He
nolulu is "a nation" was never hear'
u until Mr.. Cleveland withdrew tn
h treaty from the Senate. 1t remain
to be seen whether we shall anne
Hawaii or not. Mr.. Cleveland Nigh
a still decide that this is the bes
- to be done. Pending that decision
. we are morally responsible for tn
II peace and good order of the Island.
It The notion that should he ovel
O throw the present government, G
!. police the streets of Honolulu, h
% will be making war" on somebod
D is hallucination. The present goN
g ernment has never declared it's ind,
D pendence, or set up in business fc
" itself. 1t is simply a police con
. mission, keeping the peace pendin
d the action of the United States.
.