The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-21
STEVENS REPLY.
Charges Cleveland with Gross InJustice
and Ty tyranny In Dealing with Hawaii

and Tyranny In Deaiilg q with Hawaii
AUGUSTA, Me-, Dec. 2l.--Ex-M Minister
Stevens makes the following reply to
criticisms of his - Mr.. Stevens = official
conduct:
Human government in its best form
sometimes fails to secure all the just OBJ
jects for which it has been created. No
one who has studied the doings OF the re-
markable body of men who formulated
the constitution of the United States has
failed TO observe what care and effort
were exercised to create IAN executive
power which would not be abused for
purposes of usurpation and tyranny.
There il nothing in American history
more shameful in its scope of injustice
and tyranny than the attempt of President
Cleveland and Secretary Gresham to
crush out liberty and American interests
in Hawaii by the threat to restore the
extinct Hawaiian monarchy by force Of
arms or by diplomatic cnicanery and
pressure, more Infamous, IL possible, than
the use OF bah and bayonet.
"a Feeble Repetition"
Even the atrocious attempt years ago to
force the pro-slavery LeCompton constitu-
tion on the people Of Kansas by federal
bayonets, which so signally failed Of ac-
complishment. seems diminutive in con-
trast with the astounding proposition and
avowed purpose to overturn the pro-
visional government of Hawaii, back OF
which stands that noble American colony,
and around which is crystallized the inter
ests of American Christian civiliza-
tion in that advanced and invaluable
American outpost in the North Pacific.
President Cievefands recent special mes
sage, in which he so severely criticises the
course of the American minister at Homo
lulu. is but feeble repetition of the SUI
pericial report of Commissioner Blount
and the statement of Secretary Gresham,
prev iously published.
BIounts Allegations Untrue.
In my answer to Blount's report showed
conclusively, as other thoroughly respon-
sible witnesses have shown, that the al
legations in that report against the official
conduct of Captain Wiltse and myself are
grossly untrue, are in manifest antagon-
ism TO all ther reasonable probabilities,
circumstances and logic of the situation
1T Honolulu in January last President
Cleveland's grossly untrue and shame
fully unjust allegation against myself
and the naval commander rest entirely on
the statements of the four notoriousIy
corrupt ministers Of the fallen queen, Of
Wilson, the Tahitian half white immoral
favorite, and other thoroughly discredited
testimony.
Used Neither Force Nor Threat.
/ will not, in this paper, go over the
conolusively overwhelmingly testimony
of'all respectable men Of the American
colony. Persons of the highest character
for intelligence and integrity, who knew
and witnessed the events when the Ha-
waiian monarchy fell, contradict ex-
pressly the secretly collected testimony of
Commissioner Blount
only repeat here what has been amply
verified again and again, that neither by
force or threat of force, or by any advice
Or action. of mine, was the fall of the
monarchy precpitated. From the hour
on which / entered on my duties mt the
head of the United States legation to the
termination of my official responsibility
/ maintained the determination to call on
the naval commander for aid only in the
event that American life and property
were in danger.
A Thrust Mt Cleveland.
President Cleveland sees Gt to make
point against my official conduct that
months before the events of last January
i had advocated annexation. He de-
liberately and purposely conceals that
what said in my dispatch In November,
1892, was confidential statement to the
department of state of the then condition
of affairs in Hawaii, a report of facts
which, by the established rules and prac-
tice Of diplomacy, was in duty bound to
make known to my government.
For months prior TO the date of this dis
patch there had been continual struggle
between the legislature and the queen as
to their respective rights regarding the
copstitution and the. he.responsibility Of the
cabinet. Ministry after ministry had been
appointed in defiance of the votes of the
Legislature apd of responsible public 'opin-
ion. The queen, her immoral favorite,
WILSON,, aud the lottery ring openly de-
fed the legislature and the property hold
ers of the islands.
Good People Suffered.
Only the remarkable self-possession of
the respectable and responsible men OF
the islands prevented an outbreak and
the overture of the monarchy at an earlier
day. The self-possession and forbearance
OF the men thus deiled by the monarchy
and It's parasites were remarkable, con-
sidering that they were enduring abuses
and scandals which no American city or
state would tolerate 80 days.
But when the queen and her favorite
Wilson yielded by the appointment Of the
Jones-Wilcox cabinet, men of the highest
respectability and responsibility, three Of
them men of wealth wishing not for Office,
confdentially reached the conclusion,
as the close of the legislature was near.
that this ministry would be able 90 carry
on the government safely for the follow
ing ls months, and until the election of a
new legislature
In this belief / left Honolulu In the
L :. S. Boston, Jan. T. on a trip TO Hilo,
ESQ miles from Honolulu, the first time
for many months when had deemed IL
safe TO leave Honolulu In the 10 days of
our absence from the legation had
known no more of what had been trans.
piring in Honolulu than though l had
bepn nj that time I'm Waehin Uton