The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-11

III.
Mr. Stevens says: "The committee of pub
lie safety forthwith took possession of the
Government buildings and the treasury
and installed the Provisional Government
without the aid of United States troops.
This being an accomplished fact promptly
recognized the Provisional Government as
the de facto Government of the Hawaiian
Islands"
Secretary Fosters communication of
February Is to the President, laying before
him the treaty of annexation with the
view of obtaining the advice and consent
of the Senate thereto, says: "At the time
the Provisional Government took possession
of the Government buildings no troops or
officers of the United States were present or
took any part whatever in the proceedings.
When they were in full possession of the
Government the barracks, the police sta
ton and the whole potential machinery of
the Government United States troops were
landed to protect American property"
The special commi ssioners sent to Wash
ington by the Provisional Government to
negotiate treaty Of annexation made
statements that are utterly at variance
with the evidence. documentary or oral,
contained in Mr.. Blount's reports. They
are contradicted by the declarations aud
letters of Pres ident Dole and other annex
atonists and by Mr.. Stevens verbal ad-
missions to Mr.. Blount. The Provisional
Government was recognized when it had
little other than paper existence and
when the legitimate Government was in
full possession and control of the palace,
the barracks and the police stations.
Nv 60 I'm nd
the force landed from the Boston are all,
then. that excited apprehension in the
minds of the Queen her officers and loyal
supporters. 1t is fair to say that Secretary
Fosters statement was based upon infor-
nation which he had received from Mr..
Stevens and the special commissioners,
but l am unable to see that they we're de-
ceived. The troops were landed, not to
protect American life and property. but to
aid in overthrowing the existing Govern
ment Their very presence implied co.
ercive measures against it,
In the statement given to Mr.. Blount by
Admiral Skerrett, the ranking naval Off
Ger at Honolulu, he says: IF the troops
were landed simply TO protect American
citizens interests they were badly sta
toned in the hall; but if it was to aid the
Provisional Government they were wisely
stationed"
This hall was so situated that the troops
in it easily commanded the Government
building, and the proclamation was read
under the threat of American guns. l un-
derstand that very soon after the move
ment was initiated. if not at the beginning,
Mr.. Stevens promised the annexation
lists that as soon as they obtained pos
session of the Government building and
read the proclamation above referred to.
be would at once recognize them as the de
facto Government and support them by
landing troops of war from the ships then
in the harbor. and ne kept that promise.
This assurance was the inspiration of the
movement. and without it the annexation
lists would not have exposed themselves TO
the consequence of failure. They relied
upon other force, for of their own they
b ad none worthy of that name.
After the Provisional Government was
established by the action of the American
Minister and the presence of the troops
landed from the Boston its continued ex-
istence was due to belief that should an
effort be made TO overthrow it it would en-
counter the armed force Of Americans.
The earnest appeals 20 the American Min
ister for military protection by the officers
Of the Provisional Government after it had
been advanced shows the utter absurdity
II the claim that it was established by a
successful revolution of the people. These
appeals were confession by the men who
made them of their weakness and timid-
ity. Courageous men. conscious Of strength
and the righteousness of their cause, do
not thus act.
1t is now claimed that the majority of
the people who have the right of voting
under the constitution of 1877 have never
favored the idea of annexation to this or
any other Government. Mr.. Blount states
that while at Honolulu he did not meet
single aDneXationist who expressed a
willingness to submit the question to a
vote of the people nor did he meet with
one favoring that side of the question who
did not insist that if the islands were
annexed suffrage should be 30 restricted
as to give complete control to foreigners,
whites and representative annexationists.
The Government of Hawaii surrendered
its authority under threat of war until
such time only as the Government of the
United States, upon the facts being pre-
ScutcQ w olOulu iOtuobdbC buc COustibu-
| tional sovereign and provisional govern
ment was created. "To exist until the
terms of union with the United States of
America had been negotiated and agreed
| upon"
A careful consideration of the facts, will,
l think, convince any one that the treaty
which was withdrawn from the Senate for
| further consideration should not be resub-
mitted for action. Should not the great
wrong done this feeble, independent state
by an abuse of authority of the United
States be undone by restoring the legiti-
mate Government? Anything short of
that will not, respectfully submit satisfy
the demands of justice.
Can the United States consistently insist
that other nations shall respect the inde-
pendence of Hawaii while not respecting
it themselves? Our Government was the
| first to recognize the independence of the
islands and should be the last to assume
sovereignty over them by force and fraud.
Respectfully submitted.
w. @. GRESHAM
DONE BY INDIRECTION.
Was Cleveland Afraid tO Take the