The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-05-27

ment when the United States forces
we're its sole support and constitut-
ed its only military strength, the
Queen and her Government would
never have yielded to the provisional
government, even for time and for
the sole purpose OF submitting her
case to the enlightened justice Of
the United States.
Believing, therefore, that the
United States could not, under the
circumstances disclosed, annex the
islands without justly incurripg the
imputation OF acquiring them by
unjustifiable methods, / shall not
again submit the treaty OF annexa
ton to tbs Senate for it's consider
alton, and 10 the instructions to
Minister Willis, copy of which ac.
companies this message, | have
directed him to so inform the pro-
visional government.
"But in the present instance our
duty does not, in my opinion, end
with refusing to consummate this
questionable transactions 1t has
been the boast OF our Government
that it seeks to do justice in all
things without regard to the
strength or weakness OF those with
whom it deals | stake the Amer
lean people il they favor the odious
doctrine that there is no such thing
as international morality, that there
is one law for strong nation and
another for weak one, and that
even by indirecton a strong power
may with impuuity despoil weak
one of its territory.
"By an act of war, committed with
the participation OF diplomatic
representative of the United States
aud without authority of Congress,
the Government OF feeble but
friendly aud confding people has
been overthrown. A substantial
wrong has thus been done which
due regard for our national charac-
ter as we'll as the rights OF the in
jured people requires we should en-
deavor to repair. The provisional
government has not assumed re-
publican or other constitutional
form, but has remained mere exec
utive council or oligarchy, set up
without the assent of the people.
1t has not sought to find perman.
ent basis OF popular support and has
given no evidence OF an intention to
do so. Indeed, the representatives
of the government assert that the
people OF Hawaii are unfit for po.
pular government and frankly avow
that they can be best ruled by ar
bitrary or despotic power
"The law OF nations is founded
upon reason aud justice, and the
rules OF conduct governing indivi-
dual relations between citizens or
subjects of civilized state are
equally applicable as between en-
lightened nations. The considera-
tions that international law is with
out court for its enforcement, and
that obedience to its commands
practically depends upon good faith,
instead OF upon the mandate OF
superior tribunal, only give addi-
tional sanction to the law itself and
brand any deliberate infraction of it
not merely as wrong but as dis
grace. A man of true honor pro-
tects the unwritten word which
binds his conscience more scrupu-
lously, if possible, than he does the
bond breach of which subjects him
to legal liabilities; and the United
States in aiming to maintain itself
as one of the most enlightened Of
nations would do its citizens gross
injustice if it applied to it's interna-
tioual relations any other than a
high standard OF honor and morali-
ty. On that ground the United
States can not properly be put in
position Of countenancing a wrong
after its commission any more than
in that of consenting to it in ad.