The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27

Yielded her authority to prevent coils
! ion of armed forces and loss of life, land
only until such time as the United
States, upon the facts being presented
| to it should undo the action Of its rep.
resentative and reinstate her in the au-
thority she claimed as the constltu'
tional sovereign of the Hawaiian Is
lands"
Mr.. Cleveland cites q number of pre-.
cedents as telling against the action OF
the United States In the present case
among them the admission Of Texas as
a part of our Union, the revolutions in
Brazil, Chile and YeneZuels, and sums
up as follows:
LAS apprehended the situation, we
are brought face to face with the fol
lowing conditions. -.
"The lawful government OF Hawaii
was overthrewn without the drawing
of sword or the firing of shot, by
process every step Of which, it may be
safely asserted, ls directly traceable to
and dependent for its success upon
the agency of the United States, acting
through Its diplomatic and naval rep
resentatives.
"But for the notorious predictions
Of the United States minister for an
nexation, the committee of safety,
which should be called the committee
Of annexation, would never have ex-
listed.
"But for the landing Of the United
States forces, upon false pretexts res
pecting the danger to life and proper
ty, the committee would never have
exposed themselves to the pains and
penalties of treason by undertaking
the subversion of the Queens govern.
ment.
"But for the presence of the United
States forces In the immediate vicinity
and in position to afford all need pro-
lection and support, the committee
would not have proclaimed the provis-
ional government from the steps Of the
government building.
"And, finally, but for the lawless oc-
cupation 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 sole
support and constituted its only mill
tary strength, the Queen and her gov.
ernment would never have yielded to
the provisional government, even for a
time, and for the sole purpose Of sub.
mitting her case to the enlightened
Justice of the United States.
believing, therefore, that the Uni
ted States could not, under the clrcum-
stances disclosed, annex the islands
without justly incugring the imputa.
ton of acquiring them by unjustiia-
BILE methods, I shall not again submit
the treaty of annexation to the Senate
for It's consideration, and in. the in
structions to Minister Willis, a copy Of
which accompanies this message, 1
have directed him to 50 inform the
provisional government"
Mr.. Cleveland says here that, in his
opinion, our duty does not end with re-
fusing to conSummate this questiona-
BILE transaction, but that "a substan-
tial wrong has thus been done, which
a due regard for our national charac.
ter, as well as the rights Of the injured
people, requires we should endeayor to
repair" and that the United States
cannot properly be put in the position
of countenancing wrong after It's
commission any more than In that OF
consenting to 1t in advance. On that
ground, 1t cannot allow itself to refuse
to redress an injury inflicted through
an abuse of power by officers clothed
with its authority and wearing the
uniform; and, on the same ground, II q
feeble but friendly State Is In danger OF
being robbed of its independence and
Its sovereignty by q misuse of the name
and power of the United States, the
United States cannot fail to vindicate
its honor and It's sense of justice by an
earnest effort to make all possible rep
aration"
The President says: Il have not,
however, overlooked an incident of this
unfortunate affair which remains to
be mentioned. The members of the
pro visional government and their sup
porters, though not entitled to extreme
sympathy, have been led to their pres
ent predicament Of revolt against the
government Of the Queen by the inde.
fensible encouragement and assistance
of our diplomatic representative. This
fact may entitle them to claim that In
our effort to rectify the wrong COM
mitted some regard should be had for
their safety. This sentiment Is strong
ly seconded by my anxiety to do moth
ing which would Invite either harsh
retaliation on the part of the queen or
violence 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 con-
dltions, and in view of the tact that
both the Qaeen aBd the provisional
government had at one time apparent.
~ acquiesced In q reference OF the en-.
tire case to the United States govern.
ment, and considering the further fact
that in any event the provisional gov
eminent, by its own declared limita.
tion, was only to exist until terms OF
union with the United States of Amer.
lea have been negotiated and agreed
upon, hoped that after the assurance
to The members Of that government
that such union could not be consum-
mated, I might compass peaceful ad'
justment of the difficulty.
Actuated by these desires and pur.
poses, and not unmindful of the inner
ent perplexities of the situation, nor OF
the limitations upon my power, I in
structed Minister Willis to advise the
Queen and her supporters of my desire
to aid In the restoration of the status
existing before the lswless landing OF
the United States forces at Honolulu or
the 10th of January last, If such restor'
alton be effected upon terms providing
for clemency as well al justice to al
parties concerned. The conditions sug
gested, as the instructions show, con
template general amnesty to those
concerned In setting up the provisional
government. and a recognition of all Its