The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-17
SECRETARY FOSTERS LETTER
Sent to the President in Connection with
the Hawaiian Treaty.


WAsHINGToN, Feb. 1.-THE following
Is Secretary of State Fosters letter to
President Harrison in connection with the
Hawaiian treaty:
To THE PRESIDENT: The undersigned.
secretary OF state, has the honor to lay be-
fore the President, with view to obtain
ing the advice and consent OF the Senate
thereto, should such course be in
the judgment OF the President for the
public interest, treaty, signed at Wash
ington on the 18th day OF February in
stant, by the undersigned and the accred-
tied commissioners of the existing pro-
visional government of the Hawaiian ISL
ands, in representation OF their respectiv i've
governments, for the full and absolute
cession of the said islands and all their
dependencies to the United States forever
with provisions for the temporary gov
ernment of these islands, under the SOW
ereign authority of the United States, un-
til Congress shall otherwise enact.
With this treaty, the undersigned sub
mits to the President copies of the cor
respondence recently exchanged, showing
the course of events in the Hawaiian ISL
ands az respects the overthrow OF the late
monarchial form of government, the crea-
ton OF provisional government thereof
in the name of the Hawaiian people, he
recognition of the same bv the represt n
tatives there of the United States and OF
all other powers, the despatch of a com
mission TO this capital to negotiate for a
union OF the government of the Hawaiian
islands with the government of the United
States and the outcome OF those negotia-
tions in the treaty herewith submitted.
The change OF government in the Ha-
waiian islands, thus chronicled,
Was Entirely Unexpected,
so far as this government was concerned.
1t is true that for some months past the
Hawaiian press, and the advices received
from the diplomatic and consular repre-
sentatives at Honolulu, indicated political
uncertainty, party intrigues and legisla-
tive opposition, but not more so than at
many times in the past history of the ISL
ands, and certainly not suggestive OF an
overthrow of the monarchy through pop
uar resistance TO the unconstitutional
acts OF the late sovereign.
At no time had Mr.. Stevens been in
structed with regard to his course i'm the
event OF revolutionary uprising. The
well established policy OF this govern
ment, maintained on many occasions
from its earlist establishment, to hold re-
lations with any government in posses
sion 90 the effective power OF the state,
and having the acquiescence of the gov
erned, being ample to meet unforeseen
contingencies, no instructions in this
specific sense were indeed necessary; and
the minister, without explicit instruc-
tions, was expected and constrained to
use his best judgment in accordance with
fundamental precedent, as the emergency
should arise.
The change was, in fact, abrupt and un-
looked for by the United States minister
or the naval commander. At a moment
OF apparent tranquility, when the political
excitement and controversy OF the imme-
diately preceding three months had been
TO all appearances definitely allayed, and
when, as appears from dispatches from
the minister, and from the commanding
officer OF the Boston, a settlement of dir
ferences TO have been reached, Minister
Stevens quilted the capital for brief ex-
cursion of ten days to neig ghboring ISL
and
On the "Boston."
the only naval vessel OF the United States
at the islands. On returning to Honolu-
In, on January ID, the crisis was found to
be in full vigor, and to have already
reached proportions which made inevita-
BILE either the success OF Queen Liluckala-
mis- attempt to subvert the constitution
by force, or the downfall OF the monarchy.
On Saturday, the 14th OF January, the
capital was wholly controlled by the royal
troops, including large additional force
OF over 800 armed men not authorized by
Hawaiian law. On the same day, the first
call to arms in opposition to the Queen
was issued, and the citizens committee OF
safety was developed. During most OF
the 18th, 18th and most OF the 18th, the
two parties confronted each other in an
CRY hostility, with every indication OF an
armed conflict at any moment. IL was
not until late In the afternoon OF Monday,
the 18th, after request for protection had
been made by many citizens OF the United
states residing I'm Honolulu, that forces
OF marines were landed from the Boston,
Dy direction OF the minister and i'm con-
formity with the standing instructions
which for many years have authorized the
naval forces of the United States TO CO.
operate with the minister for the protec-
tion OF the lives and property OF Ameri-
can citizens in case of immediate disor-
der.
The marines when landed took no part
whatever toward influencing the course