The Topeka state journal., 1897-06-18
Against the Annexation Of Her
Hereditary Kingdom.
QUOTES CLEVELAND
To Prove That She is Right
and Others Are Wrong.
Pathetically Pleads for What
She Calls Justice.

OF the secretary OF state. 1t was de-
Hvered into the hands of Secretary John
Sherman by Mr.. Joe HelaIuhe, represent
ing the native Hawaiians, duly commits
stoned by two of their patriotic leagues.
Mr.. Helaluhe was accompanied by Capt.
Julius A. Palmer. the American secretary
of LiIiuokalani. The protest is as fol-
lows:
l. LiIiuokalani, by the will of God named
heir apparent on the 10th day of April
A. D. 1877 and by the grace of God, Queen
of the Hawaiian Islands the 18th day
of January, A. D. 1898, do hereby protest
against the ratification of a certain treaty
which, am informed, has been signed
at Washington by Messrs- Hatch, Thurs
ton and Kinney. purporting to cede those
islands to the territory and dominion of
the United States. I declare such treaty
to be an act of wrong towards the ma
tive and part native people of Hawaii an
invasion of the rights of the ruling chiefs,
in violation of International rights, both
toward my people and toward friendly
nations with whom they have made treat
les, the perpetuation of the fraud where
by the constitutional government was
overthrown and finally, an act of gross
injustice to me.
Because, the official protests made by
the 18th day of January, 1S93 to
the so-called provisional government was
signed by me and received by said gov
ernment by the assurance that the case
was referred to the United States of
America for arbitration, because that
protest and my communications to the
United States government Immediately
thereafter expressly declare that I yield
ed my authority to the forces of the Uni
ted States, in order to avoid bloodshed
and because 1 recognized the futility of
a conflict with so formidable a power.
Because the president of the United
States, the secretary of state and en-
voy commissioned by them reported in
official documents that my government was
unlawfully coerced by the forces diplo-
matte and naval of the United States,
that I at the date of their investi-
cations, the constitutional ruler of my
people.
Because, such decision of the recognized
magistrates of the United States was
officially communicated to me and to
Sanford B. Dole and Doles resignation
requested by Albert S. Willis, the recog-
nized agent and minister of the govern
ment of the United States.
Because, neither the above named
commission nor the government which
sends it has ever received such authority
from the registered voters of Hawaii. but
derives it's assumed powers from the So
called committee of public safety. organ
lied on or about said 18th day of January,
1888, said committee being composed
largely of persons claiming American
citizenship. and not one single Hawaiian
was member thereof or in any way par
ticipated in the demonstration leading to
its existence.
Because my people, about 10000 in num-
Der, have in no way been consulted by
those, 600 in number, who claim the right
to destroy the independence of Hawaii.
Ny people constitute four-ffths of the
legally qualified voters of Hawaii. and
excluding those imported for the de-
mands of labor, about the same proper
ton of the inhabitants.
Because, said treaty ignores not only
the civic rights of my people, but further,
the hereditary property of their chiefs
of the four millions of people composing
the territory the treaty offers to annex,
1000 900, or $4,000 acres. has in way
been heretofore recognized as other than
the private property of the constitutional
monarch, subject to control in no way
differing from other items of a private
estate.
Because. it is proposed by said treaty
to confiscate said property. technically
called the crown lands, those legally en-
titled thereto either now or in succession
receiving no consideration whatever for
estates, their titles to which has been al
ways undisputed and which is legitimate
Iy in my name at this date.
Because. said treaty ignores not only
all professions of perpetual amity and
good faith made by the United States in
former treaties with the sovereigns rep
resenting the Hawaiian people, but all
treaties made by those sovereigns with
other and friendly powers. and it is there
by in violation of international law.
Because, by treating with the parties
claiming at this time the right to cede
said territory of Hawaii, the government
of the United States reserves such terri
tory from the hands of those whom it's
own ma agistrates. legally elected by the
people of the United States and in office
in 1898. pronounced fraudulently in power
and unconstitutionany ruling Hawaii.
Therefore. I, Liliuokalani. of Hawaii,
do hereby call upon the president of that
nation to whom alone 1 yielded my prop
erty and my authority to withdraw said
treaty, Cceding said islands,, from fur
ther consideration. I ask the honorable |
senate of the United States to decline to
ratify said treaty, and I implore the peo-
pie of this great and good nation, from
whom my ancestors learned the Christian !
religion, to sustain their representatives |
in such acts of justice and equality as
may be in accord with the principles of !
their fathers, and to the Almighty ruler
of the universe, to him who judgeth |
righteously, I commit my cause
Done at Washington. D. c., United |
States of America, this seventeenth day
of June, in the year eighteen hundred and
ninety-seven.
JOSEPH HALALUHE,
LILIUOKALANI.
WEKEKI HALALUHE,
JULIUS A. PALMER,
Witnesses to Signature j