St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-21
LIGHT Is DAWNING.

The report of Minister Blount relative
to the manner i'll which the dethrone-
ment of Queen Liliuokalani was accom-
movement was in its origin and eXecu-
ton purely revolutionary; that it was
carried out in the interests of few I'M
Scrupulous men; and that it could never
have been successful except oy rea-
son of the support it received from
United States marines, landed from
the steamer Boston for the purpose
of protecting American interests,
but used without warrant to in
timidate the native government and
population, and to create the impress
sion that the revolution was sanctioned
and supported by the government of
the United States. Whatever its causes,
whatever its justification, no doubt re-
mains that it was government insti-
tuted by force and fraudulent pretenses,
and that the naval force of this govern
ment was used as catspaw to pull the
chestnuts of the IeyolutionistS out of
the fire.
These facts agree with the contention
of the GLOBE from the first. There is
no fact developed which lends to the
provisional government any color of
legal standing. 1t was usurpation of
authority, for which the United States
government was morally responsible by
reason of the support extended to the
revolutionistS by the unauthorized en-
plovment of marines, or, to be more eX-
plicit, by the false construction placed
by the revolutionists upon perfectly
legal proceeding. For it was proper
that the marines should be landed at
Honolulu for the purpose of protecting
the interests of our citizens, and il is
not shown that they attempted to eXer-
else any further authority. The revolu-
tioniSts, however, used their presence
as menace by which to force the abdi-
cation of the queen, who was in igno-
rance of the real situation.
Convicted of fraud and of falsely con-
STRUNG the necessary presence of
United States marines at the Hawaiian
capital, the provisional government has
no foot to stand upon. it is a recog-
nIzed rule of law that fraud vitiateS
contract, and it appears that the subse-
quent action Of the Washington govern
ment, through which the revolutionists
obtained partial recognition. was in
consequence of the fraudulent pretenSeS
of the junta. That quasi recognition,
therefore. cannot be binding, and both
in law and equity should be with
drawn.
= The facts stated by Minister Blount
are well sustained by the evidence
of partisans of the provisional govern
ment, as well as by partisans of the
queen. 1t is shown that Americans
were not the only offenders, but that
there were participants in the crime
owing allegiance to both Germany and
Great Britain. But the Americans
were the leaders of the conspiracy, and
to further their ends did not hesitate
to place our government in false and
lndefenSible position. By so doing
they not only robbed their cause of the
right to demand recognition, but ren-
dered themselves liable to punishment
for an invasion of the rights and terri
tory of friendly power. They were
filibusters in as complete legal sense
as was Walker, who suffered death in
1860 for his filibusterlng exploits in
Central America; or Ryan, who was
shot in Cuba in 1878 for invading that
island at the head of an armed force of
adventures.
The United States cannot afford to
become the defender of piracy either on
sea or land. The fact that the nation az
grieved is weak and powerless to avenge
wrong increases rather than dimin-
iShes our nsibility-increases rath-
er than diminishes the crime of its
assailants. When to the crime of
filibustering or piracy is added that of
placing our government in a false and
unworthy position the revolutionists
destroy whatever right they may have
ever had to protection OF recognition.
The light is beginning to shine upon
this Infamous business, and before long
we will have complete exposure of the
conspiracy through which the Harrison
administration sought to commit our
government 10 a policy having fraud
and piracy for its foundation, and con-
quest and personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for
ifs nurnOSe