Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-01-18
.r later it WIN be crowned win sucssss to the


The additional portion OF your = sumnnica-
tion referred TO our domestic ahaits with a
view of interfering therein is a new ceparturs
in the relations of the two governments Your
Information that the president of the United
Stat expects this government 10 promptly
relinQush authority'' with the question: "Are
you willing to abide b. the decision Of the pres
identF' might well be dismissed in single
word. but for the circumS StarceS that your COM
mu-i alton ntafns, as it appears TO me. mis-
,ements and erroneous conclusion based
thereon that prejudicial to this govern
ment that I cannot permit them 10 pass un-
challenged Moreover, the importance and
menacing character of this proposition make 1t
appropriate for me to discuss somewhat fully
the question raised by it
We do not recognize the right OF the presi-
dent Of the United States to interfere in our
domeSt tic affairs. Such right could besconferred
upon him by the act of this government and by
that alone, or it could be acquired by conquest
This, understand to be the Amer can doctrine
conSpicuouSly announced from time y time by
The authorities # your governmet6 Presi-
dent Jackson said in his ssage to congress in
1896: 1.-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
without reference to the merits Of ttfe original
controversy"
This principle of intern ltional law has been
consis tently recognized during the whole past
intercourse of the two countries and was re-
Gently reconfrmed in the Instructions given by
Secretary Gresham to COMMISSIONS Blount
on March IL. 1895. and bv the latter published
in the newspapers in Honolulu in LETTER of his
to the Hawaiian public The words of
these instructions, which 1 refer to. tre fol-
lows. 1.-The United States claim no right to in
terfere in the political or domestic affairs or in
the internal conflicts of the Hawaiian islands
other than herein stated (referring to the
protection of American citizens) or for he
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 # the United
States base his right of interference: Your
communication is without Information upon
this point excepting such may be con aimed
in the following brief and vague sentences:
''She (the ex-queen) was advised and assured
by her ministers and leaders of the movement
for the overthrow of her government that
if she surrendered under protest her
would afterwards be fairly con-
sdered by the president of the United
States. The queen finally yielded to
the armed forces of the United States quar-
tered in Honolulu relving the good faith
and honor of the president when informed of
what had occurred, TO undo the action of the
minister and reinstate her in the authority
which she claimed as The constitutional sover-
egn of Hawaiian islaud5-''~ Also 1T becomes
my further duty TO advise YOU, sir, the eXecu-
tive of the provisional government and your
ministers of the presidents determination of
the question why orr action and that of the
queen devolved upon him, and that you are eX-
pected 10 promptly relinquish to her her con-
Stitutional authority
understand that the first quotation is
ferred to in the following words of the second:
"Why our action and that of the queen de-
volved upon him. (thc president of the United
States), and that the president has arrived
his conclusions from Commissioner
Blount's report We have had yet op-
portunfty of examining this document, but
from extracts published in the papers and for
reasons set forth hereafter, not dis
posed to submit the fate of Hawaii to its
statements and conclusions AS matter of
fact, member of the executive of the pro-
4fsional government has conferred with the
eX-Queen either verbally or otherwise from the
time the new government was proclaimed till
now, with the exception of one or ITO rotices
which were sent to her b myself In regard to
her removal from the palace, and ting to
the guards which the government first nowed
her and perhaps others of like nature
infer that conversation which Mr.. Damon,
4 member of the advisory council, is reported
by Mr. Blount to have had with the ex-queen
January II. and which has been quoted in
the newspapers. Is the basis of this astounding
cl i'm of the president of the United States of
his authority to adj Idicate upon right
government to exist Mr.. Damon on the oc-
casion mentioned, was :. lowed to accompany
the cabinet of the former government which
had been in conference with US. What Mr.
Damon said to the ex-Queen he said on his in
dividual authority and did not report it to u.s.
After quoting correspondence already
pu blished President Dole says:
am instructed to inform you Mr.. Minister
that the provisional government of the Ha-
waiian islands respectfully and unhesitatingly
declines to entertain the proposition of the
president of the United States that it should
surrender its authority to the eX-queen
This answer is made. not only upon the
grounds hereinbefore set forth, but upon
sense of duty and loyalty to the brave men
whose commissions we hold ho have faith
fully stood by US in the no r of trial and whose
will is the onle earthly authority recognize.
We cannot betray the sacred trust they have
placed in our hands, trust which is the cause
of Christian civilization in the interests of the
whole people of til Sc islands.
SANFORD B. DOLE,
Minister of EOraiyn Office