The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-19

We are not without precedent In
showing how scrupulously we avoided
such accusation in former days. After
the people of Texas had declared their
independence Of Mexico. they resolved
| on the Acknowledgement of their in
dependence by the Uaited States; that
they would seek admission into the
United States. Several months after
| the battle of San Jacinto, in which
| Texas independence was practically
assured, and established, President
Jackson declined to recognize it, al
| leging, as one of his reasons in the
| circumstance, it became the United
states ''to beware of too early a move
ment as it might subject US, however,
| unjuStly, to the imputation OF seek
ling to establish a claim of our neigh
| bors to the territory with a view to
Its subsequent acquisition by our
selves
| This is in marked contrast with the
hasty recognition Of the government
lopenly conceded to be set up for the
purpose of rendering the United States
territorial annexation.
owes It's Existence to Force.
I believe a candid and thorough ex-
animation of the facts will force the
conviction that the provisional govern
ment owes its existence to an armed
invasion by the United States. Fair
minded people, with the evidence be-
fore them, will hardly claim that the
Hawaiian government was overthrown
by the people of the islands, or that the
provisional government ever existed
with their consent
I do not understand that any member
| of this government claims the people
would uphold it by their suffrages II
allowed to vote on the question While
NATURALLY sympathizing with every eff
fort to establish a republican form of
government it is the policy of the
United States to concede to the people
| of foreign countries the same freedom
and independence in the management
| of their domestic affairs as we have
ALWAYS claimed for ourselves; and 1t
has been our practice to recognize rev.
oIutionary governments as soon as it
became apparent they were supported
| by the people.
For an illustration of this rule, I
now only refer to the revolution in
Brazil in 1884, when our minister was
instructed to recognize the republic 80
soon as a majority Of the people of
Brazil should have Signified their assent
to its establishment and maintenance;
to the revolution in Chile in 1891, when
our minister was disposed to recognize
the new government, If it was accepted
| by the people; and to the revolution in
Venezuela in 1887, when our recOgni-
| ton was accorded on the condition that
the new government was fully estab-
ilished, in possession of the power of
| the nation, and accepted by the people.
AS apprehend the situation, we are
brought face to face with the follow
ling conditions: The lawful govern
ment Of Hawaii was oyerthrown with
out drawing a sword or firing a shot,
| by a process, every step of which, it
may safely be asserted, is directly
traceable to and dependent for its sue
! United States government. through
tits diplomatic and naval repre-
sentatives: but for the notorious
predictions Of the United States minis
/ ter for annexation, a, committee of safe
| ty-Which should be called commit
tee of annexation would never have
existed; but for the landing of the
United States forces upon the false pre-
text of purported danger to life and
property, the committee would never
| have exposed themselves to the pains
and penalties of treason by undertake
| ing the Subyersion of the queens gov
| eminent; but for the presence of the
! United States force in the Immediate
vicinity, and in a position to afford all
the needed protection and support. 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 pretexes by the
! United States forces, and but for Min
lister Stevens recognition of the pro-
DIVISIONAL government, when the United
States forces, its sole support and con-
stituted its only military strength. the
queen and her government would new
er have yielded to the provisional gov
! eminent even for time, and for the
| e.N1A Of rIx,off f1rr Iax.
to the enlightened justice of the United
| States.
| VIII Not Return the Treaty.
Believing, therefore, that the United
States could not under the circumstan-
ces disclosed annex these islands with
out justly mourning the reputation of
acquiring them by adjustable methods,
I shall not again submit the treaty of
annexation to the Senate for its con-
Isideration, and in instructions to Minis
ter Willis, a. copy of which accompan-
! les this message, l have directed him
to SO inform the provisional govern
ment; but in the present instance my
duty does not in my opinion. end with
| refusing to cOnSummate this question
able transaction. It has been the boast
of our government it aims to do JUS
tice in all things, without regard to
!
whom it deals. 1 mistake the Ameri-
can 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 anoth-
er for a weak one; and that even by
indirection, a strong power may,
with impunity, despoil a weak
one OF it's territory, by an act
|ofI war, committed with the
participate of the diplomatic repre-
sentative of the United States and
| without the authority of Congress.
A government Of a feeble, but friend
lily and confiding people. has been over
thrown. A substantial wrong has thus
been done, which due regard for our
national character, requires we should
Iendeavor to repair.
The provisional government has not
assumed q republican or other consti-
tutional form, but has remained a mere
executive council, or oigarchy, set up
with the assent of the people. 1t has
not seen fit to find a permanent basis
/ of support, and has given no evidence
1 of an intention to do So Indeed, the
i Representatives of that government as
Sert the people of Hawaii are unfit for
a popular government and frankly
Iavow they can best be ruled by an
arbitrary or despotic power. The laws
iof the nations are founded upon the
rules of justice and the rules of con-
duct governing individual citizens OF
Isubjects of a civilized state are equally
Applicable as between enlightened ma
| lions.
Considerations of international law
without a court for it's enforcement
and that obedience to commands prac-
tically depends upon the good faith
INSTEAD upon the mandate of the sure-
rior tribunal only give additional sane
ton to the law itself and brand any
| deliberate infraction of it not merely
as a wrong but as disgrace. man
of true honor protects the unwritten