Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-19

can people II theyfdaNor the odious doctrine
that there is no such thing as International
morality, that there IS one law for a strong
even by indircctiJHs ttrong power may with
impunity despoil a weak one OF its territory.
BY an act of war committed with the par
ticipation OF a diplomatic representative OF
the United States,rPd without consent OF
friendly and confhdfng people has been over
thrown. A substantial wrong has thus been
done, which a due regard for our national
character, as well rs the right of the in
jured people, required, that we should en-
deavor to repair. ohS"
Merely an a Arbitrary orlsarchy.
The provisional government has not as
sumed a republican or other constitutional
form, but has remained a mere executive
council or oligarchy set up without the AS
sent of the neoplc.. 1t has not seen fit to
find q permanent basis of 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 ruled by arbi-
trary or despotic power.
The law of nations is founded upon reason
and justice and the rules of conduct govern
ing individual citizens or subjects of n civil
lied state are equally applicable as between
enlightened nations, The considerations
that international law is without a court in
its enforcement and that obedience to its
commands prdcJlCallY .uepenuS upon ROOu
faith instead of upon the mandate of a
superior tribunal only give additional sane
ton to the law itself and brand any deliber-
ate infraction of it not merely ms u wrong
but as disgrace. A man of true honor pro
tects the unwritten word which binds his
conscience more scrnpulously, If possible,
than he does the bond, q breach of which
subjects him to legal Liabilities, and the
United State, in aiming to protect itself as
one OF the most enlightened nations, would
do IT'S citizens Il gross injustice if it applied
to it's international relations any other than
q high standard of honor and morality.
On that ground the United States cannot
properly be put In the position of counte-
nancing a wrong after its commission. any
more than in that of consenting to it in ad-
vance; on that ground it cannot allow itself
to refuse to redress an injury inflicted
through an abuse of power by officers clothed
with its authority and wearing its uniform;
and on the same ground, IL n feeble but a
friendly state is in danger OF. being
robbed of independence and Its sovereignty
by a misuse of the power of the United
States, the United States cannot fail to VIM
dictate its honor and it's sense of Justice by
an earn est effort to make all possible repara-
tion. .,
Conditions of the Surrender.
These principles apply to the present case
with irresistible force when the special con-
ditions of the queens surrender of her SOW
ereignty are recalled. She surrendered, not
to the provisional government, but to the
OuluSu oUdLeS. Que SurrcuueTeu, NOT u DSO-
lutely and permanently, but temporarily and
conditionally, until such time as the facts
could be considered by the United States.
Furthermore, the provisional government
acquiesced in her surrender in that manner
and on those terms, not only by tacit con-
sent, but through the positive assurance Of
some members of the government, who
urged her peaceabie submission, not merely
to avoid bloodshedj but because she could
place implicit relianceb upon the justice of
the United States dndithat the whole SUBJ
iect would be fh1aliy considered at Wash
ington. tJfJJ0t'-
have not, however,: overlooked an Incl
dent of this unfortunate affair which re-
mains to be mentioned The members of the
provisional governmenuand their supporters,
though not entitled to extreme sympathy,
have been led to their, present predicament
of revolt against THE government of the
queen by the indefensible encouragement and
assistance of our diplomatic representative.
This fact may entitle them to claim that in
every effort to rectifyy the wrong some re
gard should be hah for their safety. This
sentiment is strongly seconded by my anxiety
to do nothing Which would Invite either
harsh relation q" tthe part of the queen or
violence and bloodshed in any quarter.
Policy "a Restoration.
In the belief thatithe queen, as we'll as her
enemies, would be willing to adopt such a
course as would meet with these conditions,
and in view of the fact that both the queen
and the provisional government had at one
time apparently acquiesced in a reference OF
the entire case to the United States govern
ment, and considering the further fact that
in any event the present govern
ment by its own declared limitation
was only TO exist Suntil terms of annexation
with the United States of America have
!. been negotiated and agreed upon" l hoped
that after the assurance tn the members Of
) that government that such union could no,
: be contaminated l might compass a peaceful
adjustment of the difficulty.
t,,a nd 1r ithaca ntp md ,y,NNn
ana not unmindful Of the inherent perplexi,
: ties of the situation nor of the limitations
: upon my power, i instructed Minister Willis
) to ad wise the queen and her supporters OF
, my desire to aid in the restoration of the
/ status existing before the lawlessness of the
forces at Honolulu on the 10th of January
last. If such restoration could be effected
. upon terms providing for clemencS
as well as justice to all partie:
. concerned. The conditions suggested, a!
t the last instructions show, contemplate {
general amnesty TO those concerned i'll tn,
Q provisional government and a recognition o
all its bona tide acts and obligations. Ii
short. they require that the past should b,
buried and that the restored government
: should resume its authority as if the CONT
. . nulty had not been interrupted.
@ His Plans Prove a Failure.
: These conditions have not proven acceptn
9 bile to the queen, and though she has beef
I informed that they will be insisted upon
and that unless acceded to the efforts of tn,
e president to aid in the restoration Of he
g government will cease, 1 have not thus IA
d learned that she is willing to yield then
her acquiescence. The check which
my plans have thus encounters
Q has prevented their presentation t.
T. the members of the provisional government
=; while unfortunate misrepresentation of tn,
r situation, and the exaggerated statements O
v the sentiments Of our people, have obviousl.
injured the prospects of successful e~xecutiv,
mediation.
l. l therefore submit this communication
y with the accompanying exhibits, embracing
= Mr.. Blount's report, the evidence and state
ments taken by him at Honolulu, the in
structions given to both Mr.. Blount ant
Minister Willis and correspondence con
. nected with the affair in nand.
!: In commencing this subject to the ex
: tended powers and wide discretion of tn,
u congress, | desire to add the assurance tina
p l shall be much g~ratitied 70 cooperate in an.
y legislative plan, which may be devised 70
. the solution of the problem before us, which
is consistent with At%1ierican honor, integrit.
u and morality. X GRovER CLEVELAND.
a ExEcuIlyE MAY@p% Washington, Dec
Q o Is, 1898, ,,b,,aJ
2 Held sa,eisSf'wSs11li.' Message.
n In his letter of transmission 10 the senate
d. President Cleveland states that under tn
IL clause in the resolution of inquiry for tn