Template:384-385 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 10:09, 18 December 2005

2005-12-18T10:09:51Z

Jere Krischel at 04:16, 9 December 2005

2005-12-09T04:16:56Z

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has always been regarded by the ruling power in Hawaii as a coveted
and secure retreat—a sort of house of refuge—whenever the exigencies
of fate might compel Hawaii to make her choice between home rule and
foreign domination, either in the form of a protectorate, or of submission
to some foreign sovereign.
Hawaii has always desired an escape to a freer government, when
she has to be forced to the point where the surrender of racial pride
and her standing as a nation would be the severe penalty of her
weakness. Hawaiians prefer citizenship in a great republic to the
slavery of subjection to any foreign monarchy. Annexation to the
United States has never been regarded with aversion, or with a sense
of national degradation, by the Hawaiian people. On the contrary, it
has been adopted as a feature of political action by those who have
attempted to recommend themselves to the support of the people in
times of danger.
In the revolution of January, 1893, those who assumed the sovereign
power, declaring that there was an interregnum, made it a conspicuous
part of their avowed purpose to remain in authority until Hawaii
should be annexed to the United States. This was stated as an argument
for the creation of a provisional government, without which there
would be less advantage in the change of the situation. Annexation
was an avowed purpose of the Provisional Government, because it
would popularize the movement. No one could project a revolution
in Hawaii for the overthrow of the monarchy, that would not raise
the question among the people of annexation to the United States.
In the diplomatic correspondence of the United States with our ministers
to Hawaii, frequent and favorable allusion is made to this subject
as a matter of friendly consideration for the advantage of that
country and people, and not as a result that would enhance the wealth
or power of the United States. This treatment of the subject began
very early in the history of Hawaiian civilization, and it was taken up
and discussed by the people of the islands as a topic of patriotic inspiration.
It was their habit to celebrate the anniversary of the independence
of the United States as a national fete day. So that, there was
no thought of conspiracy against the monarchy in openly favoring the
project of annexation. Whether annexation is wise and beneficial to
both countries is a question that must receive the consideration of both
governments before it can be safely settled.
The testimony taken by the committee discloses the well-considered
opinion of several of our most eminent naval and military officers, that
the annexation of Hawaii is a fact indispensable to the proper defense
and protection of our Western coast and cities. But this is a matter
with which the committee is not especially charged, and reference is
made to these opinions as supporting the statement that all intelligent
men in Hawaii and in the United States, who have taken pains to consider
the subject, are convinced that the question is one deserving of
thorough investigation and a correct and friendly decision. The question
of annexation, however, is distinctly presented in the proclamation
of the Provisional Government as one to be settled by the action
of the Government of the United States.
Commissioners to treat with the United States for the annexation of
Hawaii were sent to Washington immediately upon the adoption and
promulgation of the Provisional Government, and they negotiated and
signed a treaty in conjunction with Mr. Secretary Fostar, which was
submitted to the Senate of the United States and was subsequently
withdrawn by the present administration. Accompanying that treaty

was a paper signed by Liliuokalani, in which she stated no objection
to the project of annexation to the United States, but in which she protested
earnestly against her dethronement, and alleged that the United
States, through the abuse by its diplomatic and naval officers of the
powers entrusted to them, had virtually compelled her abdication.
The President of the United States, after a further examination of the
subject, concluded that it was his duty to withdraw this annexation
treaty from the Senate for further consideration, and so notified the
Provisional Government through Mr. Willis, our present minister.
The recognition of the Provisional Government was lawful and
authoritative, and has continued without interruption or modification
up to the present time. It may be justly claimed for this act of recognition
that it has contributed greatly to the maintenance of peace and
order in Hawaii and to the promotion of the establishment of free, permanent,
constitutional government in Hawaii, based upon the consent
of the people.
The complaint by Liliuokalani in the protest that she sent to the
President of the United States and dated the 18th day of January, is
not, in the opinion of the committee, well founded in fact or in justice.
It appears from the evidence submitted with this report that she was in
fact the author and promoter of a revolution in Hawaii which involved
the destruction of the entire constitution, and a breach of her solemn
oath to observe and support it, and it was only after she had ascertained
that she had made a demand upon her native subjects for support in
this movement which they would not give to her, that she, for the time,
postponed her determination to carry this revolution into effect, and
made known her determination to do so as soon as she could feel that
she had the power to sustain the movement.
But the President of the United States, giving attention to Liliuokalani's
claim that this Government had alarmed her by the presence of
its troops into the abdication of her crown, believed that it was proper
and necessary in vindication of the honor of the United States to
appoint a commissioner to Hawaii who would make a careful investigation
into the facts and send the facts and his conclusions to the President,
for his information. The commissioner, Mr. Blount, went to
Hawaii under circumstances of extreme embarrassment and executed
his instructions with impartial care to arrive at the truth, and he presented
a sincere and instructive report to the President of the United
States, touching the facts, the knowledge of which he thus acquired.
In the agitated state of opinion and feeling in Hawaii at that time, it
was next to impossible to obtain a full, fair, and free declaration in
respect of the facts which attended this revolution, and particularly
was this difficult to obtain from the persons who actively participated
in that movement.
The evidence submitted by the committee, in addition to that which
was presented by Mr. Blount, having been taken under circumstances
more favorable to the development of the whole truth with regard to
the situation, has, in the opinion of the committee, established the fact
that the revolutionary movement in Hawaii originated with Liliuokalani,
and was promoted, provided for, and, as she believed, secured by
the passage of the opium bill and the lottery bill through the Legisla
ture, from which she expected to derive a revenue sufficient to secure
the ultimate success of her purpose, which was distinctly and maturely
devised to abolishthe constitution of 1887, and to assume to herself absolute
power, free from constitutional restraint of any serious character.
S. Doc. 231, pt 6 25

