The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-12-21

step of which. it may safely be asserted,
is directly traCeable to and dependent lCf
its success upon the agency or the Ohit-
I'd States government through It's dl-
plOmatic and naval representatives, but
Tor the notorious predictions of the
United States minister for annexation
the committee of safety, which should be
called the committee of annexation would
unvn" have. existed. But for the landing
of the United States forces upon false
rrelrNtS respecting the danger 10 HE
and property the committee would never
have exposed themselves to the pains
and penalties of treason by undertaking
the subvcrsicn of the queens government.
But for the pl essence of the United states
force in the immediate vicinity anu Ill
position to afford all needed protection
and support the committee would not
have proclaimed the provisional govern
ment from the steps of the government
building and finally, but for the lawless
occupation of Honolulu under false pre-
texts by the United States forces, and
but for Minister Stevens recognition or
the provisional government when the
United States forces were it's sole support
and constituted its only militaGy strength,
the queen and her government would new
er have yielded to the provisional govern
ment, even for Il time, and for the sole
purpose of submitting her case to the
enlightened justice of the United States.
Believing, therefore, that the tnlteo
States could not, under the circumstances
disclosed, annex these islands without
justly incurring the imputation of ac-
curing them by unjustifable methods. L
shall not again submit the treaty of an
ncxation to the senate for its considera-
ton. and in the instructions to Minister
Willis, copy of which accompanied
this message, l have directed him to so
inform the provisional government, but
in in the present instance our duty does
not. in my opinion, end with refusing
to consumate this questionable transac-
tion. 1t is the boast of our government
that 1t seeks to do justice i'll all things
without regard to the strength or weak
ness of those with whom 1t deals, 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 weak, and that even by
indirect means strong power may
with impunity despOil a weak one of its
territory. By an act of war committed
with the participation Of diplomatic
representative of the United States and
without authority Of congress, a govern
ment of a feeble but friendly and con-
tidng people has been OverthrOwn.
A substantial wrong has thus been
done, which a due regard for our national
character as we'll as the right of the in
jured people required that we should en-
deavor to repair. The provisional gov
ernment has not assumed republican or
other constitutional form, but has re-
manned a mere executive cOunci or
Oligarchy set up without the assent of
the people. 1t has not seen fit to find Il
permanent basis for popular support and
has given no evidence of an intention to
do so. Indeed, the representatives of
that government assert that the people of
Hawaii are unfit for popular government
and frankly avOw that they can best be
fuled by arbitrary or despOtiC power.
The law of nations is founded upon rea
son and justice and the rules of conduct
governing individual citizens or subjects
of civilized state as equally applicable
as between enlightened nations. The
considerations that international law is
without Il court for its enforcement, and
that obedience to the commands prActi-
cally depends upon good faith instead of
upon the mandate of a superior tribunal,
only give additional sanction to the law
itself, and brand any deliberate infrac-
ton of it not merely as a wrong but as
disgrace. A man of true honor protects
the unwritten word which binds his con-
science more scrupulOusly, if possible,
than he does the bond, the breach of
which subjects him to legal liabilities.
and the United States in aiming to main
tain itself as one of most enlightened
of nations would do its citizens gross in
justice if it applied to its internal rela-
tiOns any other than a high standard of
honor and morality. On that ground the
United States cannot properly be put in
the position of cOuntCnancing q wrong
after it's commission any more than in
that of consenting to it in advance. On
that ground it cannot allow itself to re-
fuse to redress an injury inflicted
IL oh,
clothed with its authority and wearing
its uniform, and on the same ground if
a feeble but friendly state is in danger of
being robbed of its dependence and its
sovereignty by a misuse of power of the
United States, the United States cannot
fail to vindicate it's sense of justice, by
an earnest effort to make all possible
reparations. These principles apply to
the present case with irresistible force.
when the special conditions of the queens
Surrnder of her sovereignty are recalled.
She surrendered not to the provisional
government, but to the United States.
She surrendered not absolutely and per-
manently, but temporarily and cOndi-
tiOnally, until such time as the facts
could be considerd by the United States.
Furthermore, the provisional government
acquiesced in her surrender, in that man
ner, and if those terms not only by their
some members of the government who
urged her peaceable submission, not
merely to avoid bloodshed but because
she could place implicit reliance upon the
justice of the United States, and that
the whole subject would be finally con-
sidered at Washington.
have not, however, overlooked an incident
Of this unfortunate affair, which remains
to be mentioned. The members Of the
provisional government and their slIp-
porters. though not entitled to extreme
sympathy, have been led to their pres
ent predicament of revolt against the gov
ernment of the queen by the indefensble
encouragement and assistance of our dip
lomatic representative. This fact may ell
title them to claim that in every effort
to reotify the wrong of the committee
some regard should be had for their
safety. This sentiment is strongly sec
Onded by anxiety 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 a course
as wCuld meet these conditions and in
view of the fact that both the queen and
the provisional government had at one
time apparently lcQuiesced in a reference
of the entire case to the United States
government and considering the further
fact that in any event the present govern
ment, by its own declared limitation, was
only Ito exist until terms of union with
the United States of America have been
negotiated and agreed upOn.''
l hoped that after the assurance to the
members of that government that such
union could not be consummated | might
compass peaceful adjustment of the diff
Guilty.
Actuated by these desires purposes, and
not unmindful Of the inherent Itarplexities
Of the situation, nor Of the limitations upon
my power, l instructed Minister Willis to
advise the queen and hre 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 restoration could be
effected upon terms providing for clemency
as well as Justice to all parties concerned
Ing conditions suggested. as the last In.
strlctions show, Contemplated a general am
nesty to those concerned in setting up the
provisional government and a recognition of
all its bona fide acts and obligations. In
short, they require that the past should be
buried and that the restored government
could resume Its authority as If it's contnu-
lty had not been interrupted
These conditions have not proved accept
able to the queen, and, though she has been
Informed that they will be insisted upon,