Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-04-04
WE WERE ONCE IMPERIALISTS
when Democratic administration
Was In Control ut Wash
ingI0n,

The bill introduced in the Hawaiian
legislature to pension former Queen
Liliuokalani recalls opportunely the
only attempt of an American admins
tration to enforce an imperial policy.
There was revolution in Hawaii
in 1892, the outcome of which was the
overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and
the monarchy, the establishment of a
provisional government, and the nego-
tiation of treaty of annexation with
the United States, in which the sue
cessful revolutionary party asked for
an immediate American protectorate
and for prompt annexation.
The treaty of annexation was before
the senate, with strong proba bility of
ratification, when it was withdrawn by
President Cleveland, March 9, 1893.
The president sent a special commits
soner to Hawaii, who withdrew the
protection of the United States from
the provisional government, hauled
down the American flag, and presented
the ultimatum of the Cleveland admin
istration to the effect that President
bOlt anu HIS dSSOCldNtS SIlbult SUI
| render the government to the deposed
queen and that the monarchy in all
it's functions should be restored.
This was democratic policy. Mr..
Blount, and afterward Mr.. Willis, as
| representatives of the United States,
made attempts to enforce this policy
of restoring a monarchy. Threats
~ 10, D,.aGi1a Mt
Dole, of the Hawaiian republic, to
| consent to the restoration of the
queen. He declined to do so and for
| months the government of the United
States stood in an attitude of active
hostility toward a people asking for
protection and annexation.
The situation became so strained
| that President Cleveland finally re-
| ferred the whole matter to congress,
| recommending, however, that the
restoration of the monarchy be in
sisted upon. The democrats of the
| house voted to sustain the president.
Many of the most influential demo-
Gratis in the senate declined to do so,
and it was only upon the accession
| was annexed.
Had the democratic policy prevailed,
Hawaii would not now be a part of the
United States. So long as President
| Cleveland was in power there was dan
ger of civil war in Hawaii because of
intrigues among the natives, based on
| the presidents avowed friendship for
the deposed queen. But under re-
| publican administration Hawaii was
annexed, territorial government was
organized, and the islands, under the
American system, have made great
progress in education, in agriculture,
and in commerce.
The people have government under
which they enjoy the same rights and
privileges as American citizens. An
American going from San Francisco
westward feels, when he steps ashore
al Honolulu, that he is on American
soil. Eight years ago England, Ger
many and Japan each contemplated
taking possession of the Hawaiian is
lands, thus despoiling the United
! States of its strongest outpost in the
Pacific. Now no foreign power ques-
tions the sovereignty of the United
States in Hawaii. This has been ac-
complished, not under the imperial
| policy of President Cleveland, but by
encouragement to republican institu-
| tions in Hawaii under President Nc
| Kinley-Chicaro ro Infer Ocean