The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-20
FX-QUFFN R[CITFS
HISTORY IN APPEAL
LiluOkaIani Says the Present
Value of Crown Lands
Taken Is SIz,O00,O0O
Still Confident the United States
VIII Make Financial
! ReparatiOn
CSpseial Dispatch 10 The Cali

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1e.-The follow
ing statement Of Ldliuokalani. former
queen Of the Hawaiian islands, has
been made public:
have come TO washington again in
my declining years 10 make a personal
appeal TO congress and the American
people for some compensation for the
crown lands Of Hawaii OF which I was
deprived in 1883. The crown lands Of
hawaii were wholly separate from the
general public lands Of the kingdom.
All the lands Of Hawaii were divided
into three groups by Kamehameha III.
One part went 70 the chiefs and people;
another part became general public
lands, and the other became a trust
fund or property for the personal
use and benefit Of the monarch and his
successors TO the throne. A life in
terest in the crown lands became vested
In each monarch as successor to the
trust and II was q private income
which the monarch could use as he
saw 1T
WORTH TWELVE MILLIONS
During my reign as queen Of Hawaii
the area OF the crown lands was about
100000 acres; the present value of
these lands IS over sI2,0OO,O00.
The income from the crown lands
az the time my government was over
thrown was over S65.000 a year; this
sum went direct 10 the occupant of the
throne, in addition 10 the privy purse
amounting TO $50 600 > year for main
tanning the royal household.
Three separate and valuable pieces
OF the crown lands of Hawaii have
been taken for the direct use of the
FEDERAL government. One tract adjoin-
lnging Honolulu harbor is occupied by
the Honolulu naval station including
the cOaling yards and two wharves;
Is & Of
now equipped as a permanent military
post The third is just being occupied
as q military post at Waianae-uka in
the interior Of Oahu
HOW UNCLE SAM GOT LANDS
The portions Of these lands directly
held and used by the United States for
military and naval purposes are alone
worth $1,000. 600. This government did
not take these lands from me directly
Tor itself: but IL did furnish the armed
force that enabled others to take them.
A president OF the United States in
2 message TO the congress, based on
carefully collected evidence said:
The lawful government Of Hawaii
was overthroWn without the drawing of
q sword or the firing OF a shot. bv
process, every step of which is directly
traceable TO and dependent for its sue
cess upon the agency of the United
States acting through its diplomatic
ana naFsl representatives..
And now the United States is hold
ing those very lands, having taken
them a. a gift from the temporary gov
eminent which il had enabled to seize
them by aid Of federal forces.
HAWAII SOURCE OF REVENUE
Hawaii has cost this nation nothing
but besides adding valuable lands 10
this nation by its acquisition it has
been source Of cash revenue. AL
though this government assumed
S4,000.000 Of Hawaiis debt the cash
revenues to the federal treasury since
annexation have amounted to over
$4,000 600
7 do not want to end my DAYS
knowing that my Hawaiian people viii
always feel that this nation respects
only the right Of armed force. I had
hoped that this strong nation would
show magnanimfty TO the weak; that
this government, which has gained
Hawaii with such profit, would show it.
self just even beyond the power Of
weaker people to question their Just
Ice; that it would not ignore a claim
merely because 1t can not be enforced
by international law, but that on the
broad basis Of national honor it would
seek opportunity TO show the generos-
lty Of a great people toward the de-
posed monarch Of a weaker nation
whose domain and separate existence
they have absorbed
Through the loyalty Of the Hawaii
an people I can end my days without
actual want, but If this nation does
not soon act IL viii forever lose the
opportunity to make some reparation
for what one OF its own presidents
called an unwarranted act.
RECoNCILED TO CHANGE
Il am now reconciIed to the change
of government in Hawaii, but am too
loyal to the United States to be willing
10 be the occasion Of reproach to this
great nation when future historians
shall tell how the government was en-
riched by accepting without compensa-
ton land IL had assisted in taking from
q weaker sovereign.
When in 1898 / was induced to sur
render my authority in order to avert
blOodshed that action was represented
70 me as a proper temporary step till
appeal could be made to the govern
ment at Washington.
My relinouishment Of authority
stated that yield to the superior
force Of the United States OF America
and not TO the forces Of the revolution
lists, and Now to avoid any collision
OF armed forces and perhaps the loss of
life ] DO, under this protest and i'm
PEELED by said force, yield my authority
until such time as the government of
the United States shall undo the action
Of its representatives and reinstate me
IN the AUTHORITY which ] claim as the
constitutional sovereign OF the Ha-
waiian islands.
THE time has long passed when res
toration TO my throne could have been
made. But, though Is years have
passed. ] have not given up hope that
this government win yet make some
reparation for my financial loss, which
can still be done with injury to no one
and with honor to this nation to which
now belong.
I shall employ no attorneys TO
prosecute my claim. but shall leave il
entirely to Prince Kalanianaole, the
delegate from Hawaii, and TO those
members Of congress who believe that
Justice requires some action should be
taken in my behalf"