Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-12-28


FORCE the conviction that the provisional gov
eminent owes its existence to an armed in
vasion by the United States.
THE CONDITIONS AS THEY STAND.
AS apprehend the situation. we are brought
face to face with the following conditions:
The lawful government of Hawaii was over
thrown without the drawing of a sword or the
firing OF shot; by a process, every step Of
traceable to and denendent for its success uno1
the agency Of the United States. acting through
its diplomatic and naval representatives.
United c States minister for annexation i the the
committee of safety, which should be called
the committee OF annexation, would never have
But for the landing OF the United States
forces upon false pretexts respecting the dan.
ger to life and property. the committee would
never have exposed themselves to the pains
and penalties of treason by undertaking the
subverslon 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
committee would not have proclaimed the pro-
visional government from the steps of the gov
eminent building.
Honolulu under false pretexts by the United
States forces. and but for Minister Stevens
when the United States forces were its sole
support and constituted its only military
strength. the queen and her government would
never have yielded to the provisional govern
ment, even for a time and for the sole purpose
of submitting her case to the enlightened JUS
tice of the United States
THE TREATY WILL NOT BE RESUBMITTED.
Believing. therefore, that the United States
could not. under the circumstances disclosed,
annex the islands without justly mourning the
imputation of acquiring them by unjustifiable
methods shall not again submit the treaty
ton and in the instructions to Minister viii
lis, a copy of which accompanies this message,
have directed him to so inform the provision
al government.
But in the present instance our duty does not,
in my opinion, end with refusing to cchsum-
mate this questionable transaction. It has
been the boast of government that 1t seeks
to do justice in all things without regard to
the strength or weakness OF those with whom
it deals.
BY an act of war. committed with the par
ticipation of diplomatic representative of the
gress the government of feeble but friendly
and confiding people has been overthrow. A
substantial wrong has thus been done
character we'll as the rights Of. tho
injured people s,- requires ,.,S we should
ment has not assumed republican or other CON
stitutional form, but has remained a mere
executive council or oligarchy set up without
find a permanent basis of popular support and
has given no evidence OF an intention to do so.
assert that the people of Hawaii are unfit for
popular government and frankly avow that
they can be best ruled by arbitrary or despotio
power.
PREPARATION THE ONLY COURSE.
The United States can not properly be put in
the position OF countenancing wrong after
its commission any more than in that OF con-
senting to it in advance. On that ground it can
not allow itself to refuse to redress an injury
inflicted through an abuse OF power by of1icers
clothed with its authority and wearing its uni
form and on the same ground If a feeble but
friendly state is in danger of being robbed OF
its independence and its sovereignty by mis-
of the name and power OF the United
States, the United States not fail to
vindicate it's honor and its sense of justice by
an earnest effort to make all possible repara-
ton.
In the belief that the queen. as we'll as her
enemies, would be willing to adopt such
course would meet the prevailing condi
tions, and in view. of the fact that both tha
queen and the provisional government had at
one time apparently acquiesced in reference
Of the entire case to the United
visional government by it own declared
Of unon with the Gnted States Of
America have been negotiated and agreed
members OF that government that such union
could not be consu.nmated l might compass a
peaceful adjustment OF the difficulty.
Actuated by these desires and purposes, and
not unmindful Of the inherent perplexities Of
the situation noS OF the iimitations s,,, Of
to advise the queen and her supporters of
my desire to aid in the restoration of the
status existing before the lawless landing OF
the United States forces at Honolulu on the
18th of January last, If such restoration could
be effected upon terms providing for clemency
well as justice to ali parties concerned.
CONDITIONS SUGGESTED
The conditions suggested, as the instruc-
tiOnS show, contemplate general amnesty to
those concerned in setting up the provisional
government and a recognition of all its bona
fde acts and obligations. In short, they re-
fhe ressored should
Its authority a.I as in.errn,ea hass
conditions have not proved acceptable to the
queen and tho ugh she has been informed that
they will be insisted upon. and that. unless &C.
the restoration of her government will cease,
have not thus far learned that she Is willing to
yield them her acquiescence The check
which nv plans have thus encountered has
prevented their presentation to the provis-
ional government while unfavorable public
Misrepresentation Of the situation and eIaS-
gerated statements OF the sentiments OF our
people have obviously injured the prospects OF
successful executive mediation
Therefore submit this communication with
its accompanying exhibits, embracing Mr..
Blount's rego the evidence and statements
given to both Mr.. Blount and Minister Willis,
and correspondence connected with the affair
in hand.
In commenting this subject to the extended
powers and wide discretion of congress, de-
sire to add the assurance that l shall be much
which may be devised for the solution OF the
problem before us which is consistent with
American honor integrity a ana m SVAsD
Executive Mansion. Washington D. c., Dec.
Is, 1893
Abstract of Instructions Given Minister
Willis.
WASHINGTON, Dec 1S.-The material
points contained in Secretary Gresh-
am's letter to Minister Willis, October
IL, are as follows:
The provisional government was not estab-
lished by the Hawaiian people or with their
consent. The queen refused to surrender
her powers to the provisional government
until convinced that the minister Of the
United States had lit recognized as the de facto
authority and would support and defend it with
the military forces of the United States. and
that resistance would precipitate q bloody con-
fict with that force. She was advised and as
sured by her ministers, and by the leaders Of
the movement OF the overthrow OF her govern.
ment. that il she surrendered her case would
be afterward fairly considered by the president
of the United States.
The queen wisely yielded to the Irmed FORCES
of the United States ut Honolulu. relying upon
the good faith and honor of the president when
informed of what had occurred, to undo the
action of the ministers and seinState her ana
her authority which she claimed constitu-
tional sovereign of the Hawaiian islands.
The president is satisfied that the move
ment against the queen, If not instigated, was
encouraged and supported by the representa-
tive of this government at Honolulu: that he
up a new government. and that he kept this
promise by causing detachment OF troops
70 be LANDED from ON y, the rscog un1fna
the provisional government the next day when
it was too feeble to defend ITSELF and that the
constitutional government was able success
fully TO maintain its authority against any
threatening force other than that of the United
States already landed
The president has therefore determined that
ton thereon the treaty which he has with
drawn from that body for further consideration
on the 9th OF March last.
On your arrival at Honolulu you VIII take ad-
vantage OF an early opportunity to inform the
queen of this determination. making known TO
sher the presidents regret that the reprehensi-
BILE conduct of the American minister and the
unauthorized presence on land OF the military