The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-12-19

statement th vhel tae president W.
led to submit the treaty to the senate
both the president and senate wer
misled
"The annexation project was on
sealously promoted by the minister rep
resenting the United States in tina
country On the 18th day of Novembe
! 1892, nearly two months before the frs
overt act tending towards the subver
sion of the Hawaiian government, ht
addressed a long letter to the sccretar,
of state in which annexation was elab
oratcly argued or moral, political, anC
economical grounds. To a minister OF
this temper, full Of zeal for annexation
there geemed to arise in January, 1898
he precise opportunity. We were quite
prepared for the exultant enthusiasm
with which, in his letter to the state
department dated February /, 1893, he
declares: The Hawaiian pear is now
fully ripe, and this is the golden hour
for the United States to pluck it. AS
Il further illustration of the activity of
this diplomatic representative attention
Is called to the fact that on the day
the above letter was written, apparent
ly unable to longer restrain his ardor,
he issued a proclamation whereby in
the name of the United States he as
sumed the protection of the Hawaiian
Islands, and declared said action was
taken pending and subject to nego-
tiations at Washington OF course
this assumption of a protectorate was
promptly disavowed by our govern
ment, but the American flag remained
over the building at Honolulu, and the
forces remained on guard until April,
and after Blounts arrival on the scene
when both We're withdrawn"
The president then reviews the cir
cumstances Of the overthrow of the
queen, and the establishment of the
provisionall government. AS to the
landing of the troops, the preside
says: "lf any peril TO life and prop
erty calling for any such martial array
had existed, Great Britain and the
other foreign powers interested would
not nave beer behiad the United States
in their activity n protect their citi-
zens. Thus it arLear; tha: Hawaii was
taken possession of by the United
States forces without the consent or
wishes Of the government of the is
lands or anybody else, as far as is
shown except the United States min
lister. Therefore, the military occupa-
tirn of Honolulu by the United States
was wholly without qualification, either
as an occupation by consent or necessl,
tated by dangers threatening American
life and property. When our minister
recognized the provisional government
the only bi sis upon which it rested
was the fact that a committee Of pub
lie safety had declared it to exist. 1t
was neither a government de facto nor
de jure. The queen yielded her author
ity to prevent collision of armed
forces and loss of life, and only until
such time as the United States should
review her cause The provisional gov
ernment, with this unanswered protest
in it's hand, hastened to negotiate with
the United States for the permanent
banishment of the queen from power
for the sake of her kingdom. Our coun-
try was in danger Of accepting the pos
ition of having actually set up a tenn
porary government on foreign soil for
the purpose of acquiring through that
agency territory which we had wrong
fully put in our possession. We are
OF without precedent showing haw
scrupulously we avoided an accusa-
tion in the case of Texas.
"As apprehend the situation, we
ere brought face to face with the fol-
lowing condition. The lawful govern
ment of Hawaii was overthrown, with
cut the drawing of sword or the fir-
ing Of a shot, by process every step
Of which, it may safely be asserted
was directly traceable and depended
for It's success upon the agency OF the
United States government through It's
diplomatic and naval representatives;
but for the lawless occupation of Homo
lulu under false pretexts by United
states troops, and but for Minister Ste
vens' recognition OF the provisional
government and the action of the Unit
cd states forces, its sole support and
constituted its only military strength
the queen and her government would
never have yielded to the provisional