The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-24
EX-QUEEN LII. PROTESTS
SHE PRESENTS AN ABLE ARGU-
MENT AGAINST THE HAWAIIAN
ANNEXATION TREATY.
TREATY WILL PROBABLY GO OVER
Opinion Prevalent That 1t Will Not
he Ratified mt This Session of
Copgress-LopdOn Press COM
ment on the Proposition.

Washington, June 17.-About 3 oclocl
this afternoon ex-Queen Liliuokalani FLEE
the following protest in the Office of III
secretary of state. 1t was delivered int
| the hands of Secretary John Sherman b,
Mr.. Joseph Heluhe, representing the ma
tive Hawaiians duly commissioned b.
two of their patriotic leagues. Mr.. He
lube was accompanied by Capt Juliu
A. Palmer, the American secretary o.
| IIiliuokalani. Mr.. Sherman treated tn,
bearers most cOurteously, but gave no in
dications of his action in the matter:
II. Liliuokalani of Hawaii, by the vii
1887. and by the grace of God queen OF
the Hawaiian islands on the 18th day OF
January, i. D., 1893, do hereby protest
against the ratification of a certain treaty
which, so l 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. / declare such treaty
to be an act of wrong towards the native
and part native people of Hawaii, an in
vasion of the rights of the ruling chiefs.
in violation of international rights both
towards my people and toward friendly
nations with whom they have made the
treaties, perpetuation of the fraud
whereby the constitutional government
was overthrown, and finally, an act of
gross injustice to me.
Because the official protests made by
me on the 18th day of January. 1893 to
the sO-called provisional government was
signed by ME and received by said govern
ment with the assurance that the case
was referred to the limited StotpS of
America for arbitration.
Because that protest and my commu-
nicatiOns to the United States government
Immediately thereafter expressly declare
that | yield my authority to the forces
of the United States in order to avoid
bloodshed, and because l recognize the
futility of conflict with so formidable
a power.
Because the president of the United
States, the secretary of state and an
envoy commissioned by them reported in
official communication that my govern
ment was unlawfully coerced by the
forces, diplomatic and naval, of the
United States; that l was at the date
ruler of my people
Because such decision of the recog-
nized magistrates of the United States
was officially communicated to me and
to Sanford b. Dole, and said Dole's resig-
nation was requested by Albert S. Willis,
he recognized agent and minister of the
government of the United States.
Because neither the above named COM
mission nor government which sends it
has ever received any such authority
rom the registered voters of Hawaii, but
lerives its assumed powers from the So
'alled committee of public safety organ
zed on or about said 18th day of Janu-
Try, 1898, said committee being composed
argely of persons claiming American citi-
,enship and not one single Hawaiian was
| member thereof or in any way par
icipatcd in the demonstration leading to
is existence.
Because my people, about 10000 in
number, have in no way been consulted
~ those, 5000 in number. who claim the
privilege to destroy the independence of
Hawaii. My people constitute four-fifths
If the legally qualified voters, and en-
,luding those imported for the demands
IF labor. about the same proportion of
he inhabitants.
Because said treaty ignores not only
he civic rights of my people, but further
the hereditary property of their chiefs.
Of the 4,00O,O0O acres composing the ter
ritory, said treaty offers to annex 1,000,-
300 or $4,000 acres, which has in no
way been heretofore recognized as other
than the private property of the consti-
tutional monarch, subject to control in
no way differing from the items of pri-
vate 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,
,l,,4 g.,
estates, their title to which has always
been undisputed and which is legitimately
in my name Mt 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 sovereign repre-
senting 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 receives such terri
tory from the hands of those whom its
own magistrates illegally elected by the
people of the United States and in Office
in 1893, pronounced fraudulently in
power and unconstitutionally ruling Ha-
wall.
Therefore. I, Liliuokalani of Hawaii,
do hereby call upon the president of that
nation, to whom alone yielded my prop
erty and my authority, to withdraw said
treaty (ceding said islands, from further
consideration. / ask the honorable SEN
ate of the United States to decline to
ratify said treaty, and l implore the peo-
pie of this great and grand nation, from
whom my ancestors learned the Christian
religion, to sustain their representatives
in such acts of justice and equity as may
be in accord with the principles Of their
fathers. and to the Almighty Ruler of the
universe, to Him who judgeth righteous
ly, commit my cause
HAWAIIAN TR EATY.