The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-19

20 the United Sssses II is sufficient to
note tbs fact and observe thE. the project
as ore zeaicusiy promoted by tsr iasTsss-
ter repressn sins the United States in shst
country. He evidently hsd an srdens de-
sire that IL should become fact accom-
pllsbed By bis sgeney and during bis min
issry. and Was not incoavenlsntly scru-
pnsocs IS 20 the means sss ployed 20 that
cad On November 70, lsa2, nearly two
months Dsfore the hEss overt act tending
togard sGbye-xion OF the Hasaa gov
ernEnen. and afsenpsss transfer OF the
Hawaiian territory 20 the United States.
be addressed long letter 20 she secretary
OF state. ia wfIca the case for annexation
was eiarorzteIy argued on moral, political
and economical grognGs@ lie refers 20 the
loss Of the Hawaiian sugar interests from
the operation OF the Mckinley baIi. ard
the tencsncy OF 9Th further depreciation
Of sugar property unless some positive
measure Of relief were granted. lie strongly
inveighs against tie existing Hawaiian
government and emphatiesily declares for
annexation. lie says, In truth the
monarchy here IS an absurd anachronisn-
IL has nothing on which II logically or
!eg1timategy stands. Ihs feuda basis on
which II once stood no longer exists. The
monarchy nov IS only an impeachment to
good government aud an obstruction 10
the prosperity and progress Of the islands"
He further says, las crown colony Of
Great Britain or territory OF the United
States government notifications could be
male readily and good administration Of
Law secured. The destiny and vast future
interests OF the United States in the Pa
cite clearly indicate who at no distan:
day may be responsible for the govern
Juent Of these islands. Under o territorial
government they eoald be as easily gov
the nIsed States Hawaii has reached q
parting Of the ways She must now take
the road which leads 10 Asia or the other
which leads her TO America. gives her
American civilization and binds her TO the
care Of American destiny" He also de-
ciares: .One OF two courses seems TO
me absolutely necessary TO be followed,
either bold and vigorous measures for
annexation or q customs union, aud an
ocean cable from the California coast TO
Honolulu Pear harbor has been perpet-
ua.ly ceded TO the United States. with
an implied bat not expressly stipulated
American protectoraie over the islands. |
believe the former 10 De rhe better, that
which will prove much more advantageous
10 the islands aud cheapest and least en-
barrassing in the end TO the United States.
IL it was wise for the United States,
through Secretary Marcy. thirty-eight
years ago 10 offer to expend $780,
coo TO secure a treaty of annexation,
II certainly cannot be chiTaerical or
nexation IN the near future. Today the
United States has i've times the wealth
she possessed in 1854 and the reasons now
existing for annexation are much stronger
than they were then. Icannot refrain from
expressing the opinion with emphasis that
the golden hour IS st hand These deeiara-
tions certainly show a disposition and con-
d.tlon of mind which may be usefusly re-
called when interpreting the sign iicance
OF the minister's conceded acts, or when
considering the probabilities of sucn con-
duct on his part as may not be admitted.
In this view 10 seems proper to also quote
a letter written by the minister TO the
secretary of state on March 5, 1899, nearly
a year prior 10 the first step taken towards
annexation. After stating the possibility
that the existing government Of Hawaii
might be overturned by an orderly peace
fui revolution, Minister Stevens writes as
follows: Ordinarily, in like c.rcum-
stances, the rules seem TO be 10 limit the
landing and movement Of United States
exclusively To the protection of the
United States legation and of the
lives and property of American cit-
liens. but as the relations of the
United States to Hawaii are exceptional,
and in former years United States officials
here took somewhat exceptional action in
circumstances of disorder. | desire TO know
commander may deviate from established
international rules aud presidents In the
contingencies indicated in the first part of
this dispatch" To n minister of this tenn.
per, full of zeal for annexation. there
seemed to arise in January, 1893, this pre-
else opportunity, which by timely ''devia-
ton from established international rules
and presidents" might be improved to sue
cessfuily accomplish the great object in
view. and we are quite prepared for the
exultant enthusiasm with which, in let
ter to the state department dated February
|, 1888. he declares: "Ths Hawaiian pear
is now fully ripe. and this is the golden
hour for the United states 10 pluck it." As
a further illustration of the activity of this
diplomatic representative. attention is
called TO the fact that on the day the
above letter was written no was appar-
entity unable 20 longer restrain his ardor,
so he issued the proclamation, whereby,
I'm the name of the United States" he
assumed protection of the Hawaiian ISL
ands. and declared that said action was
taken pending and subject to the nego-
ttations at Washington Gty." OF course
this assumption of n protectorate was
promptly dssavowed by our government,
bat the American dag remained over the
government building at Honolulu aud the
forces remained on guard until April and
after RIount's arrival on the scene, when
both were removed.
4 brief statement of the occurrences that
led To the subversion of the constitutional
government of Hawaii In the interests of
annexation to the United States will ex-
hlblt the true complexion Of that transac-
tion. Saturday, January II. 1898, the
queen of Hawaii. who had been conteni-
plating the proclamation Of q new consti-
tuition. had. Ia Difference TO the wishes and
circumstances Of her cabinet. reuounced
the project, tor the present al least, TAX
ing this rehnauished purpose as = basis
OF action. citizens of Honolulu, numbering
fsom hi,v TO i01. mostly resident aliens.
met ia private Office and selected a So
called COMMITTEES of safety, composed of
thirteen persons, seven OF whom we're
foreign subjects, consisting of five Ameri-
cans, one Eugllshman aud one German.
THIS committee, though its designs were
hot revealed, had III view nothing less
than annexation 10 the United States, and
between Saturday. the I4th, and tins fol-
IoSing Monday, January Ii. though ex-
achy what action was taken NAV not re
Clearly disclosed. they were certainly in
communication with the United States
minister. Monday morning the queen
aud cabinet made public proclamation.
notice of which MAS specially served upon
the representatives OF all foreign govern.
ments, that any changes in the conxt.te-
t'on Would be sought only ia the methods
PROVIDED by that instrument. Nevershe-
less, al the cali aud under the aEspsceS of I
the committee OF safety, a mass meeting OF !
eluzens VAS held that day 10 protest against I
the queens alleged illegal aud Gnlaa fal I
proceedings and purposes. Even a. tais I
meeting the committee OF safely continued /
80 GsSga Sc AS real pGFpose, aud eontsntei +
themselves with procuring the passage of 4
a resolution denoauclng the queen and 1
emFoseTiHg the committee of WAYS and +
m at of is.