The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-02-27

4 queen made public her decision to
absolve herself from her oath to sup
port the constitution of 1887
Her Abdication Was Complete,
If the people chose to so regard it. That
constitution and the queens oath to sup
port in was the only foundation for her
regal authority and when she announced
/ that her oath was annulled in its effect
upon her conscience, she could no longer
rightfully hold office under that consti-
tuition.
Liliuoka.ani had only been kept on
her throne by the forbe5 ring tolerance
OF the white people, who owned $50
0OO,OOO of the property on the islands
1t required nothing but the determined
action of what was known as the mis-
slonary party to overthrow her, and
that action had been taken before the
troops from the Boston landed. There
was no executive head of the govern
ment Of Hawaii; it had perishcd' -
The report then calls attention to the
fact that i'll landing the troops there
was no demonstration and that i'll pass
ing the palace they saluted the queen.
1t adds: Her attitude at that time
Was That of Helplessness,
because she found no active or courage
Gus support in her isolated position,
which was self imposed and was re-
gretted by few Of her former subjects.
In this condition of Hawaii, the laws
for the protection of life and property
We're, III fact, suspended 50 far as the
executive power was concerned and the
citizens Of the United States in Homo
lulu and all the islands and their prop
! erty rights, were virtually outlawed
| The citizens of Honolulu were not held
amenable to the civil authorities, but
We're treated by the queen as we'll as by
| the people, as if the country was in a
state of war"
There Was No Law of Nations.
In view of this state of facts the re-
port lays down the following PROPOSE
ton:
/ In country where there is no
power Of the law to protect the citizens
of the United States there can be no law
OF nations, nor any rule of comfy that
can rlShttully prevent our flag from
! giving shelte" to them under the protec-
ton OF our arms, and this without refer
ence to any distress it may give to the
! queen who generated the confusion. or
any advantage it might give to the
people who are disputins her right to
resume or to hold her regal powers
In every country wEere there
IS 10 effective chief executive
authority, whether it is a newly discov-
! cred island where only savage govern
meut prevails, or one where the govern
ment is paraly2cd by internal feuds, it
! Is the right, claim3l and exercised by
! all civilized nations, to enter such a
! country with sovereign authority to
ass 1T and protect the rights of its cit
liens and their property, and to remain
! thero without the invitation of anybody
! until civil government shall have been
established that Is adequate, in salts
factory sense, for their protection.
$uc!, a Condition Existed.
'The COMMITTEE" agree that such was
the condition Of tn Hawaiian govern
ment at the time the troops We're landed
| IN Honolulu from the steam warshiD
Boston; thtt there was then an inter
regnum in Hawaii as respecting the
executive oiiice; that there was no exec
utlve power 10 enfor>e the laws of
Hawaii, and that it was the right Of the
United States to land troops upon those
islands at any place where it was neces-
sary i'll the opinion of our minister to
protect the citizens Of our. country"