minister to the Secretary of State on the 8th day of March, 1892, nearly
a year prior to the first step taken toward annexation. After stating
the possibility that the existing Government of Hawaii might be
overturned by an orderly and peaceful revolution, Minister Stevens
writes as follows:

Ordinarily, in like circumstances, the rule seems to be to limit the
landing and movement of United States forces in foreign waters and
dominion exclusively to the protection of the United States legation
and of the lives and property of American citizens; but as the relations
of the United States to Hawaii are exceptional, and in former years
the United States officials here took somewhat exceptional action in
circumstances of disorder, I desire to know how far the present minister
and naval commander may deviate from established international rules
and precedents in the contingencies indicated in the first part of this
dispatch.


To a minister of this temper, full of zeal for annexation, there seemed
to arise in January, 1893, the precise opportunity for which he was
watchfully waiting--an opportunity which by timely "deviation from
established international rules and precedents" might be improved to
successfully accomplish the great object in view; and we are quite
prepared for the exultant enthusiasm with which, in a letter to the
State Department dated February 1, 1893, he declares:

The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe, and this is the golden hour for
the United States to pluck it.