The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-12-28

1 forces of the United States had been used to overthrow the queens govern ment The alleged plot to overthrow the queen and the landing of troops from the Boston are also related, on which the president says:
 This demonstration uron the soil of Honolulu was of itself an act of war, unless made with the consent of the government of Hawaii or for the bona hde purpose of protecting the imper fled lives and property of citizens Of the United States But there Is no pretense Of any such consent on lhe part of the government of the queen, which was at that time undispuled and both the de facto and de iure gov rnment In point of fact the existing government instead l or requesting the presence of an armed force pr tested against it.
 There is us little basis for the pretense that such forces were landed for the security of American life and property If so, they should have been stationed in the vicinity of such property and so as to protect it instead of at Q distance and so as to command the Hawaiian government building and palace Adm. Sker. rett the officer in command of our naval force on tRe Pacific station. has frankly stated that in his opinion the location o, troops was inadvis- able if they were landed for the protection of A'erican citizens whose residences and places of business well as the legation and cons ate were in distant part of the city. but the loca- ton selected was a wise one if landed for the purpose Of supporting the provisional govern. ment Thus it appears that Hawaii was taken possession Of by the United States forces without the consent or wish of the gov ernment of the islands or anybody else so far as shown except the United States minister.
 The anomalous state of affairs that followed is then discussed and the course of Minister Stevens is declared to be without diplomatic warrant The president says:
 believe that candid and thorough exam. nation of the facts will force the conviction that the provisional government owes it's exist. ance to an armed invasion by the United States Fairminded people with the evidence before them will hardly claim that the Hawaii. an gOvernmenv-waS oVerthrown by The people of the islands or that the provisional govern ment has ever existed with their consent Ido no; understand that any member of this gov. ernment cllimS that the people would uphold it by their sufrages if they were allowed to vote on the question
 As appreheGd he situation, we are brought face to face with the following conditions:
 The lawful government of Hawaii was over thrown without the drawing Of q sword or the firing Of a shot, by process every step of which, il may safely be asserted, is directly traceable 10 and Gapendcnt for it's success upon the agency of the United States government through it's diplomatic and naval repceSents- tiyes
 But for the notorious predilections of the United States minister for annexation the com mittee of safety, which should be called the committee O! annexation, would never have existed
 But for the landing of The United States forces upon false pretexts respecting the dan ger to life and property the committee would never have exposed themselves 10 the pains and penalties Of treason by undertaking the subversion Of the queens government
 But for the presence of the United States forces in the immediate vicinity and in posi-. tion to afford all need protection and sup. port the committee would not have proclaimed the provisional government from the steps of the government building
 And, finally. but for the lawless occupation Of Honolulu under false pretexts by the United States forces and but for Minister Stevens recognition of the provisional government when the United States forces were it's sole support and constituted its only military strength the queen and her government would never have yielded to the provisional govern ment even foc Il time and for the sole purpo-e of submitting h -r case to the enlightened jus ticc of the United States
 Believing. theref re, that the United States could not under the circumstances disclosed, annex these islands wi hout justli incurring
 
 fable methods shall not ag in submit the treaty of annexation 10 the senate it's con. siderL tion, and in the instructions to Minister Willis a copy of which accompanies this docu- ment, have directed him to so inform the pro vis!onal government;
 The law of nations is founded upon reason and justice, and the rules of conduct governing individual citizens or subjects O a civilized Gf In e puually applicn bla aS pulipht- ened nations. The considerations that inter- national law is without court for its enforce ment and that obedience to the commands practically depends upon good faith instead Of upon the mandate Oi superior tribunal, only give additional sanction 10 the law itself and brand any deliberate infraction of 1t not merely as wrong but as u disgrace man of true honor protects the unwritten word which binds his conscience more scrupulously, if possible, than he does the bond a breach of which subjects him tolegai abilities and lhe United States in aiming to maintain itself us one of the most enlightened nations, would do its citizens gross injusti tice If it applied 10 its international relations any other than high stan Iard of honor and moral ity On that ground the United States cannot properly be put in the position Of countenancing a wrong after its commission any more than in that of consenIiug to 1t in advance On that ground it cannot allow itself to refuse to re-
 
 power by officers clothed with it's authority and wearing it's uniform. and on the same ground if a feeble but friendly state is in danger of being robbed of its independence and its sovereignty by misuse of power it cannot fail to vindicate it's honor and it's sense of justice by an earnest effort to make all possible reparaton These principles apply to the present case with ire sistible force, when the special conditions of the queens surrender of her sovereignty are recalled She surrendered not to the provision al government but to the United States. She surrendered not absolutely and permanent ly but temporarily and couditionally until such a time as the facts could be considered by the United States Furthermore the provisional government acquiesced in her surrender in that manner and on those terms not only by tacit consent. but through the positive acts Of some member Of the government who urged her peaceable submi Ssion. not merely to avoid bioodshed, but because she could place implicit reliance upon tha justice of the United States and that of the whole subject would be finally considered 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 supporters, though entitled to extreme sympathy, have been led to their present predicament of revolt against the government of the queen by the indefensble encouragement and