Legation of the United States

Honolulu, H.I. August 6^th, 1898

 

Honorable W.R. Day

Secretary of State,

Washington, D.C.

 

Sir:–

 

            I have the honor to enclose copy of Resolution and protest of the Executive Committee of the Hawaiian Patriotic League, including the Women’s branch and the Hawaiian Political Association.

 

                                                                        I have the honor to be,

                                                                                    Sir,

                                                                        Your obedient Servant,

 

                                                                        [signed] Harold Sewall

 

 

 

Enclosure

 

RESOLUTION.

 

Whereas:  On the 17^th day of January, A.D. 1893, our beloved Queen Liliuokalani noted a protest against the acts of the representatives of the United States of America, in form as follows:

 

            “I LILIUOKALANI, by the Grace of God and under the Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Queen, do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the Constitutional Government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a provisional government of and for this kingdom.

            That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America, whose minister plenipotentiary, His Excellency John L. Stevens, has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the said provisional government.

            Now to avoid any collision of armed forces and perhaps the loss of life, I do, under this protest, and impelled by said force, yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall upon the facts being presented to it undo the action of its representatives and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian Kingdom:” and

 

WHEREAS:  Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, after careful review of the facts, stated in a message to Congress, dated the 18^th day of December, 1893, as follows:  “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 firing of a shot by a process 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;” and

 

WHEREAS:  The so-called Republic of Hawaii by its Executive and Senate formulated a treaty to secure the annexation of Hawaii to the United States, and said treaty having failed of ratification by the Senate of the United States, and by such failure to ratify having become void and of no effect as to Hawaii, because of the terms Article 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of Hawaii, which read:  “The President, with the approval of the Cabinet, is hereby expressly authorized and empowered to make a Treaty of Political or Commercial Union between the Republic of Hawaii and the United States of America, subject to the ratification of the Senate;” and

 

WHEREAS:  The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States have passed a joint resolution for the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands, and such joint resolution has not been passed upon by the people of Hawaii nor by their Representatives in Legislature assembled; and

 

WHEREAS:  By memorial the people of Hawaii have protested against the consummation of an invasion of their political rights, and have fervently appealed to the President, the Congress an the People of the United States to refrain from further participating in the wrongful annexation of Hawaii; and

 

WHEREAS:  The Declaration of American Independence expresses that Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed; Therefore, Be it

 

RESOLVED:  That as the representatives of a large and influential body of native Hawaiians, we solemnly protest against annexation in the manner proposed and without reference to or obtaining the consent of the people of the Hawaiian Islands;

 

RESOLVED:  That a copy of these resolutions with an English translation be forwarded to Sanford B. Dole, President of the Republic of Hawaii, and to the Agents representing William McKinley, President of the United States, at Honolulu, Island of Oahu, Hawaiian Islands.

 

[signed]           James Keauiluna Kaulia

                        President Hui Aloha Aina

 

[signed]           Mrs. Kuaihelani Campbell

                        President Hui Aloha Aina Womens

 

[signed]           David Kalauokalani

                        President Hui Kalaiaina

 

[signed]           Enoch Johnson

                        Secretary Hui Aloha Aina

 

[signed]           Cilia K. Aholo

                        Secretary Hui Aloha Aina Womens