Hawaii holomua = Progress. [volume] (Honolulu) 1893-1895, 1894-01-31
SOUND SENSE.
a LESSON IN LEGAL
FACTS.
Hon. F. r. Coudert on the
Hawaiian Question.

The question Of Hawaii is fast
reaching the condition of the
Schleswig Holstein problem.
Every day that passes by adds
to the difficulty of understanding
facts and of applying the law.
1t is dim, vague and sbadowy in
it, outline, uncertain in much of
its evidence, complicated with
partisan prepossession and
moulded to fit partisan opinions.
The testimony has become so
voluminous aud confused as to
discourage study and repel curio-
sity, so that the average citizen
it disposed to vote the whole
business a bore and to mourn
the day when the United States
soldiers first put their foot upon
Hawaiian soil. Whatever may
be the sentimental preference
of our people for a republican
form of government, most of
them are disposed to live in
peace and comfort even if
Hawaii should be deprived of
the inestimable blessings of
democratic rule. But then the
question will not be put down
without a struggle. for it involves
us, our interests, and our honor.
Study it we must, and it may be
of use to the readers of the
Regieto to have brief statement
of the controversy made for them.
There is, we need not saw,
serious question of international
law involved. That question,
like every other, has two des,
the right and the wrong side.
Let us try to have it settled
right. The Hawaiian difficulty
be it remembered. is an inheri-
lance. The present administra-
ton did not originate it and has
thus far done nothing to aggrav
ate the evils of the legacy
unless, indeed, its very wise
course in refusing. to jump into
the per.ls and absurdity
of annexing the Hawaiian Is
lands to the United States be
considered such an aggravation.
Nor has the Administration es
tablished or sought to establish
any new and startling theory of
international law. 1t has labored
to assert, at the outset, the wise
and wholesome principle which
1t has been our policy as gov
eminent to observe from the be-
ginning; the only principles
which will permit us to escape
the perils of International COLI.
sion and at the same time to
give due protection to our citizens
whenever and wherever that pro
lection may be needed.
Secretary Gresham's instruc-
tions to Mr.. Blount when the
latter started upon his mission to
Honolulu defined the position of
the Administration in apt and
concise language.
Historical precedents and the
general course of the United
States authorize the employment
of Its armed force In foreign ter
ritory for the security of the lives
and property of American citizens
and for the repression of lawless
and ltnmultuous acts threatening
them; aud the powers conferred
to that end upon the representa-.
tives of the United States are
both necessary and proper, sub
leet always TO the exercise of
sound discretion in their appli-
cation In the Judgment of the
resident, yonr authority, as we'll
as that of the commander of the
naval forces in Hawaiian waters
should be and is limited i'm the
use of physical force to such mea-
sures as are necessary To
protect the persons and pro.
perry of our citizens and
while abstaining from anv
manner of interference with the
domestic concerns of the islands
you should Indicate your willing
ness TO intervene with yonr
friendly offices in the interests Of
pesceful settlement of troubles
within the limits Of sound dis
erection. Should IT be necessary
70 land an armed force upon the
Hawaiian territory on occasions
% popular disturbance. when the