CONGRESS. (THE HAWAIIAN QUESTION.) 



229 



with the evidence before them, will hardly claim that 

 the Hawaiian Government was overthrown by the 

 people of the islands, or that the Provisional Govern- 

 ment has ever existed with their consent. 1 do not 

 understand that any member of this Government 

 claims that the people would uphold it by their suf- 

 frages if they were allowed to vote on the question. 



While naturally sympathizing with every effort to 

 establish a republican form ot government, it has 

 been the settled policy of the United States to con- 

 cede to people of foreign countries the same freedom 

 and independence in the management of their do- 

 mestic affairs that we have always claimed for o*ur- 

 sclves, and it has been our practice to recognize revo- 

 lutionary governments as soon as it became apparent 

 that they were supported by the people. 



As I apprehend the situation, we are brought face 

 to face with the following conditions : The lawful 

 Government of Hawaii was overthrown without the 

 drawing of a sword or the tiring of a shot by a pro- 

 cess every step of which, it may safely be asserted, 

 is directly traceable to and dependent for its success 

 upon the agency of the United States, acting through 

 its diplomatic and naval representatives. But for the 

 notorious predilections of the United States minister 

 for annexation, the Committee of Safety, which should 

 be called u the Committee of Annexation," would never 

 have existed. But for the landing of United States 

 forces upon false pretexts respecting the danger to 

 life and property the committee would never have 

 exposed themselves to the pains and penalties of 

 treason by undertaking the subversion of the Queen's 

 Government. But for the presence of the United 

 States forces in the immediate vicinity, and in posi- 

 tion to afford all needed protection and support, the 

 committee would not have proclaimed the Provisional 

 Government from the Government building. And, 

 finally, but for the lawless occupation of Honolulu by 

 United States forces, and but for Minister Stevens's 

 recognition of the Provisional Government when the 

 United States forces were its sole support and con- 

 stituted its only military strength, the Queen and 

 her Government would not have yielded to the Pro- 

 visional Government even for a time, and 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 circum- 

 stances disclosed, annex the islands without justly 

 incurring the imputation of.acquiring them unjustifi- 

 ably, I shall not again submit the treaty of annexa- 

 tion to the Senate for its consideration, and in the 

 instructions to Minister Willis, a copy of which ac- 

 companies this message, I have directed him to so in- 

 form the Provisional Government. 



But in the present instance our duty does not, in 

 my opinion, end with refusing to consummate this 

 questionable transaction. It has been the boast of 

 our Government that it seeks to do justice without 

 regard to the strength or weakness of those with 

 "whom it deals. I mistake the American people if 

 they favor the odious doctrine that there is no such 

 thing as international morality, that there is one law 

 for a strong nation and anotlier for a weak one, and 

 that even by indirection a strong power may with im- 

 punity despoil a weak one of its territory. By an 

 act of war committed with the participation of a'dip- 

 lomatic representative of the United States and with- 

 out authority of Congress, the Government of a feeble, 

 but friendly and confiding people has been over- 

 thrown. A substantial wrong has thus been done, 

 which a due regard for our national character as well 

 as the rights of injured people requires we should en- 

 deavor to repair. The Provisional Government has 

 not assumed a republican or other constitutional form, 

 but has remained a mere executive council or oli- 

 garchy, set up without the assent of the people. It 

 has not sought to find a permanent basis of popular 

 support and has given no evidence of an intention to 

 do so. The United States, in aiming to maintain it- 

 self as one of the most enlightened of nations, would 

 do its citizens gross injustice if it applied to its inter- 



national relations other than a high standard of 

 honor and morality. On that ground, the United 

 States can not properly be put in the position of 

 countenancing a wrong after its commission any 

 more than in that of consenting to it in advance. 



The Queen surrendered not to the Provisional Gov- 

 ernment, but to the United States. She surrendered 

 not absolutely and permanently, but temporarily and 

 conditionally, until such time as the facts could be 

 considered by the United States. Furthermore, the 

 Provisional Government acquiesced in her surrender 

 in that manner and on these terms not only by tacit 

 consent, but through the possible acts of some mem- 

 bers of that Government, who urged her peaceable 

 submission not merely to avoid bloodshed, but be- 

 cause she could place' implicit reliance upon the jus- 

 tice of the United States that the whole subject would 

 be finally considered at Washington. 



The members of the Provisional Government and 

 their supporters, though not entitled to extreme sym- 

 pathy, have been led to their present predicament of 

 revolt against the Government of the Queen by the 

 indefensible encouragement and assistance of our 

 diplomatic representative. This fact may entitle 

 them to claim that, in our effort to rectify the wrong 

 committed, some regard should be had for their 

 safety. This sentiment is strongly seconded by my 

 desire to do nothing that would invite further harsh 

 retaliation on the part of the Queen, or violence and 

 bloodshed in any quarter. In the belief that the Queen 

 as well as her enemies would be willing to adopt 

 such a course as would meet these conditions, and m 

 view of the fact that both the Queen and the Pro- 

 visional Government at one time apparently ac- 

 quiesced in a reference of the entire case to the 

 United States Government, and considering the fur- 

 ther fact that in any event the Provisional Govern- 

 ment by its own declaration of limitation was ordy to 

 exist until terms of union with the United States of 

 America have been negotiated and agreed upon, 1 

 hoped that, after the assurance to the members of that 

 Government that such union could not be consum- 

 mated, I might compass a peaceful adjustment of the 

 difficulty. 



Actuated by these desires and purposes, and not 

 unmindful of the inherent perplexities of the situa- 

 tion, nor of the limitation upon my power, I instructed 

 Minister Willis to advise the Quee'n and her supporters 

 of my desire to aid in the restoration of the status exist- 

 ing before the lawless landing of United States forces 

 on Jan. 16 last, if such restoration could be effected 

 upon terms providing for clemency as well as justice 

 to all parties concerned. The conditions suggested 

 contemplate a general amnesty to those concerned in 

 setting: up the Provisional Government and a recogni- 

 tion of all its bona ~ft.de acts and obligations. In 

 short, they require that the past should be buried, 

 and that the restored Government s-hould resume its 

 authority as if its continuity had not been inter- 

 rupted. "These conditions have not proved acceptable 

 to the Queen, who has been informed, they will be 

 insisted upon, and that, unless acceded to, the efforts 

 of the President to aid in the restoration of her Gov- 

 ernment will cease. I have not thus far learned that 

 she is willing to yield them her acquiescence. The 

 check which my plans have thus encountered has 



greyented their 'presentation to the members of the 

 ro'visional Government, while unfortunate public 

 misrepresentations of the situation and exaggerated 

 statements of the sentiments of our people have obvi- 

 ously injured the prospects of successful Executive 

 mediation. I therefore submit this communication, 

 with accompanying exhibits, embracing Mr. Blount's 

 report, the evidence and statements taken by him at 

 Honolulu, the instructions given to both Mr. Blount 

 and Minister Willis, and correspondence connected 

 with the affair in hand. In commending this sub- 

 ject to the extended powers and wide discretion ot 

 the Congress, I desire to add the assurance that I shall 

 be much gratified to co-operate in any legislative plan 

 which mav be devised for the solution of the prob- 



