The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-03-17

respected by the people; it was OPP
posed, and no force appeared to De
used for the purpose of overcoming
the opposition. 1t yielded TO silent
but ominous opposition. Without
reference to the question whether, In
strict law, the action OF the queen In
her effort to overturn the Constitution
of 1887, and to substitute one by a pro-
clamation which she had prepared,
was a revolution in government, or
an effort at revolution, or amounted
to an actual aodicatiOn, the result was
that an interregnum existed.
If We give full effect to the conten-
ton that this interregnum occurred
because of the apprehensions OF the
Queen that force would be used by
the United States to compel her abdi-
cation, those apprehenslons could not
have occurred before the landing Of
the troops from the Boston, or, If they
existed, they were idle, unfounded,
and unjust toward the United States.
1t was her conduct, opposed by her
people, or a large portion of them,
that paralyZed the executive authority
and left the citizens of the United
States in Honolulu without the pro-
lection of any law, unless 1t was such
as should be extended to them by the
American Minister, in conjunction
with the arms of the United States
then on board the Boston.
1t will appear hereafter in this re
port that there is well-settled author
ity for the position that at the moment
when the Queen made public her de-
cision to absolve herself from her oath
to support the constitution of 1887 her
abdication was complete, if the people
chose go to regard il. That cOnstitu-
ton and the Queens oath to support
1t was the only foundation for her
regal authority, and, when she an
nounced that her oath was annulled
in its effect upon her own conscience,
she conld no longer rightfully hold
Office under that constitution. In
such matters the word of the Queen,
once sedately uttered, fixes condition
that is irrevocable, unless by the con-
sent of those whose condition or rights
would be injuriously affected by it's
subsequent withdrawal: as in the
case of a voluntary abdication in IA
vor of q named successor; or of a par
don granted to person accused or
convicted of crime; or the signature
to q legislative act, or declaration of
war. The official act Of the chief eX-
ecutive of a nation is uniformly re-
garded as creating q condition or
status which can not be altered or
revoked at pleasure. Indeed, in every
case, the word of the king that works
a change in existing conditions is the
final act Of the king. In the crime of
treason and the misprision of treason,
the word that is spoken by the culprit,
though quickly repented of or recalled,
has completed the crime and placed
the offender beyond the reach of all
mercy except that of the sovereign
power. In this instance the sovereign
power to pardon or cOndOne the
Queens offense resided in the people,
and they have so far decided and have |
to the decision that her abdi- |
cation was complete. The recanta- |
ton was two days later than the COM |
pleted crime and was temporary and !
and, in the meantime, |
popular sovereignty had risen to the |
assertion of its rights, an indignant |
had aroused the people,
and a large body of citizens claiming |
to represent them had inaugurated a |
government of the people and for |
the people. Whether the people OPP |
posing the Queen were strengthened |
in their purpose to accept and act upon |
this abandonment by the Queen of |
her obligations to keep her oath to |
support and obey the constitution by ]
the presence OF the troops of the |
United States, or whether the Queen |
was dismayed by their presence and |
was deferred from supporting her |
criminal act by the employment of her |
soldiery, did not alter the |
fact that she had openly renounced |
the Constitution of 1857 before the |
troops were landed or any preparation |
was made or any order was issued to |
land them, and the people were pre- |
pairing TO substitute the monarchy, |
which was still existing in the con- |
stitution, by q ruler of their own |
choice before any troops left the !
Boston.
the restoration of the Queen, or |
they would constitute a new
executive head OF the Government of |
Hawaii, was q matter then undeter- |
mined, and as to that the Government |
Of the United States had but one con-
Germ, and that was that the interreg-
mum should be ended, the executive
head of the Government should be
supplied, and the laws of Hawaii and
the treaty rights of American citizens
should have full effect, peacefully, in
the protection of their rights and in
terests- When the Queen found that
her Government was opposed by a
strong body of the people she did not
to reasonable the Legisla-
ture, but left the public safety in
of a committee of thirteen
men, organized by those who
were endeavoring to preserve the
peace and to restore the Government |
to its full constitutional powers by
an executive head. This
condition of things continued from
until the succeeding Tues !
day, during all of which time the
citizens of the United States residing
in Honolulu had no protection of law,
except such as was guaranteed to
them by the presence of the Boston
in the bay of Honolulu, or the moral
influence of the American Legation
and Consulate.
When the Kamehameha dynasty
ended, the monarchy in Hawaii was
doomed to a necessary dissolution.
The five kings of that family, assisted
by their premiers, who were Kanaka