HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
 
There appearing to be some misunderstanding as to the effect of the 
oath, Hon. W. 0. Smith, attorney-general, makes the           following 
"authoritative statement on the subject:" 
The word , oppose" in the form of the oath relates to the duties of
those taking 
it, as voters and as delegates; the former binding themselves in voting for
delegates 
to vote only for such persons as are opposed to a reestablishment of the
monarchy; 
and the latter as members of the convention binding themselves to work in
the 
convention against the introduction of any provision in the new constitution
tend- 
ing to a reestablishment of the-monarchy. The word "resist" was
in the first draft 
of the oath, and was stricken out as possibly misleading. 
Inquiry having been made of me by citizens of the United States 
residing here, as to their status, should they take the above oath, I 
respectfully ask an instruction on this point.'I 
It may be proper to call your attention to previous correspondence 
on this subject, to be found on p. 346 of "Foreign Relations of the

United States, 1882" (case of Mr. Peter Cushman Jones), and p. 833,

part 1, 1"Foreign Relations of the United States, 1888," being
the deci- 
sions of Secretary Frelinghuysen and Secretary Bayard. 
The period of registration closes on the 27th instant. 
I have, etc., 
ALBERT S. WILLIS. 
[Telegram.] 
Washington, April 20, 1894. 
CooPErt, 
U. S. Dispatch Agent, San Francisco, Cal.: 
Forward following by first steamer to Albert S. Willis, U. S. minis- 
ter, Honolulu: 
Your dispatch No. 47 received. 
This Government does not hold to the doctrine of perpetual allegiance, and
an 
American citizen who voluntarily takes an oath to support and bear true allegianec

to a foreign power, contemplating participation in 'its affairs probably,
abandons 
his right to claim protection from the United States. 
GRESHAM. 
 
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