People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-12-22
yid.uce a hand viii exhibit its character aad

II is unnecessary 10 set forth the reason
which in January, 1898. led considerable
portion OF American and other foreign mer
chants and traders residing in Honolulu 20
favor the annexation OF Hawaii TO ihe Unite
States 1t is sufficient 10 note the fact and 10
observe that the project was one which was
Zealously prompted by the ministe represent
ing the United States in that couRtry lie
evidently had an ardent desire that it should
become fact accomplished by his agency
and during his ministry and was not inconve-
niently ScrupulOus as to the means employed
10 that end
On the 18th day OF November lsg2. nearly
two months before the first overt act tending
toward the subversion Of the Hawaiian GOV
eminent and the attempted transfer OF Ha-
waiian territory 10 the United States, he ad-
dressed long letter TO the secretary CT state
in which the cause for annexation was elabOr
ately argued, on moral, political and economi-
cal grounds. He refers TO the loss TO the
Hawaiian sugar interests IRON the operation
Of the Mckinley bill and the tendency 10 still
further depreciation OF sugar property unless
some positive measure OF relief is granted
He strongly inveighs against the existing Ha-
Waiian government and emphatically declares
for annexation He says:
In truth the monarchy here IS an absurd
anachrOnism II has nothing on Which II
logically or legtimately stands. The ieuda
basis on which il onte stood no longer exist
10 good government and obstruction 10 the
prosperity and progress Of the islands
He further says:
AS a crown colony OF Great Britain or ter
ritOry OF the United States. the government
notifications could be made readily and good
administration of the law secured. Destiny
and the vast future interests OF the United
States in the Pacinc clearly indicate who At Il
no distant day may be responsible for the gov
eminent OF these Islands. Under u territorial
government tnev could be as easily governed
as any OF tic existing territories OF the United
States Hawaii has reached the parting OF the
ways She must now take the rold which
leads TO Asia or the other which outlets her in
J America, ives her an American civilization
and binds her 10 the care OF American destiny"
He also declares;
Zone OF two courses seems TO me absolutely
necessary to be followed, either bold and Wig
OrOuS measures for annexation or u customs
union an ocean cable from the California
coast TO Honolulu, Pearl harbor perpetually
cedcd to tine United States and an implied but
! not expressly stipulated, American protect
| crate over the islands. believe the former
| TO be the better that which will prove much
| the more advanta .cOuS to the islands and the
| cheaper ana less embarrassing in the end TO the
| United States il it Was wise for the United
States through Secretary Marcy lhirty-ei hi
| years ago TO offer 10 eXpend SlOO0OD TO secure
q
| chimerical or unwise 10 expend slO100 TO Sc.
| cure annexation in the near future To-day
! the United States has five times the wealth
| she possessed in 1851 and reasons now existing
| for annexation are much stronger than they
were then. I cannot refrain from expressing
| the opinion with emphasis that the golden
hour is near at hand"
These declarations certainly show dispo.
/ sition and condition of mind which may be
uSefuly recalled when interpreting the sig-
nihcanCe Of the minister's conceded acts or
| when considering the probabilities of such
conduct on his part Us may not be admitted
In this view 1t seems proper also TO quote
q letter written by the minister 20 the Secre-
| tary OF state on the 9Th day OF March 1872
nearly year prior to the first step taken
toward annexation. After stating the posi-
bility that the existing government OF Hawaii
might be overturned by an orderly and peace
| full revolution NJ mister Stevens writes as fol-
follows:
Ordinarily in like circumst 3uces Inc rule
seems to be TO limit the landing and movement
| Of the United States forces in fOreisn waters
and dominion exclusively to the protection OF
the United States legation and Of the lives
| and property Of American citizens But rs
the relation Of the United States TO Hawaii
are exceptional and in former years the United
States officials here took somewhat excep-
tional action in circumstances Of disorder,
]
and naval commander may deviate from es
tablished international rules and presidents
in contingencies indicated in the first part Of
this dispatch"
To minister Of this temper full of zeal for
annexation there seemed 10 arise in January.
1893 the precise opportunity for which he was
watchfully waitir an opportunity which by
timely deviation from established interna-
tional rules and precedentS' might be pro-
vided TO successfully accomplish the great OBJ
lect in view and we were quite prepared for
the eXultant enthusiasm with which in a letter
to the state department dated February
1898, ne declares: THE Hawaiian pear is now
fully ripe and this is the golden hour for the
United States TO pluck It. y
As further illustration Of the activity Of
this diplomatic representative attent on is
called to the fact that on the day the above
letter was written, apparently unable longer
TO restrain his ardor, he issued proclamation
whereby in the name Of the United States
he assumed the protection OF the Hawaiian
islands and declared that such action twas
taken pending and subject 10 negotiations at
Washington OF course this assumption Of a
protectOrate was promptly diSavowed by our
government, but the American flag remained
over the government building at Honolulu and
the United States forces remained on guard
, until April and Mr. Biounts arrival on the
scene, when both we're removed.
TIE OVERTHROW OF THE QUEEN.
A brief statement Of the occurrences that
led to the subversion OF the constitutional
government of Hawaii in the interests Of the
annexation of Hawaii to the United States
will exhibit the true complexion Of that trans
action On Saturday, January IL, 1892, the
queen Of Hawaii, who had been contemplating
the proclamation Of q new constitution, had IN
Difference to the wishes and remon strances Of
, her cIbinet renowned the project for the
: present at least Taking this relinQushei
3 purpose as basis Of action. citizens OF Hon
G olulu, numbering from fifty to 100, mostly res
4: ident aliens met in a private ONCE and selec
< ted a socalled committee Of safety, composed
0 Of thirteen persons, seven Of whom were
Q foreign subjects, and consisted Of fiyeAmeri
J. cans, one Englisman and one German. This
! | committee, though its designs were not re
1 vealed had in view NOTHING less than annexa
= tion to the United States and between Satnr
J! day, the lith and the following Monday, the
l. | 10th OF January--though exactly what actor
q vas taken may not be clearly disclosed they
i were certainly in communication with tn,
United States minister
Z, On Monday morning the queen and her cab
@ inet made public proclamation, with notice
/. which was specially served upon the repre-
d sentatives Of all foreign governments. thai
= any CuuuBtS III luC CouSNlNuliOu hOulu W
s sought only in the methods provided by thai
d instrument Nevertheless, at the call. ant
:. under the auspices Of the committee Of safety
q mass meeting Of citizens was held on tina
D. day TO protest against the queens alleged il
/; legal ana unlawful proceedings and purposes
Q Even at this meeting the committee of safet
l. continued TO dis use their real purpose anC
n contented themselves with procuring the pas
d sage OF resolution denOuncng tn
d queen and empowering The COMMITTEES
ct 10 devise ways and means Ito secur
IT the permanent maintenance OF law an
order and the protection Of life, liberty On
property in Hawaii. This meeting adjourne
between and 4 o'clock in the afternoon o
10 the same dIy and Immediately after such az
< tournament, the committee, unwilling 10 tax
u. further steps without the co operation Of th
Ia United. States minister, addressed TO him
=, note representing that the public safety wa
- :, menaced and that lives and property were /
IL danger, and concluded as follows: I'VE or
al unable TO protect ourselves without aid an
n. therefore pray for the protection o: the Unite
#. States forces" Whatever may be thought
n. the other contents Of this note, the absolul
"a truth OF this latter statement is inconteStabl