The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-12-04
MINISTER WILLIS ADDRESSED
BY THE PEOPLE.
He - Reminded That Interferrence
BY His Government Well Be
An Act of war-FuII Text
of the Protest.

HONOLULU, II. l., Dec. /, 1898.
To His Excellency ALBERT S.
| WILLIS, Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary of
the United States of America:
SIR-The undersigned, American
residents of Honolulu, in the Island of
Oahu, one of the Hawaiian Islands,
respectfully represent to Your Excel
lency that they are citizens of the
| United States of America and have
done nothing whereby to forfeit or
waive their full legal and constitu-
tional rights as such citizens.
That the undersigned made their
residences and homes and acquired
| and own property in the Hawaiian
Islands, relying on the rights secured
| and guaranteed by the Hawaiian
Constitutions of 1852 and of 1865,
which rights were confirmed and en-
| larged by the Constitution of 1887;
That on the 18th day of January
last the undersigned learned that it
was the determination of Liliuoka-
lani, then Hawaiian Sovereign, to
disregard and annul the rights of life,
liberty and property guaranteed, Sc
cured, confirmed and enlarged by the
said Hawaiian Constitutions, and
that she publicly proclaimed her de-
termination to repudiate the obliga-
tions imposed upon her by virtue OF
her oath of office as such sovereign to
support and maintain the Constitu-
ton of the Hawaiian Islands, and
publicly announced her intention to
govern this country pursuant to her
arbitrary despotic will to be proclaim
ed by public manifesto which she
called a new constitution.
That meeting of many citizens of
Honolulu was held upon the afternoon
of said day, which was attended by
John F. Colburn, then Minister of the
Interior, and Arthur p. Peterson, then
Attorney General, by whom it was
then pulicly stated that such was the
determination and intention of said
Liliuokalani, and that, If assisted by
the citizens, they would oppose the
same.
That on said 18th day of January,
the then legally constituted authori-
ties of the Hawaiian Islands were I'M
doubtedly and avowedly incapable of
controlling the elements of the
anarchy which was proclaimed and
intended by said Liliuokalani, or of
preventing impending mob violence,
or of keeping the public peace.
That in consequence and by reason
of the premises, a Committee of Public
Safety was chosen at said meeting,
and on the following Monday, at a
mass meeting of the citizens of Homo
lulu the said committee was author
lied to take measures requisite for the
public safety; that in conformity
herewith, on the 18th day of said
January, the present Government of |
the Hawaiian Islands was established |
and proclaimed, and has since gov |
erned and controlled the Hawaiian |
Islands, having been recognized by |
all foreign representatives in Homo
lulu, and having diplomatic and con-
sular representatives abroad, espe-
cially in the United States of America,
who have been and still are recognized
and treated as the only accredited
of the said Govern
ment.
That a treaty of annexation was
with said Government by
and in behalf of the United States
and that no public no.
tice has been given to the undersigned
Of any intention on the part of the
United States Government to break
off diplomatic relations with the Pro-
visional Government of the Hawaiian
Islands, or to. do any acts of war or
hostility to the said Government.
That no such acts of war or hostility
can now be done without endangering
LHc lives dlu property vi lu0 uuUeE-
signed, and of their families, relatives
and friends in the Hawaiian Islands.
That owing to the insular situation
Of this country there would be no OPP
portunity for the undersigned to take
such steps and do such things as would
secure the safety of the lives of them
selves, their wives and children, and
IF their property, in case of such acts
IF war or hostility.
And the undersigned hereby sol
smnly and respectfully protest to
Your Excellency, and to Grover Cleve-
and, President of the United States, ;
md to Walter O. Gresham, Secretary
If State, and to Hilary A. Herbert,
secretary of the Navy, and to Rear
John Irwin, commanding the ,
United States naval forces now in the
waters of the Hawaiian Islands, and
o all others concerned, that any such
cts of war or hostility if taken; at
empted or announced in the time of !
peace now existing between
he United States and the Hawaiian
or without any full, formal /
nd timely announcement thereof will
nd would cause all concerned in au-
horiZing the same to be held respon-
IDLE for all the consequences that I
nay ensue therefrom, not only before
Almighty God and in the forum of
onscience, but by all sactioned rules {
nd observances of civilized nations !
n their dealing with each other, and
ill and would be in violation of the Y
ights of the undersigned, secured and I
elonging to them as citizens of the :
Tnited States of America.
We.have the honor to be c
Very respectfully, +
our obed't serv'ts and fellow citizens. !