Huntsville gazette., 1894-01-20


tional and limited government, and the abso-
Lutte dominion of the queen.
The law referred to by the queen in Chapter
VI Sec Q, OF the penal code, as follows: Who
ever shall commit the crime OF treason, shall
suffer the punishment of death; and all his
property shall be ccnfiscated to the govern
ment" There are under this law no degrees
OF treason Plotting alone carries with it the
death sentence.
need hardly add, in conclusion. that the
tension of feeling is so great that the. prompt
consequences.
l send cipher telegram asking that Mr.
Rlount's report be withheld for the present,
and | send with it telegram not in cipher as
follows;
Views of first party so extreme as to re-
euire further Instructions am. etc,
ALBERT S. WILLIS.
Mr.. Dels's Reply to Minister Willis De-
tnand for Surrender.
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
HONOLULU, II. l., Dec. 23 1893
SIR: Your excellency'S communication of
December 10, announcing the conclusion which
the president of the United States OF America
has finally arrived at, respecting the appl1ca
ton of this government for treaty of political
union with that country. and referring also TO
the domestic affairs of these islands, has had
the consideration of the government.
While it is with deep disappointment that
we learn that the important proposition which
we have submitted to the government Of the
United States, and which was at first favor
ably considered by it, has at length been re-
jected. we have experienced a sense OF relief
that we are now favored with the first official
information upon the subject that has been re-
ceiYed through period of over nine months
Annexation.
While we accept the decision of the presi-
dent OF the United States, declining further to
consider the annexation proposition; as the
final conclusion OF the present administration,
we do not feel incline to regard it as the last
word of the American government upon this
subject. for the history of the mutual relations
of the two countries, of American effort and
civilization which has SO conspicupusly
aided in giving this country an honorable place
among independent nations. the geographical
position of these islands and the important
and to both countries. profitable, reciprocal
commercial interests, which have long existed
together with our weakness as sovereign ma
tion, all point with convincing force to polit-
1eal union between the two countries as the
necessary logical result from the circum-
stances mentioned. This conviction is
pnaa'e SION Of american Statesmen over long
period in favor of annexation, conspicuous
among whom are the names of w. l.. Marcy.
William II, Seward, Hamilton Fish and James
G. Blaine, all former secretaries of state. and
especially so by the action of your last ad-
miniStration in negotiating treaty of annexa-
tion with this government and sending it to
the senate with view to its ratification.
Will Appeal to Future administrations.
we SNAIL therefore, continue the PROJECT OF
political union with the United States
as a conspicuous feature of our foreign
policy, confidently hoping that sooner or
later il will be crowned with success, to the
lasting benefit of both countries. The addi
tional portion of your communication referring
to our domestic affairs with view of interfer
ing therein. is a new departure in the relations
of the two governments. Your Information
that the president of the United States expects
this government to promptly felinquish
to her meaning the ex-queen), her con
stitutional authority with the question;
Are you willing to abide by the de-
cision of the PRESIDENT" might we'll be
dismissed In single word, but for the cir
cumstance that your communication contains,
as it appears to me, misstatements and
roneous conclusions based thereon, that are SO
prejudicial to this government that can not
permit them to pass unchallenged. Moreover.
the importance and menacing character OF
this proposition make it appropriate for me
to discuss somewhat fully the questions
raised hy it. We do not recognize the right of
the president OF the United States to interfere
in our domestic affairs Such right could be
conferred upon him by the act of this govern
ment and by that alone or it could be acquired
by conquest. This | understand TO be the
American doctrine conspicuously announced
from time to time by the authorities of your
government.
President jackson said in his message to
congress in 1885, The uniform policy and
practice of the United States is to avoid all
interference in disputes which mostly relate to
the internal government OF other nations and
eventually to recognize the authority of the
prevailing party with reference to the merits OF
original controversy.
This principle Of international law has been
consistently recognized during the whole past
intercourse OF the two countries, and was re-
Gently reconfirmed in the instructions given
by Secretary Gresham to Commissioner
Blount of March IL, 1893. and by the latter pub
lished in the newspapers in Honolulu in
letter of his own to the Hawaiian public. The
words of these instructions which l refer to
are as follows:
The United States Had No Right to In
terfere.
1.-The United States claim no right to inter
fere in the political or domestic affairs or in
the internal conflicts OF the Hawaiian islands
other than as herein stated referring to the
protection of American citiZenS), or for the
purpose of maintaining any treaty or other
rights which they possess"
The treaties between the two countries con-
fer no right of interference. Upon what then,
Mr. Minister, does the president of the United
States base his right of interference? Your
communication is without information upon
this point. excepting such as may be contained
in the following brief and vague sentences:
.'She (the ex-queenl was advised and assured
by her ministers and leaders of the movement
for the overthrow of her government that If
she surrenderered under protest her case
would afterwards be iairIy consiaered
The queen finally yielded to the armed
force of the United States, then quartered In
Honolulu, relying on the good faith and honor
occurred, to undo the action OF the minister
and reinstate her and the authority which she
claims as the constitute ional sovereign OF
Hawaiian islands
Also, 1T becomes my further duty to advise
you, sir. the executive of the provisional gov
ernment. and your ministers, OF the presi-
dents determination of the question which
your action and that OF the queen deyolved
upon him, and that you are expected to prompt.
" relinGuish to her constitutional authority.
l understand that the first quotation is re
ferred to in the following words OF the second;
(Which your action and that of the queen de-
volved upon him" (the president OF the
United States. and that the president
has arrived at his conclusions from Commls-
sioner Blount's report We have had as yet
no opportunity OF examining this document.
but from extracts published in the papers, and
for reasons set forth hereafter, we are not dis
posed to submit the fate of Hawaii to its state
ments and conclusions.
AS a matter OF fact. no member Of the execu-
tive of the provisional government has con-
ferred with the exqueen. either verbally or
otherwise, from the time the new government
was proclaimed till now, with the exception OF
one or two notices which were sent 10 her Dy
myself in regard to her removal from the pal
ace and relating 70 the guards which the gov
-fuval gefh