The morning call., 1893-12-13

island for mobiles was 1910. all told. There
were over 200 voters at the masS-meeting,
representing over four-fifths of the white
vote. Suppose similar meeting had been
held in San Francisco. and four-fifths of
the vote of the great State of California
had been in attendance. how many would
have been there? Figure this up and the
people of the United States may be able
to form some conception of what the mass
meeting in Honolulu last Saturday night
was to the people here.
The first speaker of the evening was f.
w. Hatch, Vice-President of the Provi.
sional Government of Hawaii, and during
President Dole's recent illness the acting
President. Mr.. Hatch is president of the
Annexation Club, and, as may be expected,
a staunch advocate of the cause. One of
the most prominent attorneys in the
islands, an eloquent speaker. who has the
nerve TO make public the courage Of his
convictions, and quiet. unassuming gen.
tleman, he is the idol OF the annexation
party here and is respected alike by both
royalists and Americans. for | take II that
under existing conditions in these islands
no true American can be otherwise than
an annexationist after reading Gresham's
letter. Mr.. Hatch spoke as follows:
Fellow citizens: You have been invited 10
meet tonight 10 consider our present political
situation. We are confronted by the declara.
ion of Secretary Gresham hat royalty must be
restored and our Government destroyed A
kind providence has gwen US this opportunity
TO be heard before final action will be taken
upon this issue. at PRESENT we are proceeding
merely upon The newspaper reports which have
been received here and which certainly we
have a right 20 discuss. We do not know what
action will b. taken nor whether it will be
taken by the President or by Congress. Ger
tainly any action taken by the Congress OF the
United States of America cannot be resisted by
anybody in this community. Let US not be
misunderstood or misrepresented by
hostile press. We do not meet here to-
night to defy the power OF the United
States-that would be absurd, gentlemen; nor
TO vify those at pr sent In charge of the Gov-
eminent OF the United States tCrieS of "Hear.
near" and apllause.l But we meet with the
hope that our words will be heOrd by Congress
before action Is taken by that body. There are
certain features in the letter Of Mr. Gresham
10 the President which show that he Is pro-
ceedng upon false assumption. Let US hope
that the distinguished Secretary has been mis-
Informed up to this date. 1t is certainly our
prtrogative 10 point out the false assumptions
and 10 challenge them. Now, chief among
those false assumptions IS the one which seems
TO underle the whole letter. that there has
been submitted to the arbitration OF the
President OF The United States the ques-
tiOn whether or not we had right to
establish a Government in Ibis country.
Gentlemen, l challenge that assumption.
lGTeat applause, cheers and cries of YOU'RE
right."l The assumption is false In every re-
spect. lCheers and applause.l Let me briefly
point out why. Two parties can make a con-
tact, but it requires the consent OF three To
make a valid al duration, that OF the two par.
ties IN interest and the arbitrator. The parties
must clearly define the subject-matter OF the
arbitration. IL is absurd 10 contend that there
could be any arbitration by Inference or I'M
putation. First-Has there been any issue
framed has the Provisional Government sub
mitted 10 the decision of anybody its right to
exist? [Cries of mo, no."l Not one word or
one act can be produced in support of thar con-
Iention. Gentlemen. from .iie latIre of things ?.
Government which started In revolution, though
now The Government de jure as we'll as
de facto, could not submit the question Of the
legality OF lis existence to any arbitration be-
cause its right lay In Its might. Having salts
fed our eOnsciences as to the business of our
cause, we depend upon our might, aDi are an
swerable 10 no other power. Applause.l l
brand as false the claim that we have put In
issue the question whether or moi we were pro-
ceeding legally In oyerturning a corrupt and
rotten monarchy. tGreat applause. cheers and
cries uf Hear. hear."l Second-Has the Presi-
dent OF tie United States up TO This point pre-
tended to have been acting in judicial capac-
lty? i say his acts do not justify that assump-
tion. An arbitrator or judge would not in
teriere with the existing status OF the parties
On gaining his seat the President Of the United
States Immediately lowered the American
flag and thereby changed the status of the par
ties. [Cries OF "Hear. hrar."] That was not the
act of a judge, gentlemen. Again has he
noIihed anybody that he was proceeding with
judicial investigation? Has he given any no
lice that hearing would be had on such a
date? Has he notified anybody the with sses
were being examined? Has h given any BODY
an opportunity 10 crOss-examine those wit
nesses or to confront them? Has lie given any
body on our side the opportunity TO be heard !?
GCrIes OF mo, no; he never has."l Now, we
do not need the legal knowledge of that dIsIn-
gushed Judge who is now Secretary of State TO
know that no arbitration could stand for a mo-
ment IN law, however Insignificant the matter,
which was conducted ex parte, without an
opportunity 10 be heard; without an in
spectiOn OF the evidence which has been
produced, or opportunity to cross-exam-
inc the witnesses. How was the late
arbitration conducted IN Paris? Did a
number of gentlemen get together on
the BerIng Sea question and in private decide
upon that matter? Did they send private
agent OFF 10 Berng Sea TO look about and
scratch the back of the seals Ilaughterl, inter-
view the neghbors and make a report?
Laughter. cheers and applause.l Gentlemen,
IL can hardly be commended that the Provisional
Government and we representing the support
ers of that Government have submitted our
right to exist 10 Colonel James II. Biount of
Georgia. LApplause.l The President of the
United States had the undOuDted right, so far
as we were concerned. to examine into the
sIatus here the situation OF the country, as
bearing on the question whether or not he
should continue negotiations of union pendln z
when he took his seat as President. That was
ostensibly the object for which Colonel Blount
was sent TO these shores. We insist that up to
this point there has been no judicial investiga-
tlon in which both parties have been given the
opportunity TO be heard (Applsusel And
| again. as showing conclusively The utter absur-
| dity OF the position that this has been an
| arbitration, could an arbitration Of such a
nature be possible when the Government of the
| United States had treaty pending before il,
between 1t and the power which it is charged
was submitting its rights to exist to the deci-
sion of one man? lCTies of NO. no."1 We
4