St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-19
THE TREATY
VIII Not Again Be Submit
ted

States could not, under the circuln-
stances disclosed, annex these islands
without justly mourning the imputation
OF acquiring them by unjuStifiable
methods, shall not again submit the
treaty of annexation to the senate for
Its consideration, ana i'll the inStruc-
tons to Minister Willis, copy of which
accompanies this message, l have di-
rected him to so inform the provisional
government; but i'll the present in
stance our duty does not, in my OpiI-
ion, end with refusing to consummate
this questionable transaction. 1t is the
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. L mistake the
American people if they favor the
OdiouS doctrine that there IS no such
thing as international morality; that
there is one law for strong nation and
another for weak, and that, even by
Indirect means, a strong power may
with lmpunitY despOil a weak one of
Its territory. BY an act of war commit
ted with the participation of a diplo-
matte representative of the United
States. and without authority of con-
greSS, government of a feeble, but
friendly and cOntding, people has been
oyerthrown. A substantial wrong has
thus been done, which due regard
for our national character as we'll
as the right of the injured people re-
Quired that we should endeavor to re-
pair. The provisional government has
not assumed republican or other con-
stltutiOnal form, but has remained
mere executive council or oiigarchy, set
up without the assent of the people. 1t
has not seen fit to find a permanent basis
OF popular support and has given noevl-
dence of an intention to do so. Indeed,
the representatives of that government
assert that the people of Hawaii are I'M
mt for popular government and frankly
ayoW that they can best be ruled by
arbitrary or despotic power. The law
of nations is founded upon reason and
justice. and the rules of conduct govern
lug individual citizens or subjects OF
civilized state are equally applicable as
between enlightened nations. The COLI
SlderatiOnS that international law is
without d court for its enforcement, and
that obedience to the commands prae-
tically depends upon good faith instead
of upon the mandate of superior triD-
unal, only give additional sanction 10
the law itself, and brand any deliberate
infraction of 1t not merely as wrong
but as disgrace. A man of true honor
protects the unwritten word which
binds his conscience more scrupulously
if possible than he aces the bond,
the breach of which subjects
him to legal liabilities, and
the United States, in aiming to
maintain itself as one of the most en-
lightened of nations, would do its citi-
zens gross injustice if it applied to its
international relations any other than
high standard of honor and morality.
On that ground the United States can
not propefly be put in the position of
countenancing wrong after its COM
mission any more than in that of con-
Sentipg to it 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 au-
thorlty and wearing its uniform. and OH
the same ground, If a feeble bnt friendly
state is i'll danger of being robbed of its
independence and its sovereignty by
misuse of power of the United States,
the United States cannot fail TO vindi-
cate its sense of justice by an earnest
effort to make all possible PREPARATIONS.
These principles apply to the present
case with irresistible force, when the
special conditions of the queens sur
render of her sovereignty are recalled.
She surrendered not TO the provisional
government, but to the United States.
She surrendered not absolutely
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 if
those terms, not only by their consent,
but through the positive acts of some
members of the government who urged
her peaceable submission, not merely to
avoid bloodShed, but because she could
place implicit reliance upon the justice
of the United States, and that the whole
subject would be finally considered at
Washington. have not, however,
overlooked an incident of this unfortu-
nate affair, which remains to be men,
toned. The members of the provisional
government and 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 inGefensible encourage
ment and assistance of our diplomatic
representative. This fact may entitIe
them to claim that i'll every effort 10 rec
tify the wrong of the committee some
regard should be had for their safety.
This sentiment is strongly seconded by
anxiety to do nothing which would in
vite either harsh retaliation Oh the part
of the queen or violence and bloodShed
i'll any quarter.