Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-26
THE HAWAIIAN CASE
Continued from First Page.)


the United States in Honolulu and all the
Islands and their property rights were
virtually Outlawed The citizens of Homo
lulu We're not held amenable to the civil
authorities, but were treated by the queen
as well as by the people as If the country
were in a state of war;
In view of this state of facts, the report
lays down the following proposition:
In a country where there is no mower of
the law 10 protect the citizens of the United
states, there. can be no law of nations nor
any rule OF comfy that can rightfully pre-
vent our nag from giving shelter to them
under the protection of our arms and this
without reference to any distress it may
give to the queen who generated the con-
fusion. or any advantage it may give to
the people who are disputing her right to
resume or hold her regal powers. In every
country where there is effective Chief
executive authority, whether it is d newly
discovered island where only savage govern
ment prevails, or one where the govern
ment is paralyZed by internal feuds, 1t is
the right claimed and exercised by all civil
liked nations to enter such a country with
sovereign authority to assert and protect
the rights of its citizens and their property
and to remain there without the invitation
of any body until civil government shall
have been established that is adequate in
= satisfactory sense for their protection.
THE committee agree that such was the
condition of the Hawaiian government at
the time that the troops We're landed in
Honolulu from the steam warship Boston;
that there was then an interregnum in Ha-
wall as respects the executive office; that
there was no executive power to enforce
the laws of Hawaii, and that it was the
right of the United States to land troops
upon those islands at any place where 1t
was necessary. in the opinion of our min
lister, to protect our citizens"
Mr.. stevens Purpose Proper.
Cognizance is taken of the charge that
the landing of the troops was intended TO
overthrow the queen with the purpose of
producing the ultimate annexation Of the
islands 10 the United States, but the COM
mittee declares and agrees that the bur
poses of Minister Stevens and Capt. WItze
were legitimate and that they acted IN good
faith and with no motive except that of
protecting American citizens and preserv-
ing order. The intensity OF the queens CD
position to the missionaries is referred to;
the work of the missionaries is praised, and
the report says: Civilization and con-
sttutional government in Hawaii are the
foster children of the American Christian
missionaries, and with Christianity ami edu-
cation as the basis there has come over
Hawaii the most rapid and successful i'm
provement in political, Industrial and COM
mercial conditions that has marked the
course OF any people in Christendom.
If nothing but a decent respect for our
national example was in question, If there
was no question in Hawaii that concerned
the people of the United States except that
lutte monarchy, if there was no 6egradl-
ton of society involved in this falling
away, no destruction of property and .Ib-
erty in contemplation, there would stil be
enough in the conditions now presented
there to excite the most anxious interest
OF our people. Citizens of the United States,
with wisdom, charity, Christian faith and a
love of constitutional government, have "a
tiently. laboriously and honestly Quilt I'd
Hawaii into a civilized power under a writ
ten constitution, ana they can justly claim
the sympathy and assistance of all civilized
people In resisting its destruction, either
10 6ratify a wantOn lust of absolute power
on the part OF the queen, or the abuse Of its
authority in fostering vice and rewarding
crime. The facts of recent history present
broadly and distinctly the question between
an absolute and corrupt monarchy in Ha-
wall and government in which the tights
and liberties guaranteed by a written con-
sututlon snail De respected and preserved"
The Queens Harsh Utterances,
The report speaks of the queens desire
for the punishment or death of those who
had opposed her. and says that Ameri ans
should not hesitate in the support of a gov
eminent set up to oppose her. The utter
ances of the queen to Mr.. Willis, while
they are a seeming expression of the lofty
Indignation of all offended ruler, are SO
unsuited to the character of a queen CROWN
ed by Christian and civilized people and
SO out OF keeping with her character as a
woman who had received kindly recogni-
ton and personal regard from other good
and refined ladies, that they shock all right
minded people in Christendom." Continu-
ing the report says: The President, on
the first intimation of these harsh deciara-
lions OF the queen, at once laid them be-
fore Congress, and abandoned the further
exercise of his good offices to bring about a
reconciliation between her and those who
were conducting and supporting the provis-
lonal government Mr. Willis, however re-
Sarding his instructions as continuing to
require his intercession beyond the point
where the President considered that IL
should cease, held a second and third in
terview with Liliuokalani. Mr.. Willis. In
what he did, obeyed what he concei yed TO
be his instructions, and being so distant
from Washington, it is a matter of regret
but not of surprise. that there was an an.
parent want of harmony in his ac-
ton in continuing his interviews with Lii
uokalani after the President had deterrnin-
ed that the full duty of the government mad
been performed.
when crown falls in any kingdom of
the western hemisphere II is pulverized. and
when scepter departs it departs forever
ard American opinion cannot sustain any
American ruler in the attempt to restore
them, no matter how virtuous and sincere
the reasons may be that seem to justify
him.
Mr.. stevens Justified.
MIR. Stevens recognition of the new gov
eminent is justified, tn. report having the
following on this point:
1.-THE precise hour when, or the precise
conditions under which the American min
lister recognized the provisional govern
Tent Is not matter of material Importance
1T was his duty, at the earliest safe period.
to assist his recognition in the termination
or the 1nterregnum, so that citizens of the
United States might be safely remitted to
the care or that government for the secur-
ity OF their rights. As soon as he Was con-
Vlnced that the provisional government
was secure against overthrow ii was his
duty 10 recognize the rehabilitated state
III no question of the annexation of Hawaii
TO the United States had existed the con-
duct of the American minister In giving
of1lclal recognition to the provisional gov
eminent would not have been the subject
OF adverse criticism. But the presence of
that question and his anxious advocacy of
annexation did not relieve him from the
duty or abridge his right to call for the
troops on the Boston to protect the citizens
of the United States during an interregnum
In the office of chief executive of Hawaii
They were not to be put into state of
outiawry and peril If the minister had
been opposed to annexation, nor could his
desire on that subject in any way affect
their rights or his duty. He gave to them
the protection they had the right to de-
mand. and, in respect of his action up to
this point, so far as 1T related to Hawaii
MS opinions as to annexation have not
affected the attitude of the United States
govern ment. and the committee find no
cause of censure either against Minister
Stevens or Capt. Wiltse of the Boston. q.
The Fla. Issue.