Different views
Queen Lili'uokani:
To President Harrison after yielding her throne (Jan 19, 1893):
"It is with deep regret that I address you on this occasion. Some of my subjects, aided by aliens, have renounced their loyalty and revolted against the constitutional government of my Kingdom. They have attempted to depose me and to establish a Provisional Government in direct conflict with the organic law of this Kingdom. Upon receiving incontestable proofs that his excellency the minister plenipotentiary of the United States aided and abetted their unlawful movement and caused United States troops to be landed for that purpose, I submitted to force, believing that he would not have acted in that manner unless by authority of the government he represents.
"This action on my part was prompted by three reasons, the futility of a conflict with the United States, the desire to avoid violence and bloodshed and the destruction of life and property, and the certainty which I feel that you and your government will right whatever wrongs may have been inflicted upon us in the premises..."
President Grover Cleveland:
To Congress, based on the Blount Report (Dec. 18, 1893):
"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. But for the notorious predilections of the United states Minister for annexation, the Committee of Safety, which could be called the committee of Annexation, would never have existed. But for the landing of the 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."
Senate foreign Relations Chairman John Morgan:
In a report to Congress (Feb. 26, 1894):
"It is evident that the Queen's Government at that time had no power to prevent the landing of troops from any quarter, no power to protect itself against invasion, no power to conduct civil government so far as the executive was concerned...The authority of the Queen was not respected by the people. It was opposed, and no force appeared to be used for the purpose of overcoming the opposition. It yielded to a silent but ominous opposition."
"Whithout detailing in this report the constant decline, from bad to worse, which the evidence discloses without contradiction or explanation, when Lili'uokalani was enthroned, the monarchy was a mere shell and was in conditon to crumble on the slightest, touch of firm opposition..."
...in the backdrop is inpart a picture of the United States Flag ... over Aliiolani Hale and the clock reads 9:05 a.m."
Page 16 Thursday, Novembr 19, 1992 The Honolulu Advertiser
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