The herald., 1893-12-14
AN OPEN LETTER.
G. L. Carter Pays His Respects to Sec
Rotary Gresham.


retary Gresham.
SAN Francisco, Dec. 13.-Charles l..
Carter. who visited the United States
shortly after the Hawaiian revolution
as one of the commissioners of the pro-
visional government, has addressed an
open letter to Secretary Gresham on the
Hawaiian question. The address ia
made with the consent OF the provisional
government, and is made public, the
writer says, on acconnt OF the apparent
disinclination of the state department to
give full exposition of the facts which
are at its disposal.
The letter is very long, and replies to
every paragraph OF Gresham 8 published
letter to President Cleveland. Referring
to the landing of American troops Mon
day, January 10th, Carter says: THAT
there were no manifestations of excite
ment or alarm in the city Monday night
was due to the fact that American troops
were on shore. Up to the moment of
their landing agitation and uncertainty
were intense. II any of Mr.. Blount's
witnesses made statements to the con-
trary | should like an opportunity to
cross-examine them. As it was, two
attempts at incendiary fires were made
at different times and in different
parts OF the city, which, but
for the appearance of Lieutenant Swim
burne and q squad, might have in
creased to alarming proportions. To
imply in the came paragraph OF your re-
port that the committee OF public safety
entered the government building as soon
as the forces. were landed. is grossly
misleading, and had you given me the
~,
Washington, of making detailed state
ment of the occurrences | connot be-
leve you would have fallen into this
error"
The government building was not
seized, Carter declares, until the follow
ing day, 90 hours after the American
troops were landed. phe proclamation
wgs read as soon rs the building WAS
surrendered by the highest official in
charge. As soon as the provisional
governments order for support from
loyai citizens was issued, $50 armed and
determined men, who had rendezvouaed
az the old armory, msrched TO the build
ing and were stationed there as Rusrds.
"While they were gathering" Carter
continued, There wac some anx-
iety, and MIR. Damon asked me
to seek Captain Wiltse of the Boston
and ask for an armed guard. l
objected, knowing we could not expect
such assistance, but finally went, and
wac not surprised when Captain Wiltse
paremptorily refused"
Speaking OF President Dole's petition
to Minister Stevens, on Tuesday night,
for protection of American troops,
Carter saye: 1.-The request for the i'm
mediate support OF United States forces
OF itself should indicate that st that
moment there had been no such eupport,
and furthermore was intended only for
that night and ior the purpose Of patrol.
ling the town. Can it be possible that
you have not been informed that the
reply to that request wRs second abso-
lutte refusal from CAPTAIN Wiltse ?'
Carter quotes Groshsm's words when
the secretary spoke OF the special COM
missioners sent to Washington by the
provisional government, and when he
said their statements are utterly at
variance with the evidence, document
ary and oral, contained in Mr.. Blounte
report"
Garter declares Gresham absolutely
and persistently evaded any opportunity
of allowing the Hawaiian commissioners
to make a statement.
Carter also says he visited Gresham
when the news came to America that
Blount had hauled down the American
Gag at Honolulu, and that Gresham
stated positively there was no intention
OF restoring the queen.
Garter also reminds Gresham that
this statement was repeated in one ol
their later interviews, when Gresham
announced that Blount would return tc
Washington in June.