The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-26

"Indeed, no effort seems TO have made
TO exert the civil authority, except
through the presence of a small and
insufficient body of policemen. The au-
thority of the Queen was not respected
by the people. IL was opposed and no force
appeared to be used for the purpose OF
overcoming the oppositson The result
was that an interregnum existed.
"Liliuokalana had only been kept on her
throne by the forbearing tolerance of the
white people, who owned $50, 900 of the
property on the islands.
''lt required nothing but the determined
action of what was known as the mission
ary party TO overthrw the Queen, and that
action had been taken before the troops
from the Boston landed.
"There was no executive bead.of the
government of Hawaii, il had perished."
In this condition OF Hawaii the laws for
the protection OF life and property were,
in fact, suspended so far as the executive
power was concerned.
Our Flag Rightly Sheltered Them.
In view of that state of affairs the re-
port lays down the following PROPOSE
tion: "In country where there Is no
power of the law to protect the citi-
zens of the United States, there con
be no law OF the nations nor any rule OF
comfy that can rightfully prevent our
the protection of our arms, and this
without reference TO any distress il
may give TO tho Queen who generated the
confusion or any advantage 1t may give
TO the people who are disputing her right
to resume or TO hold her legal powers.
The committee agree that at the time
thetroops were landed in Honolulu from
the Boston, there was an interregnum I'm
Hawaii as respects the executive
offices; that there was no executive
power to enforce these laws OF Hawaii
and that it was the tight OF the United
States to land troops upon those islands
at any place where il was necessary in the
opinion OF our minister TO protect our
citizens
Damages Against Stevens Denied.
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 their lands to the
United States, but the committee declare
and agree that the purpose of Minister
Stevens and Captain Wiltse were legiti-
mate and that they acted in good faith
and with no motives except that of pro-
tecting American citizens and preserving
order.
Mr.. Stevens recognition of the new
government is justified in the report.
In respect to their action in giving the
protection they had right to demand
the committee find no cause for censure
either against Minister Stevens or Captain
Wiltse of the Boston.
The act of the American minister in
causing the flag of the United States TO be
raised on the government building in
Honolulu, and assuming a protectorate
over that nation in the name of the
United States was without authority and
the order to abandon the protectorate aud
haul down the flag was in accordance
with the duty and honor of the United
States.
ave have always exerted the privi-
lege OF interference in the domestic
affairs of Hawaii 90 degree that
was not justified, under our view of inter-
national law, in reference TO the affairs of
Canada, Cuba or Mexico.
Virtually "a Suzerainty Of the United
States.
'The reason is that Hawaii has been re-
cognized as under a virtual suZerainty of
the United States. This right has never
been lost sight of and IL is conspicuously
manifest in the correspondence of Mr..
Willis with Mr.. Dole"
The matter of annexation is discussed at
length, and while the whole tenor ofsthe
report relating to the subject is favorable
TO the annexation, no direct statement
was made therein.
"In the public act by which the provi-
sional government of Hawaii was es-
tablished there was distinct declaration
that that governmentwast TO continue until
Hawaii was annexed 10 the United States
That declaration, apart from every other
consideration, would have justified the
United States in an interference for the
protection of Provisional Government
which would not have been tolerated
under other circumstances. And Liliuo-
kalani distinctly announced at the mo-
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