The herald., 1893-11-11

toned in the hall, but if it was to aid
the provisional government they were
wisely stationed"
This hall was so situated that the
troops in il easily commanded the gov
ernment building and the proclama-
tion was read under the threat OF Amer
ican guns. | understand that soon after
the inception OF the movement. If not
at the beginning, Mr.. Stevens promised
the annexationists that as soon as they
obtained possession of the government
building and read the proclamation
above referred to, he would at once rec
ognize them as the dc fseto government
and support them by the landing of the
troops OF the war ship then in the har-
bor. and be kept that promise. This
assurance was the inspiration of the
government, and without it the annexa-
tionists would not have exposed them
selves to the consequence of failure.
They relied upon other force, for as to
their own they had none worthy of that
name.
After the provisional government was
established by the action of the Ameri-
can minister and the presence of troops
landed from the Boston, its continued
existence was due to the belief that
should an effort be made to overthrow
it, it would encounter an armed force OF
Americans. The earnest appeals to the
American minister for military protec-
tion By the officers OF the provisional
government after it bas been advanced,
shows ths utter absurdity OF the claim
that it was established by q successful
revolution of the people. These appeals
we're a confession by the men who made
<i,a,x, of thar xuoo and tiasditv
Courageous men, conscious Of the
strength and righteousness OF their
cause do not thus act.
1t is now claimed that the majority of
the people who have the right of voting
under the constitution of 1877 have
never favored the idea Of annexation to
this or any other government. Mr..
Blount states that while at Honolulu he
did not meet a single annexationist who
expressed willingness to submit the
question to vote of the people, nor did
he meet with one favoring that subject
who did not insist that if the islanda
were annexed, the suffrage should be go
restricted as to give complete control to
forsigners-whites and representatives
of the snnexationists.
The government of Hawaii surren-
dered its authority under threat OF
war until such time only as the govern
ment of the United States, upon the
facts being presented to it, should rein
state the constitutional sovereign, and
the provisional government was created
to exist until terms of union with the
United States of America should have
been negotiated and agreed upon.
A careful consideration of the facts
will, l think. convince anyone that the
treaty which was withdrawn from the
senate for further consideration, should
not be resubmitted for action.
Should not the greaz wrong done
feeble independent state by an abuse of
authority of the United States be un-
done by restoring the the legitimate
government? Anything short of that
will not, l respectfully submit satisfy
the demands OF Justice. Can the
United States consistently insist that
other nations respect the independence
of Hawaii while not respecting it them
selves? Our government was the first
to recognize the independence of the
islands and should be the last to assume
sovereignty over them by force and
fraud. Respectfully submitted.
w. q. GRESHAM.