Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-03-02

Ind very inefficient body of
policemen. The authority Of the
queen was not respected by the
people. 1t was opposed, and no force
appeared to be used for the purpose Of
overcoming the opposition. It yielded
to a silent but ominous operation. With
out 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
proclamation which she had previously
prepared was q revolution in govern
ment, or an effort at revolution, or
amounted to an actual abdication, the
result was that an interregnum existed.
There is we'll settled authority for the
position that at the moment when the
queen made public her decision to
absolve herself from her oath to sup
port the constitution of 1887
Her Abdication Was Complete,
if the people chose to 50 regard it. That
constitution and the queens oath to sup
port in was the only foundation for her
regal authority and when she announced
that her oath was annulled in its effect
upon her conscience, she could no longer
rightfully hold Office under that consti-
tuition.
Liliuokalani had only been kept on
her throne by the forbearng tolerance
of the white people, who owned $780,
000,O 600 of the property on the islands.
1t required nothing but the determined
action Of what wa known as the mis-
sionary party to overthrow her, and
that action had been taken before the
troops from the Boston landed. There
was no executive head of the govern
ment of Hawaii; it had persisted"
The report then calls attention to the
fact that in landing the troops there
was no demonstration and that in pass
ing the palace they saluted the queen.
It adds: "Her attitude at that time
Was That of Helplessness,
because she found no active or courage
Gus support in her isolated position,
which was self imposed and was re-
GREETED by few of her former subjects.
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 and the
citizens of the United States in Homo
lulu and all the islands and their prop
erty rights, were virtually outlawed.
The citizens of Honolulu were not held
amenable to the civil authorities, but
were treated by the queen. as well as by
the people, as if the country was in a
state of war"
There Was No Law of Nations.
In view of this state of facts the re-
port lays down the following PROPOSE
ton:
I'm a country where there is no
power of the law to protect the citizens
of the United States there can be no law
of nations, nor any rule of comfy that
can %rightfully prevent our flag from
giving shelter to them under the protec-
ton Of our arms, and this without refer
ence to any distress it may give to the
queen who generated the confusion, or
any advantage it might give to the
people who are disputing her right to
esume O. to hold her regal powers.
In every country where there
is no effective chief executive
authority, whether it is a newly discov-
cred island where only savage govern
ment prevails, or n where the govern
ment is paralyzed by internal feuds, it
is the right, claimed and exercised by
all civilized nations, to enter such a
country with sovereign authority to
assert and protect the rights of it's cit
liens and their property, and to remain
there without the invitation OF anybody
until civil government shall have been
established that is adequate, in a salts.
factory sense, for their protection.
Such a Condition Existed.
"The committee agree that such was
the condition of the Hawaiian govern
ment at the time the troops were landed
in Honolulu from the steam warshir
Boston; that there was then an inter
regnum in Hawaii as respecting the
executive Office; that there was no exec
utive power to enforce the laws Of
Hawaii, and that it was the right of the
United States to land troops upon those
islands at any place where it was neces
sary in the opinion of our minister tt
protect the citizens Of our country"
Cognizance is taken of the charge tina
the landing OF the troops was intended
to overthrow the queen with the purpos,
Of procuring the ultimate annexation 0
the islands to the United States but de
clares and agrees that the purpose o
Minister Stevens and Captain Willis,
were legitimate, and that they acted ii
good faith and with no interests excep
protecting American citizens and pre-
serving order.
The Missionaries Praised.
The intensity of the queens opposition
to the missionaries is referred to. Th
work of the missionaries is praised, an,
the report says:
"Civilization and constitutional gov
eminent in Hawaii are the foster chill
dren of the American Christian mission
aries, and with Christianity and educu
ton, as the basis, there has come owe
naval the most rapid and successful
improvement in political, Industrial an
commercial conditions that has marke'
the course of any people in Christendom
Citizens of the United States wit
wisdom, charity, Christian faith, and
love Of a constitutional government