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LOSS OF A NATION
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Ruins of Coral Fort, Maui, Hawai'i
J. Pualani McBee
Annexation defined: contract or agreement that one nation agrees to be incorporated under the laws of another nation. Aside conquest, annexation can only happen by treaty...agreement/contract between nations...a three step process (Sai 4):
- Representatives from executive branch of both governments sign and consent to a written agreement
- Signed agreement submitted to the two respective governments for ratification/approval -- in US, a 2/3 vote of Senate
- Both countries having agreed to terms and conditions, representatives of both countries exchange copies of the ratified agreement
In the case of Hawai'i, a sovereign nation, the band of business men calling themselves the provisional government who plotted the overthrow of the lawful government of the islands attempted to gain annexation of their stolen nation to the US, 14 February 1893. Upon being presented for ratification, President Grover Cleveland learned of the illegal overthrow and denied any further consideration of Hawai'i for annexation. Additionally, President Cleveland stated on 18 December 1893 in his message to the US Congress: "...the United States could not, under the circumstances disclosed, annex the islands without justly incurring the imputation of acquiring them by unjustifiable methods, I shall not again submit the treaty of annexation to the Senate for its consideration..."
So, the "provisional government" declared itself the "Republic of Hawai'i" 4 July 1894. As President Cleveland opposed the annexation and told them to restore the lawful Hawaiian Kingdom Government, they bided their time until the President was no longer in office. Once that was accomplished, 16 Jun 1897 they made their second effort of annexation, whereupon Queen Liliuokalani filed a formal letter of protest in the State Department disputing the manner of annexation as it was a violation against the existent treaties between the Hawaiian Kingdom and the US that was recognized as international law.
An excerpt of said letter filed by Queen Liliuokalani (Liliuokalani 354-356):
"...I declare such a treaty to be an act of wrong toward the native and part-native people of Hawaii, an invasion of the rights of the ruling chiefs, in violation of international rights both toward my people and toward friendly nations with whom they have made treaties, the perpetuation of the fraud whereby the constitutional government was overthrown, and finally, an act of gross injustice to me."
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YEILDED TO AVOID BLOODSHED
"Because that protest and my communications to the United States Government immediately thereafter expressly declare that I yielded my authority to the forces of the United States in order to avoid bloodshed, and because I recognized the futility of a conflict with so formidable a power."
"Because the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and an envoy commissioned by them reported in official documents that my government was unlawfully coerced by the forces, diplomatic and naval, of the United States; that I was at the date of their investigations the constitutional ruler of my people."
"Because such decision of the recognized magistrates of the United States was officially communicated to me and to Sanford B. Dole, and said Dole's resignation requested by Albert S. Willis, the recognized agent and minister of the Government of the United States." ."
...
CIVIC AND HEREDITARY RIGHTS
"Because said treaty ignores, not only the civic rights of my people, but, further, the hereditary property of their chiefs. Of the 4,000,000 acres composing the territory said treaty offers to annex, 1,000,000 or 915,000 acres has in no way been heretofore recognized as other than the private property of the constitutional monarch, subject to a control in no way differing from other items of a private estate."
"Because it is proposed by said treaty to confiscate said property, technically called the crown lands, those legally entitled thereto, either now or in succession, receiving no consideration whatever for estates, their title to which has been always undisputed, and which is legitimately in my name at this date."
"Because said treaty ignores, not only all professions of perpetual amity and good faith made by the United States in former treaties with the sovereigns representing the Hawaiian people, but all treaties made by those sovereigns with other and friendly powers, and it is thereby in violation of international law."
"Because, by treating with the parties claiming at this time the right to cede said territory of Hawaii, the Government of the United States receives such territory from the hands of those whom its own magistrates (legally elected by the people of the United States, and in office in 1893) pronounced fraudulently in power and unconstitutionally ruling Hawaii."
APPEALS TO PRESIDENT AND SENATE
"Therefore I, Liliuokalani of Hawaii, do hereby call upon the President of that nation, to whom alone I yielded my property and my authority, to withdraw said treaty (ceding said Islands) for further consideration. I ask the honorable Senate of the United States to decline to ratify said treaty, and I implore the people of this great and good nation, from whom my ancestors learned the Christian religion, to sustain their representatives in such acts of justice and equity as may be in accord with the principles of their fathers, and to the Almighty Ruler of the universe, to him who judgeth righteously, I commit my cause."
Under the Presidency of William McKinley, the treaty was signed despite all reason to the contrary.
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Hibiscus
WORKS SITED
Liliuokalani, H.R.M., Queen of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii's Story By Hawaii's Queen. Rutland, VT: C. E. Tuttle Co., 1964.
Sai, David Keanu. "Before Annexation: Sleight of Hand--Illusion of the Century." Ka Wai Ola o OHA. Vol. 15, Number 7 - Hawai'i, July 1998: 4.
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