The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-19
THE CASE OF TEXAS.


Our country was in danger of occupy
ing the position of having actually set up a
temporary government on foreign soil for
the purpose of acquiring through that
agency territory which we had wrongfully
put In our possession. The cobtrol Of both
sides of bargain acquired in such manner
Is called by familiar and unpleasant
name when found in private transaction.
We are not without precedent showing
how scrupulOusly we have avoided such ac-
cusations in former days. After the peo-
pie OF Texas had declared their indepeDd-
ence of Mexico they resolved on the ac-
knowledgment of their Independence by
the United States that they would seek
admission into the United States. Several
months after the battle of San JaciDtO, in
which Texan independence was practically
| assured and established, President Jack
son declined to recognize it, alleging as
one OF his reasons that under the circum-
| stances lit became us to beware of too
early movement. as it might subject us,
| however uDJustly, to the imputation of
| seeking to establish the claim Of our
neighbors to territory with view to its
subsequent acquisition by ourselves"
This is in marked contrast with hastv
recognition of Government openly and
| cOncededly set up for the purpose OF ten
| dering US territorial annexation.
! l believe candid. thorough examination
of the facts will force the conviction that
| the Provisional Government owes Its
existence to armed invasion by the United
States. Fair minded people, with the evil
dence before 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 l do not understand that
any member of that Government claims
that the people would uphold it by their
suffrages if allowed to vote on the Ques-
| ton.
While naturally sympathiZing with every
effort to establish a Republican form of
Government 1t is the settled policy of the
United States to concede TO the people of
foreign countries the same freedom and
pendence in the management of their
domestic affairs we have always claimed
| for ourselves; and 1t has been our practice
TO recognize revolutionary Governments
as soon as it became apparent that they
were supported by the people. For illus
| tratiOn of this rule, need only refer to
the revolution IN Brazil in 1889, when our
Minister was instructed to recognize the
Republic $50 soon as the majority of the
people of Brazil should have signifed
their assent to its establishment and MAIN
tenance;' to the revolution in Chile in
1891. when our Minister was ordered to
recognize the new Government "if it was
accepted by the people," and to the revo-
luton in Venezuela in 1892 when our
| 1ot bot ,
the new Government WAS fully estab-
iished. in possession of the power of the
nation and accepted by the people"
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
AS l appreheDd the situation we are
brought face TO face with the following
conditions: The lawful Government OF
Hawaii was overthrown without drawing
a sword or firing a shot by process every
step of which. it may safely be asserted,
was directly traceable to and dependent
for its success upon the agency of the
United States Government through its
diplomatic and naval representatives.
But for the notorious prediction of the
United States Minister for annexation the
Committee OF Safety. which should be
called the Committee of Annexation, +"
would never have existed. But for the
landing Of United States forces upon false
pretexts respecting the danger to life and
property, the committee would never have
exposed themselves to the pains and pen
alties of treason by undertaking the sub
version of the Queens Government. But
for the presence of United States force in
the immediate vicinity and in a position
TO afford all needed protection and
support the committee would not have
proclaimed the Provisional Government
from the steps of the Government build
ing. Finally. but for the lawless occupa-
ton 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 its sole support and consti.
tuted Its only military strength, the Queen
and her Government would never have
yielded to the Provisional Government
even for time and ior the sole purpose OF
submitting her case to the enlightened
Justice Of the United States.
STUBBORN FOR RESTORATION.
Believing, therefore, that the United
States could not, under the circumstances,
disclose annexation to these islands with.
out justly incurring the imputation OF
acquiring them by unjustifable methods, ]
shall not again submit the treaty of an
nexation to the Senate for Its considera.
ton. and in the instructions to Minister
Willis, copy of which accompanies this