St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-19
THE HAWAIIAN MESSAGE.

The promised message of the presi-
dent relative to affairs in Hawaii was
given the public yesterday. 1t will be
read with avidity, for it deals with an
event new in our national history, and
with few presidents in the history of
the world. 1t is concise statement Of
all the circumstances bearing upon the
overthrow of the constitutional govern
ment of the island, accompanied by a
scathing arralgnment of the course pur-
sued by Minister Stevens, and the
enunciatiou of sturdy honesty and
manly purpose that are alike honorable
to the man and the official who gives
them utterance.
overthrow of the monarchy in Hawaii,
i'll which American citizens, claiming
the protection OF our government, and
the American minister in particular,
bore leading part, has all along been
suspected. 1t is conclusively proven by
the facts set forth in the message. 1t is
SHOWN that as tar back as November,
1892 nearly fourteen months before any
overt act was committed at Honolulu,
state strongly inveighing against the
existing Hawaiian government, and
emphatically declared for annexation.
And on the day of the consummation of
the conspiracy he wrote to the state de-
partment: 1.-The Hawaiian pear is now
fully ripe, and this is the golden hour
for the United States to pluck it." The
minister is spoken of as one who evil
IDENTITY had an ardent desire that annex
alton should become fact accomplished
by his agency and during his ministry.
and was not inconveniently scrupulous
as to the means employed to that end"
After briefly detailing the crcum-
stances leading to the landing of the
United States marines at Honolulu,
meantime showing that no shadow of
necessity existed for their presence
save in the fears of the self-accusing
conscieuces of the members OF the pro-
visional government, the president
says:
Thus it appears that Hawaii was
taken possession of by the United
States forces without the consent or
wish OF the government of the islands,
or of anybody else, so far as shown, eX-
cept the United States minister. There
fore, the military occupation of Homo
lulu by the United States on the day
mentioned was wholly without justifica-
ton, either as an occupation by consent
or as an occupation neceSSitat ed by DAN
gers threatening American life and
property"
The conclusion arrived at by the
president, and that which will be
reached by every honest American
after full reading of the evidence
submitted, is that the officials of this
government were guilty of an Infamous
conspiracy to subvert and overthrow
friendly government, and that it is the
duty of this government to repair as
far as possible the injury done. The
president puts the case str ongly yet
Justly when he says:
Il mistake the American people if
they favor the odiouS doctrine that there
is no such thing as international moral
lty, that there is one law for a strong
nation and another for weak, and that
even by Indirect means a strong power
may with impunitY despoil weak one
of its territory. By an act of war COM
United with the participation of diplo-
OoSiieoIAfO VI ItIO ~ llllCu
States, and without authority of con-
greSs, a government of a feeble. but
friendly and confiding people has been
oVerthrOwn. A substantial wrong mas
thus been done, which due regard for
our national character, as we'll as the
right of the injured people, required
that we endeavor to repair"
"a bargain acquired in such a man.
ner," says the president. sis called by
familiar and unpleasant name when
found in private transactions"
And to this all self-respecting men
will agree, and thank the president for
his Intervention which S hlelded the
United States from being justly ca lied
a thief.