The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-15
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thority of the prevailing party without
reference to the merits of the original con-
troversyn
My position is, briefly, this If the
American forces illegally assisted the
reVolutionists in the establishment OF the
provisional government, that government
is not responsible for the wrong. doing. 1t
was purely private matter for discipline
between the United States government
and its own officers There is, submit,
no precedent in international law for the
theory that such action of the American
troops has confer red upon the United
States authority over the internal
affairs of this government. Should
1t be true as you have suggest
ed, that the American government
made itself responsible to the queen. who
it is alleged, lost her throne through such
action, that is not n matter for me to dis
cuss, except TO submit that if such be the
! case, 1t is matter for the American gov
ernment to settle between them. This
government, a recognized sovereign pow
or, equal in authority with the United
States government, and enjoying diplo-
matte relations with it, cannot be destroyed
by it for the sake OF dischargng the obi.
cations to the eX.Queen. Upon these
grounds, Mr.. Minister, in behalf Of my
government respectfully protest against
the usurpation OF its authority as sug-
gested by the language of your communi
cation.
CANNOT BETRAY A TRUST
Though the provisional government is
far from being great power and could
not long resist the forces of the United
States in hostile attack, we deem our
nOsitinf 10 b1a npHar 1aual
precedents, under the principles of diplo-
matte intercourse and in the forum Of con-
| science We have done your government
no wrong; no charge of discourtesy is or
can be bro yht against us. Our only issue
with your I >ple has been that, because
we revered institutions of civil liberty,
we have desil ID to have them extended to
our own distracted country. and because
we honor its flag and deeming that its
beneicent and authoritative presence
would be for the best interests of all our
people, we have stood ready to add to your
country a new star to its glory aud to con
summate Il union which we believed would
be as much for the benefit of your country
as ours. If this is an offense, we plead
guilty to it.
l am instructed to inform you, Mr., Min
lister, that the provisional government of
the Hawaiian Islands respectfully saud un
hesitatiugly declines to entertain the pro
position. Of the President of the United
States that it should surrender its author
| ity to the ex-Queen. The answer is made
not only upon the grounds heretofore set
| forth but upon our sense Of duty and 10y
atty to the brave men whose commissions
we hold, who have faithfully stood by US in
the hour of trial and whose will is the
only earthly authority we recognize. We
cannot betray the sacred trust which
represents the cause of Christian civiliza-
| tions in the interests Of the whole people
of these islands
CLEvELAND's WEAK REPLY.
President Cleyeland. through Sscre-
tary Gresham, closes the correspond
ence by letter of instructions to Will.
lis, dated Jan 10 last, in which the ad.
ministration seeks to combat Dole's
overwhelming broalside. The sub.
stance Of this letter is as follows.
The president sincerely regrets that the
provisional government refuses to acqui-
esce in the conclusion which his sense Of
right and duty and due regard for our
national honor constrained him to reach
and submit as measure Of justice to the
|
deposed sovereign. While it is true that
the provisional government was created
| to exist only until the islands were au-
neXed to the United States, that the
queen finally but reluctantly surrendered
to an armed force of this govern
ment Illegally quartered in Honolulu
and representatives of the provisional
government (which realized it's impo-
tency and was anxious to get control
Of the queens means of defense) assured her
that if she would surrender, her case would
be subsequently considered. by the United
States, the president never claimed that
such action constituted him an arbitrator
in a technical sense, or authorized him to
act in that capacity between the provis-
ional government and the queen. You
made no such claim when you acquainted
that government with tho presidents de-
cision. The solemn assurance given to the
queen has not been referred to as authority
for the president to act as arbitrator, but
as a fact material to a just determination
of the presidents duty in the premises.
THE PRESIDENTS VIEW.
In the note which the minister of for
eign affairs address, / to you on the 23d
ultimo 1t is stated, in effect, that even il
the constitutional government was sub.
verted by the action of the American
minister and an invasion by q military
force of the United States the PRESIDENT
authority is limited to dealing with our
own unfaithful officials and that he car
take no steps looking to correction of thu
wrong done. The president entertains
different view of his responsibility and
duty. The subverson Of the Hawaiian
government by an abuse of the authority
of the United States was in plain violation
Of international law and required the pres
ident to disavow and condemn the act oi
our offending officials and within the limit
Of his constitutional power to endeavor Ii
restore the lawful authority.
The president thpreupon submitted the
subject to the more extended powers anC
wide discretion of congress, adding the as
surance that he would be gratified to co
operate in any legitimate plan which
; might be devised for a solution Of the prob
lem consistent with American honor, in
tegritY and morality. Your reports show
that on further reflection the queen CAV,
her unqualified assent IN writing to tn,
conditions suggested but that the provis
ional government refuses to acquiese in thl
presidents decision. The matter nov
being in the hands Of congress, the presi
; dent will keep that body fully advised o
r the situation and will lay before il fron
| time to time the reports received by you
including your No. heretofore withheld
and all instructions sent to you. In tn
meantime, while keeping the department
fully informed Of the course of events, yo
will, until further notice, consider tina
your special Instructions upon this subjeC
have been fully complied with.
INurcTIchTINc lE0npc nEaTu