Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-12-28

$4,000 ny III las
representing the United States in that
country. he evidently had an ardent
desire that it should become a fact ac-
complished by his agency and during
his ministry, n was not inconyeniently
scrupulous as to the means employed 70
that end. Of course the assumption of u
protectorate was promptly disavowed by
our government, but the American fig
remained over the government building ut
Honolulu, and the forces remained on
guard until April, and after Mr.. Bloumts
arrival on the scene, when both were re-
moved.
Here follows a brief statement of the
occurrences following Mr.. Blount's ar
rival on the scene. together with extracts
, from his report which has elready been
published.
The president then sums up the condi-
ions of the situation as follows: The
lawful government of Hawaii was over
thrown without the drawing of n sword
or the firing of a shot by a process every
step of which, it may safely be asserted,
is directly traceable to and dependent for
it's success upon the agency of the Unit
ed States government through It's di-
plomatic and naval representatives. But
for the notorious predictions Of the
United States minister for annexation
the committee of safety, which should be
called the of annexation would
never have existed. But for the landing
of the United States forces upon false
preteXts respecting the danger to life
and property the committee would never
| have exposed themselves to the pains
and penalties of treason by undertaking
the subversicn of the queens government.
| But for the presence of the United States
force in the immediate vicinity and in
position TO afford all needed protection
and support the committee would not
have proclaimed the provisional govern
! ment from the steps of the government
building and finally. but for the lawless
occupation of Honolulu under false pre-
texts by the United States forces, and
but for Minister Stevens recognition of
the provisional government when the
United States forces were its cole support
and constituted its only military strength,
the queen and her government would new
er have yielded to the provisional govern
ment, even for a time, and for the sole
purpose of submitting her case to the
enlightened justice of the United States.
Believing, therefore. that the Uniteo
States could not, under the circumstances
disclosed, annex these islands without
justly mourning the imputation of ac-
quiring them by unjustifiable methods, |
shall not again submit the treaty of an
nexation to the senate for its considera-
ton. and in the instructions 10 Minister
Willis, a copy of which accompanied
this message, / have directed him to so
INFORM the OTONlSlOlldl eONeTHlllellt, bul
in in he present instance our duty does
not, in my opinion, end with refusing
to conSumate this questionable transac-
ton. Ii is the boast of our government
that it seeks to do justice in all things
without regard to the strength or weak
ness of those with whom it deals, | mis-
take the American people if they favor
the odious doctrine that there is no such
thing as international morality, that
there is one law for a strong nation and
another for n weak, and that even by
indirect means a strong power may
with impunity despoil a weak one of its
territory. BY an act of war committed
with the participation of n diplomatic
representative of the United States and
without authority of congress, a govern
ment of n feeble but friendly and con-
tiding people has been OverthrOwn.
A substantial wrong has thus been
done, which a due regard for our national
character as well as the right of the "a
jured people required that we should en-
deayor to repair. The provisional gov
eminent has not assumed a republican or
other constitutional form, but has re-
manned q mere executive council ! or
oligarchy, set up without the assent of
the people. 1t has not seen fit 70 find a
permanent basis for popular support and
has given no evidence of an intention to
do so. Indeed, the representatives of
that government assert that the people of
Hawaii are unfit for popular government
and frankly avow that they can best be
fuled By arbitrary or despotic power.
The law of nations is founded upon rea-
son and justice and the rules of conduct
governing individual citizens or subjects
of a civilized state as equally applicable
as between enlightened nations. The
considerations that international law is
without a court for its enforcement, and
that obedience to the commands practl-
cally depends pom good faith instead OF
upon the mandate of a superior tribunal,
only give additional sanction TO the law
itself, and brand any deliberate infrac-
ton of it not merely as a wrong but as n
disgrace. A man of true honor protects
the unwritten word which binds his con-
science more scrupulously, if possible,
than he does the bond, the breach of
which subjects him to legal Liabilities,
and the United States in aiming to main
tain itself as one of most enlightened
of nations would do its citizens gross in
justice if it applied to its internal rela-
tons any other than n high standard of
honor and morality. On that ground the
United States canno properly be put in
the position of countenancing a wrong
after it's commission any more than in
that of consenting to it in advance. On
that ground it cannot allow itself to re-
fuse to redress an injury inflicted
tuTOuSh an ubuSc VI pONtI. ny hhNti
clothed with it's authority and wearing
it's uniform, and on the same ground If
a feeble but friendly state is in danger OF
being robbed of its dependence and its
sovereignty by a misuse of power of the
United States, the United States cannot
fail to vindicate its sense of justice. by
an earnest effort to make all possible
PREPARATIONS. These principles apply to
the present case with irresistible force,
when the special conditions of the queens
surrnder of her sovereignty are recalled.
She surrendered not to the provisional
government, but to the United States.
She surrendered not absolutely II per.
manently, but temporarily and condi.
tionally, until such time as the facts
could be considerd by the United States.
Furthermore, the provisional government
aoquiesced in her surrender, in that man.
ner, and il those terms not only by their
consent, but through the positive acts of
some members of the government who
urged her peaceable submission, not
merely to avoid bloodshed, but because
she could place implicit reliance upon the
justice of the United States. and that
the whole subject would be finally con.
sidercd at Washington.