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 has always been regarded by the ruling power in Hawaii as a coveted
 and secure retreat—a sort of house of refuge—whenever the exigencies
@@ Line 4: / Line 5: @@
 foreign domination, either in the form of a protectorate, or of submission
 to some foreign sovereign.
 Hawaii has always desired an escape to a freer government, when
 she has to be forced to the point where the surrender of racial pride
@@ Line 14: / Line 16: @@
 attempted to recommend themselves to the support of the people in
 times of danger.
 In the revolution of January, 1893, those who assumed the sovereign
 power, declaring that there was an interregnum, made it a conspicuous
@@ Line 24: / Line 27: @@
 in Hawaii for the overthrow of the monarchy, that would not raise
 the question among the people of annexation to the United States.
 In the diplomatic correspondence of the United States with our ministers
 to Hawaii, frequent and favorable allusion is made to this subject
@@ Line 37: / Line 41: @@
 both countries is a question that must receive the consideration of both
 governments before it can be safely settled.
 The testimony taken by the committee discloses the well-considered
 opinion of several of our most eminent naval and military officers, that
@@ Line 49: / Line 54: @@
 of the Provisional Government as one to be settled by the action
 of the Government of the United States.
 Commissioners to treat with the United States for the annexation of
 Hawaii were sent to Washington immediately upon the adoption and
 promulgation of the Provisional Government, and they negotiated and
-signed a treaty in conjunction with Mr. Secretary Fostar, which was
+signed a treaty in conjunction with Mr. Secretary Foster, which was
 submitted to the Senate of the United States and was subsequently
 withdrawn by the present administration. Accompanying that treaty
+{{p|385}}
 was a paper signed by Liliuokalani, in which she stated no objection
 to the project of annexation to the United States, but in which she protested
@@ Line 65: / Line 71: @@
 treaty from the Senate for further consideration, and so notified the
 Provisional Government through Mr. Willis, our present minister.
 The recognition of the Provisional Government was lawful and
 authoritative, and has continued without interruption or modification
@@ Line 72: / Line 79: @@
 constitutional government in Hawaii, based upon the consent
 of the people.
 The complaint by Liliuokalani in the protest that she sent to the
 President of the United States and dated the 18th day of January, is
@@ Line 84: / Line 92: @@
 made known her determination to do so as soon as she could feel that
 she had the power to sustain the movement.
 But the President of the United States, giving attention to Liliuokalani's
 claim that this Government had alarmed her by the presence of
@@ Line 100: / Line 109: @@
 was this difficult to obtain from the persons who actively participated
 in that movement.
 The evidence submitted by the committee, in addition to that which
 was presented by Mr. Blount, having been taken under circumstances
@@ Line 106: / Line 116: @@
 that the revolutionary movement in Hawaii originated with Liliuokalani,
 and was promoted, provided for, and, as she believed, secured by
-the passage of the opium bill and the lottery bill through the Legisla
+the passage of the opium bill and the lottery bill through the Legislature, from which she expected to derive a revenue sufficient to secure
 the ultimate success of her purpose, which was distinctly and maturely
-devised to abolishthe constitution of 1887, and to assume to herself absolute
+devised to abolish the constitution of 1887, and to assume to herself absolute
 power, free from constitutional restraint of any serious character.
 S. Doc. 231, pt 6 25