Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-18

one law for strong nation ana another
| Tor weak one, and that even by indirec-
ton strong power may with impunity
despoii a weak one of its territory.
| BY an act of war, committed with the
participation OF a diplomatic representative
OF the United States and without authority
OF Congress, the government of a feeble,
| but friendly and confding. people has been
overthrow. A substantial wrong has thus
been done which due regard for our
| of the injured people requires we should
endeavor to repair The provisional govern
ment has not assumed a republican other
| constitutional form, but has remained a
mere executive council oligarchy, set up
without the assent of the people. 1t has
not sought to find permanent basis of
| popular support and has given no evidence
OF an intention to do SO. Indeed, the represen-
| tatives of that government assert that the
| people OF Hawaii are unfit for popular gov
eminent and frankly avow that they can
be best ruled by arbitrary or despotic
| power.
The law of nations is founded upon reason
ana Justice, and the rules OF conduct govern
| ing individual relations between citizens or
subjects OF civilized state are equally ap-
| plicable as between enlightened nations
| The considerations that international law is
| without court for its enforcement, and
| that obedience to its commands practically
| depends upon good faith, instead OF upon
| the mandate of a superior tribunal, only
give additional sanction to the law itself and
| brand any deliberate infraction of 1t not
| merely as wrong but as q disgrace. A man
| OF true honor protects the unwritten word
which binds his conscience more scrupulous-
/ ~, II possible, than he does the bond a
| breach of which subjects him to legal liabil-
| tiles; and the United States in aiming to
| maintain itself as one of the most eniight-
ened OF nations would do its citizens gross
| injustice If 1t applied to its international re-
| latlons any other than high standard OF
honor and morality. On that ground the
| United States can not properly be put in the
| commission any more than in that Of con-
| senting to 1t in advance. On that ground 1t
| can not allow itself to refuse to redress an
injury inflicted through an abuse Of power
| by officers clothed with it's authority and
| wearing its uniform; and on the same
| ground, IL a feeble but friendly state is in
| danger OF being robbed of its independence
and Its sovereignty by a misuse of the name
| and power of the United States the United
| states can not fail to vindicate its honor
and its sense Of justice by an earnest effort
to make all possible reparation.
These principles al ply to the present case
with irresistible force when the special con-
| citlonS OF the Queens surrer der of her SOW
| ereigrty are recalled. She surrendered not
TO the provisional governn. emit but to the
| United States. She surrendered not abso-
| iutely and permanently, but temporarily
and condtionally until such time as the
| facts could be considered by the United
states. Furthermore, the provisional gov
eminent acquiesced in her surrender in that
| manner and on those terms not only by
| tacft consent, but through the positive acts
OF some members of that government who
| urged her peaceful submission, not merely
| to avoid bloodshed, but because she could
place implicit reliance upon the justice of
the United States, and that the whole SUBJ
ject would be finally considered at WASH
ngton.
Interference of Americas Representa.
| l have not, however, overlooked an Incl
dent or this unfortunate affair which re-
mains to be menticred The members of
the provisional govern ment and their sup
porters, though not entitled to extreme
| sympathy, have been led to their present
predicament of revolt against the govern
ment OF the queen by the indefensible en-
couragement and assistance of our diplo-
matte representative. This fact may entitie
| them to claim that in our effort to rectify
the wrong committed some regard should be
| mad Tor their safety. This sentiment Is
strongly seconded by my anxiety to do
nothing which would invite either harsh re-
taliation on the part of the Queen or vio-
| lence and bloodshed in any quarter
| In the belief that the Queen, as well as
| her enemies. would be willing to adopt such
| course as would meet these conditions
and In view of the fact that both the Queen
| and the provisional government had at one
| time apparently acquiesced in a reference
| of the entire case to the United States Gov
| eminent, and considering the further fact
that in any event the provisional govern
pient by its own declared limitation was
| only Ito exist until terms of union with the
United States Of America have been nego-
tiated and agreed upon" / hoped that after
eminent that such union could not be con-
summated / might compass a peaceful ad-
tustment Of the difficulty.
Minister Willis Instructions.
Actuated by these desires and purposes.
and not unmindful Of the inherent perplexi-
ties of the situation nor of the limitations
upon my power, instructed Minister Will
lis to advise the Queen and her supporters
OF my desire to aid In the restoration of the
status existing before the lawless landing
of the United States forces at Honolulu on
the 10th of January last, IL such restora-
ton could be effected upon terms providing
for clemency as well as justice to all parties
concerned The conditions suggested. as the
instructions show, contemplate a general
amnesty to those concerned in setting up
the provisional government and a recogni-
ton of all its bona fide acts and obiiga-
lions.
In short. they require that the past should
be buried. and that the restored Govern
ment should reassume its authority as II its
continuity had not been interrupted. These
conditions have not proved acceptable to
the Queen, and though she has been in
formed that they will be insisted upon and
that unless acceded to. the efforts of the
President to aid in the. restoration of her
Government will cease, l have not thus far
learned that she is willing to yield them her
acquiescence. The check which my plans
have thus encountered has prevented their
presentation to the members of the proyi-
sional government, while unfortunate pub
lie Misrepresentation of the situation and
exaggerated statements of the sentiments
of our people have obviously injured the
prospects Of successful Executive media
ton.
1 therefore submit this communication
with its accompanying exhibits, embracing
Mr.. Blount's report, the evidence and state
ments taken by him at Honolulu the in
structIons given to both Mr.. Blount and
Minister Willis, and correspondence con-
nected with the affair in hand.
In commencing this subject to the ex-
tended powers and wide discretion of the
Congress, l desire to add the assurance that
/ shall be much gratified to cooperate in
any legislative plan which may be devised
for the solution OF the problem before us
which is consistent with American honor,
integrity and morality.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion,
Washington. December 1S, 1893