Hawaiian Queen Letter

The following are quotes and my comments from the Hawaii's Last Queen on American Annexation Letter:

"It had not entered into our hearts to believe that these friends and allies from the United States, even with all their foreign affinities, would ever go so far as to absolutely overthrow our form of government, seize our nation by the throat, and pass it over to an alien power"

I like how the queen uses this quote to, on the one hand express the positive relationship between the US and Hawaii through the use of the word "heart", while on the other hand using language to describes the US's proposed actions against Hawaii in such starkly negative terms. This contrasts these two poles of action, making it appear clear to the reader how wrong the latter role is.
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"Perhaps there is a kind of right, depending upon the precedents of all ages, and known as the "right of conquest", under which robbers and marauders may establish themselves in possession of whatsoever they are strong enough to ravish from their fellow followers."

I like how the queen here refers to the "right of conquest". SHe has a great way of phrasing many statements throughout her letter in the form of questions.. This makes them seem more open to differing opinion and thus less directly confrontational, while still driving home a strong point. Here she "asks" if there is such a right that gives those with power the abillity to take from others-suggesting that if there is then the US is acting within that right. What is pre-supposed, then, is that if this right does not exist the US is out of line.

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"And is the prospect satisfactory to a people who rely on self-government for their liberties?"..."Is such a departure from its established principles patriotic or politic?"

In these two quotes, the queen makes a very clear appeal to the US's own history of its fight for independence from England and the supposed values that it holds dear. This is a great strategy, because many of the principles in the US's constitution are not in line with it's proposed actions against Hawaii. Therefore, it is difficult for a reader to not see the apparent hypocrisy between these two.

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"As they deal with me and my people, kindly, generously, and justly, so may the Great Ruler of all nations deal with the grand and glorious nation of the United States of America"

I like the Queen's continual appeal to religion (Christianity) throughout the letter. SHe is essentially appealing to a power "higher" than that of the US in mediating this conflict. This not only resonates in the hearts of the deeply religious US at the timme, but also again highlights the desparity between what Americans say they believe in because of their religion, and their actions which the Queen suggests mmight not be living up to those values.