The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-12-28

1 1DZ Nit Vel VI the DTOciaIDaLlOn II
! was to exist until terms of Union
with the United States had been nego-
tiated and agreed upon The United
states Minister, pursuant TO agree
ment, recognized this Government,
and before D o'clock, in answer to an
inquiry on behalf of the Queen and
Cabinet, announced that he had done
so. When our Minister recognized
the Provisional Government il was
neither Government de facto nor de
Jure. This wrongful recognition by
the American Minister placed the
queen in position OF most perilous
perplexity. She knew she could not
Withstand the power of the United
States, but she might safely trust TO
its justice. Accordingly, some hours
after the recognition OF the Provis-
ional Government by the United
states Minister, the Palace, Barracks
and Police Station, with all the mill
tary resources of the country, were
delivered up by the Queen, upon rep
resentation made to her that her
cause would thereafter be reviewed at
Washington, and, while protesting,
she surrendered to the superior forces
of the United States, saying that she
| yielded her authority to prevent a
| collision of armed forces and loss of
life, and only until such time as the
| Government of the United States,
| upon the facts being presented to it,
| should undo its action and reinstate
her. The Provisional Government,
| with this unanswered protest in hand,
| proceeded to negotiate with the Uni
| ted States for the permanent Danish
| ment of the Queen from power and
| for the sale of her kingdom. / believe
that candid and thorough examina-
ton of the facts will force the convic-
| ton that the Provisional Government
owes its existence to armed invasion
! by the United States. AS 1 appre-
| bend the situation, we are brought
face to face with the following condi-
| tions: The lawful Government of
| Hawaii was overthrown without
| drawing sword or firing a shot, by a
| process every step of which it may
safely be asserted, is directly trace
able and dependent for its success
| upon the agency of the United States,
| acting through our representatives.
| But for the notorious predictions of
the annexation committee the idea of
annexation wonld never have ex-
listed. But for the landing of United
States forces the committee would
never have exposed themselves to the
| pains and penalties of treason by
! undertaking the subversion of the
queens Government. But for the
presence of United States forces the
committee would not have proclaim
ed the Provisional Government from
the steps of the Government build
ings, and, finally, but for the lawless
occupation of Honolulu under false
preteXts by United States forces, and
but for Minister Stevens recognition
OF the Provisional Government when
the United States forces were the sole
support OF the Queen, her Govern
ment would never have yielded to
the Provisional Government. Be-
lieving, therefore, that the United
States could not under the circum-
stances disclosed, annex the islands
without justly mourning the imputa-
ton of acquiring them by unjustifia-
bic methods, L shall not again submit
the treaty of annexation to the Senate
for its consideration. This decision
appears in the instructions of Minister
Willis, copy of which accompanies
this message. i have instructed him
to so inform the Provisional Govern
ment, but in The present instance our
duty does not, in my opinion, end
with refusing to consummate this
questionable transaction. 1t has been
the boast of our Government that it
seeks to do justice in all thingS 80; 80
out regard to the St. : -.''Sos, WlCn-
pon- e,,,S.t, -. Strength or weak
ness OF those with whom it deals. By
an act of war, committed with the
participation of the diplomatic repre-
sentative of the United States, with
out the authority of Congress, the
Government of friendly and confid-
ing population has been overthrown,
and a substantial wrong has thus
been done, which due regard for our
national character, as well as the
rights of the injured people, require
we should eudeavor to repair.
"The Provisional Government has
not assumed republican or other
constitutional form, but has remained
a mere executive council or oljgarchy.
1t has not sought to find permanent
basis of popular support; indeed, the
| representatives of that Government
assert that the people of Hawaii are
| unfit for popular government, anu
| frankly avow that they can best be
ruled by an arbitrary and despotic
power. The United States cannot
properly be put in the position of coun-
| tenancing the wrong after its commits
| sion any more than it can of consent
| ing that it shall advance on that
ground. 1t cannot allow itself to re-
| fuse to redress the injury inflicted
through abuse of power by officers
| clothed with it's authority and wear
| ing its uniform, and on the same
| ground if feeble but friendly State is
in danger of being robbed of its indie
pendence or its sovereignty by misuse
of the name and power of the United
| States, the United States cannot fail
! to vindicate its honor aud its sense of
| Justice by an earnest effort to make all
| possible reparatiOn."
In behalf of the queen as we'll as her
| enemies would be willing to adopt
| such a course as would meet these con-
| ditions and view as fact that both
! the queen and the Provisional Govern
ment had at one time apparently ac-
| quiesced in reference of the entire
case to the United States Government,
and considering the further fact that
the Provisional Government by its
own declaration was limited only to
exist until terms of union with the
| United States of America had been
negotiated and agreed upon. L bad
| further hoped, after receiving assur-
ances from the members of the Gov
eminent that such a union could not
be consummated, that peaceful adj
justment might be made without diff
Guilty. Actuated by these desires and
purposes, / instructed Willis to advise
the queen and her supporters of my
desire to aid in the restoration of the
| status existing before the lawless land
ing of the United States forces in
| Honolulu on the 18th of January last,