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| The Saint Paul Globe, 1897 |
It is true that there were several planters on the islands making big money selling sugar to the United States. The US government was even on good terms with Hawaii and had economic treaties to ensure unhindered sugar trade. However, the States had several sources of sugar, so losing Hawaii as a trade partner would not be catastrophic to the industry.
Obviously, the sugar planters wanted to ensure that they held sway in the Hawaiian government in order to continue growing their profits. When the queen at the time, Lili'uokalani, made a move to secure more power for the crown, the planters saw this as a cause for alarm.
Without orders from the United States, the group of influential, pro-annexation planters had US marines march from the coast to the royal palace and demand the creation of a new constitution that further limited royal power. I felt like this was something important. It's true that these Americans pushed for more American power in Hawaii, but it was not the direct will of the US government. It was a group of independent individuals.
In fact, the president did not approve. He sent a trusted adviser to the islands to ascertain the situation. The adviser concluded, in the so-called Blount Report, that the planters were a bunch of jerks that did not act in the best interest of the Hawaiian people (I'm paraphrasing, by the way).
Meanwhile, the now declawed queen attempted to stage a military overthrow. She gathered weapons and freedom fighters from around the islands, but was eventually discovered by the ruling junta's spies. She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to house arrest. Thus, the monarchy was effectively and completely destroyed.
President Cleveland did what he could to stall any annexation plans. In 1897, he was replaced with President McKinley, who eventually agreed to Hawaii's annexation. However, it had nothing to do with sugar, the currently ruling junta, nor to end the constant native petitions for independence. The annexation was signed primarily to keep the growing Japanese power from taking the island chain and having a strategic advantage in the Pacific.
In 1898, the Hawaiian flag was lowered and officially replaced with that of the United States.
Sources:
"Captive Paradise" - James L. Haley
You said "it was not the direct will of the US government. It was a group of independent individuals." - That is completely wrong. The insurgents (Committee of Safety) were supported by the US Ambassador John L. Stevens and US troops that were directly responsible for the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom government. By supporting the insurgents and landing of US troops in Hawaiʻi, the US violated international law and Hawaiian sovereignty.
ReplyDeleteBlount report: "The report concluded that the United States legation assigned to the Hawaiian Kingdom, together with United States Marines and Naval personnel, were directly responsible for the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom government. The report details the culpability of the United States government in violating international laws and the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom, but the United States Government fails to follow through in its commitment to assist in reinstating the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom." - Dr. Keanu Sai
"She gathered weapons and freedom fighters from around the islands, but was eventually discovered by the ruling junta's spies. She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to house arrest. Thus, the monarchy was effectively and completely destroyed. " - This is also wrong information. There was no evidence to prove that the Queen had "gathered weapons and freedom fighters". And you said "She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to house arrest." - By the insurgents who committed the high crime of treason punishable by death and were not the actual government of the Hawaiian Kingdom, but were self-declared.
The Queen was not an absolute monarch, but rather a constitutional monarch limited and confined to Hawaiian law as the Chief Executive, which was distinct from the Judicial and Legislative branches of Hawaiian government. The Queen, as Chief Executive, could no more terminate the Hawaiian Kingdom by threat of insurgents, than the President, as Chief Executive of the United States, could terminate the Republic by threat of terrorists.
"In 1897, he was replaced with President McKinley, who eventually agreed to Hawaii's annexation." - The Joint resolution that was used to "annex" Hawaiʻi is merely a law, an act of Congress. It does not have any power to acquire the territory of a foreign, sovereign state.
As for the vote for statehood, more importantly who orchestrated the vote called the U.S. congress.
The U.S. congress is limited to U.S. territory, meaning it does not matter who voted. And anything that was voted upon is still limited to U.S. territory.
Hawaiʻi is not part of the US, but is a sovereign and independent state under an illegal and prolonged occupation by the United States!
I should also add that when you said "end the constant native petitions for independence" - Hawaiʻi did not need to petition for independence because the Hawaiian Kingdom was recognized as an Independent State in 1843 by Great Britain and France. On July 6, 1846, U.S. Secretary of State John C. Calhoun, on behalf of President Tyler, afforded formal recogntion of Hawaiian independence.
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