The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-03-20

without It's advice and consent, although
that body was in session when such APP
polntment was made, and continued to
be IN session for q long time Immediately
thereafter.
Second. The orders OF the Executive
Department by which the naval force oi
the United States in the harbor OF Hon
clulu was IN effect placed under the
command OF NJ. Blount or of Mr.. Willis
were without authority or warrant OF law.
Third. The order given by Mr.
Blount TO Admiral Skerrett to lower the
United States ensign from the Govern
ment building in Honolulu and 70 en-
bark the troops on the ships TO which
they belonged, was an order which Mr..
Blount had no lawful authority ID give
Its object was not TO terminate pro-
tectorate. That relation mad been disa-
vowed by the administration of Presi-
dent Harrison Immediately upon receiv-
ing information of its establishment.
The flag and troops, when such order
was given by MIR. BIount, were in the
positions from which he ordered them 70
be removed for the purpose OF maintain
lag order and protecting American life
and property. Their presence had been
etectual to those ends, and their Ie
moyai tended TO create, and did create,
public excitement and, TO degree, dis
trust OF the power of the Provisional
Government TO preserve order or to
maintain itself. That order OF Mr.
Blount was susceptible of being con
strued as indicating an unfriendlv diSpo-
sltion on the part of the United States
tow ard the Provisional Government, and
1t was so construed, particularly hy the
people of Hawaii
In the light OF subsequent relations
between Mr.. Blount and his successor,
Mr. Willis, with the Queen, whose office
had become vacant by her deposition
anu abdication under the attack of a
successful revolution, this order and its
execution were most unfortunate and
untoward In their effect. Such relations
and intercourse by Messrs. Blount and
Willis with the head and with the exec
utive officers of an overthrown govern
ment, conducted for the purpose of
restoring that government by displacing
its successor, were in violation of the
constitution and OF the principles OF in
ternatioual law and were not warranted
by the circumstances of the case.
Fourth. The question OF the rightful-
ness of the evolution, of the lawiulness
of the means by which the deposition
and abdication of the Queen were effect
ed, and the right of The Provisional
Government to exist and TO continue TO
exist was conclusively settled, as the
report so forcibly states, against the
Queen and in favor of the Provisional
Government, by the act of The admins
tration of President Harrison recOgniz-
ing such Provisional Government, by the
negotiation by that administration with
such Provi ional Government of treaty
OF annexation to the United States; by
accrediting diplomatic representation by
such administration, and by the present
administration 70 such Provisional Gov
eminent; therefore, it incontrovertibly
follows that the President OF the United
States had no authority to attempt to
reopen such determined questions, and
to endeavor by any means whatever to
overthrow the Provisional Government
or TO restore the monarchy which it had
displaced.
While it is true that Il friendly power
may rightfully tender its good offices OF
mediation or advice in cases such as that
under present consideration, it is also
true that the performance of such offices
of mediation or advice ought not to be
entered upon without the consent previ-
ously given by both the parties whom
the action or decision OF the friendly
power may affect. Such consent was
not given IN the present instance. The
Provisional Government never so con-
senied; il was never requested to con-
sent 1t denied the jurisdiction of the
present administration on every proper
occasion. Therefore the proceedings by
the President, which had for their result
his request and monition to the Provis-
ional Government to surrender its pow
ers, to give up its existence and to sub
nit to be displaced by the monarchy
which it had overthrown, had no warrant
in law, nor in any consent OF one of the
parties to be affected by such proceed
ings.
Fifth. The avowed opinion of the
President of the United States, in sub
stance, that it is the duty of this Govern
ment TO make reparatIon to the Queen
by endeavoring to reinstate her upon her
throne by all constitutional methods, is
a clear definition of the policy of the
present administration to that end. The
to Messrs. Blount and Willis
must be construed to be other and more
ample forms OF expression of that policy.
No other presumption is permissible than
that their actions at Honolulu were with
intent to carry out that avowed policy.
These considerations make lmmaterlal
any discussion, in this connection, of
the personal intentions, circumspectlon
Or good faith OF these gentlemen in the
performance of the task to which they
had been plainly commanded by the
present administration.
JOHN SHERMAN.
WIN. Z. FRYE.
j \. DOLPH.
CUsHMAN *. DAVIS.