Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-18
AGAINST THE MOVE ON HAWAII.


tary of Liliuokalani. Sherman treated
the bearers most courteousiy. but gave
no indication of his action in the mat
ter:
Il. Lilioukalani of Hawaii, by the will
Of God named heir apparent on the 10th
day Of April, A. D., 1887, and by the
grace Of God queen Of the Hawaiian ISL
ands on the 18th day Of January, A. D.,
1893, do hereby protest against the rati-
fcation of certain treaty which, SO
am Informed, has been signed at WASH
fngton by Messrs. Hatch, Thurston and
Kinney, supporting 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 invas-
ion Of the rights Of the ruling chiefs, in
violation of International rights both to-
ward my people and toward friendly
nations with whom they have made
treaties; the perpetuation of the fraud
| whereby the constitutional government
was overthrown; and. finally, an act Of
gross injustice to me.
Refers to the Willis Report.
Because the official protest made by
| me on the 18th day Of January, 1898, to
signed by me and received by said gov
eminent with the assurance that the case
was referred to the United States of
America for arbitration.
Because, that protest and my COM
munications to the United States gov
| eminent Immediately thereafter express
ly declare that I yielded my authority
to the forces Of the United States, in Or
der to avoid bloodshed, and because I
recognized the futility of q 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 documents that my govern
| ment was unlawfully coerced by the
forces. diplomatic and naval, Of the
United States; that was at the date of
their investigations the constitutional
ruler Of my people.
"The just Powers of the Government" Etc.
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 res
fgnation requested by Albert S. Willis,
the recognized agent and minister of the
government o fthe United States.
Because, neither the above named
| commission nor the government which
sends it has ever received any such au-
thority from the registered voters of
Hawaii. but derives its assumed powers
from the so-called committee of public
safety, organized on or about said 18th
| day Of January, 1893. said committee be-
ing composed largely Of persons claim
| ing American citizenship, and not one
single Hawaiian was a member thereof
| or in any way participated in the DEM
onstration leading to its existence.
Because, my people, about 10000 in
| number, have in no way been consulted
by those, 5000 in number, who claim
the right to destroy the independence Of
Hawaii. My people constitute four
| fifths Of the legally qualified voters Of
Hawaii, and excluding those imported
| for the demands of labor about the same
proportion Of the inhabitants.
CONFIsCATEs THE CROWN LANDS.
Robs Her Of Her Hereditary Property and
Ignores National Good Faith.
because, said treaty ignores not only
the civic rights of my people but, fur
Their, the hereditary property of their
chiefs. OF the 1900, 900 acres composing
the territory said treaty offers to annex,
| 1,O00.0 900 Cor 5000 acres has in no way
been heretofore recognized as other
than the private property of the consti-
| tutional monarch, subject to q control
In no way differing from other items Of
q private estate.
Because. it is proposed by said treaty
to confiscate said property, technically
called the Crown lands, those legally
entitled thereto either now or in success
SION receiving no consideration what
ever Tor estates their title to which has
been always undisputed and which is
| Iegitimately 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
representing the Hawaiian people, but
all treaties made by those sovereigns
with other and friendly powers. and it
Is thereby in violation of international
law.
Because, treating with the parties
claiming at this time the right to cede
said territory Of Hawaii, the govern
ment Of the United States receives such
territory from the hands of those whom
its own magistrates Oerally elected by
the people of United States and in Office
in 1889 pronounced fraudulently in
/ Po"CA 6uo ma
wall.
Therefore. I. Liliuokalani Of Hawaii.
do hereby call upon the president OF that
nation to whom alone I yielded my
property and my authority to withdraw
said treaty (ceding said islands) from
further consideration. ask the
honorable senate Of the United
States to decline to ratify said treaty.
| and I imDlore the people of this great
and good nation. from whom my an
cestors 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 faith
ers; and to the Almighty Ruler Of the
Universe. to Him who judgeth right
eously, commit my cause.
Done at Washington, District Of CO.
1umbia, United States Of America, this
seventh day Of June in theyea eighteen
hundred and ninety-seven.