Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-12-22
REPRESENTATIVES RESPONSIBLE.
Through Their Agency Alone the Queen
.ssss:-4E Was OverthrOwn

; Z I
Thrcugh Their Agency Alone the Queen
:, Was Overthrown. rs
As I apprehend the situation we are
brought face to face with the following
conditions: The lawful government
OF Hawaii was overthrown without the
drawing of a sword or the firing of q shot,
by 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 United States government,
through its diplomatic and naval repre-
sentatiyes But for the notorious predilec.:
tions OF the United States minister for an
nexation the committee of safety, (which
should be called the committee of annexa-
tion, 8
Would Never Have Existed.
But for the landing Of the United States
forces upon false pretexts respecting the
danger to lifeiand property, the committee
would never have exposed themselves to
the pains and penalties of treason by un-
dtertaking the snbyersion Of the queens
government. But for the presence Of the
United States forces in the immediate
vicinity and in position to afford all needed
protection and support, the coInmittee
would not have proclaimed the provis-
ional government from the steps Of the
government building, and finally.
but for the lawless occupa-
tion Of Honolulu under false
pretexts by the United States forces, and
but for Minister Stevens recognition of
the provisional government when the
United States forces were it's sole support
and constituted it's only military strength
the queen and her government would
never have yielded to the provisional gov
sernment, even for a time and for the sole
purpose OF submitting her case to the en-
hghtened justice of the United States.
Will Not Resublnit the Treaty,
Believing, therefore, that the United
States could not under the; circumstances
disclosed annex these islands without
justly mourning the imputation Of ac-
curing them by unjustifable methods, I
shall not; again submit the treaty of an
nexation TO the senate for, its considera-
ton, and in the instructions to Minister
Willis, q copy OF which accompanied this
message, have Directed him to so inform
the provisional government. But in the
present instance our duty does not, in my
opinion, end with refusing to consummate
this questionable transaction It is a
boast of our government that it seeks to
do justice in all things without regard to
the strength or weakness of those with
whom it deals. / mistake the American
people il 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 a weak, and that
even by indirect methods a strong power
may with imp unity despoil a weak one Of
its territory, s5ss.s 55s. II .i!..s
"a II Y BY an Act Of War, s s4
committed with the participation Of q dip
lomatic representative of the United States
and without authority of congress "A
government Of the feeble but friendly and
confding people has been overthroWn "A
substantial wrong has thus been done
which in due regard for our national char
acter, as well as the right of the injured
people, requires that we should endeayor
to repairs The provisional government
has not assumed 9 repu blieans OF sotherY
tional form, but has remained q
mere executive council or oIgarchy, set
up without the assent of the people It
has not seen cit to find a permanent basis
of popular support and has given no eYi-
dence OF an intention to do so. Indeed.
the represents tives Of that government
assert that the people Of Hawaii are unfit
for popular government, and frankly
ayoW that they can q n best be ruled by arbi-
trary OF despotic power. :,
The Law Of Nations 5s
is founded upon reason and justice and the
rules Of conduct governing individual cit
liens or subjects of civilized state are
equally applicable as between enlightened
nations; The consid Iteration that interna-
tional law is without court for its en-
forcement, and that obedience to the COM
mands practically depends upon good
faith. instead OF upon the mandate of
superior tribunal, only give additional
sanction to the law itself and brand any
deliberate infraction Of it not merely as u
wrong but as disgrace. a man Of true
honor protects the unWritten word which
binds his conscience more scrnpuloasly Il
possible than he does the bond, a breach of
which subjects him to legal iabi lities, and
the United States in aiming to maintain
itself as one OF the most enlig htened of ma 8
lions, would do its citizens gross injustice
Tit applied to its international relations
other than q high standard of honor and
morality On that ground the United
States cannot properly be put IN the POI
sition of mountaineering wrong after its
commission any more than in that Of con-
senting to it m advance $3.50
81 Cannot Refuse Redress.
On that ground IL cannot allow itself 70
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, II
feeble but friendly state il IN danger Of
being robbed Of it, Independence and its
soyereignty by misuse Of power OF the