Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1893-12-28
STEVENS TALKS BACK.
The Ex-Minister Criticises the President
Hawaiian MaaaaHa.


The Ex-Minister Criticises the Presidents
Hawaiian Message.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Dec. 22.-Ex-Minister
Stevens makes the following reply to
President Cleveland's message and his
criticisms of Mr.. Stevens official con.
duct:
''Only once in our political history has ma
Iority Of the congress OF the United states SOL
smnly resolved in favor OF impeaching the occu-
pant Of the executive chair. Probably it was
well that the effort to remove Andrew johnson
from his Office was arrested just on the brink Of
success. The great reluctance of the conserva-
tive men OF the country to remove the chief ex-
ecutive for abuse Of power seems to have en-
couraged President Cleveland to resort to the
Extraordinary measure Of overturning the pro-
visional government of Hawaii while as much
ss possible concealing his arbitrary design
from the American congress and the American
people.
Look at the historical facts dispassionately
and no one will deny that the lines of usurpa-
ton and injustice on which President Cleve.
land and the secretary OF state have acted since
the 7th of March last, coupled with the ex parte
star chamber course of Commissioner Blount
relative to the accepted testimony of Liltuo-
kalani's fallen and corrupt ministers, are more
sweeping and more hostile to Anglo-Saxon lib
erty than the acts OF George ILL., and the
Lord North ministry. which drove the Ameri.
can colonies to successful revolt
There is 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 chtcanery and pressure,
more Infamous, If possible, than the use OF ball
and bayOnet President Cleveland's recent
S.o., - ~
cises the course OF the recent American minis
ter at honolulu is but a feeble repetition Of the
statement OF Secretary Gresham previously
published In my answer to Blounts re-
port, extensively published in the United
States. I showed conclr sively, as Minis
ter, Thurston and other thoroughly respon-
sible Witnesses have shown, that the allie.
cations In that report against the official
conduct OF Capt Wiltse and myself are grossly
untrue are in manifest antagonism to all the
reasonable probabilities and logic Of the situa-
ton in Honolulu in January last President
Clevelands grossly untrue and shamefully
Just allegation against myself and the naval
commander rests entirely on the statements of
the four VIGOROUSLY corrupt ministers of the
fallen queen, Of Wilson, queens fAvorite and
other thoroughly dtscredited testimony.
Il repeat here what has been amply verified
again and again that neither by force nor by
threat Of force nor by any action OF mine was the
hour on which entered upon my duties at the
head OF the United States legation to the ter
mination OF my Official responsibility, main
tanned the determination to call on the naval
commander for aid only in the event that
American life and property was in danger. II
President Cleveland sees ft to make point
against my official conduct, that months be.
fore the events Of last January I had ad.
vocated annexation, he deliberately and pur.
posely conceals that what I said in my
dispatch In November, 1892, was a confidential
statement to the department OF state OF the
true condition OF affairs In Hawaii. report OF
facts which, by the established rules and prac.
tice of diplomacy, was In duty bound to make
known to my government
"As to the landing Of the Boston marines,
January 10 I only did what had been done on
u previous Hawaiian crisis by Commander
Woodward, on the request Of Minister Merrill,
acting .nder the Cleveland -Bayard order Au.
gust 1, 1889, The following Is the language OF
Minister Merlills report to the department. OF
state: ...
"'As many wild alarms were coming to the
legation at once requested Commander
Woodward to send to the legation q body OF
marines. which request he promptly complied
with The appearance Of the marines on the
street and ct the lega ton had favorable effect
on the populace.' -- s--N
"At that time the United States legation was
near the royal palace at less distance than
the ArlOn nail OF winch cleveland ana BlOunt
speak OF as so commanding. OF the hall had
never heard until a lodging place was needed
for the marines after they had landed BY
On accurate map just received from Hon.
olulu it is obvious that this hall does
not command the palace. The pre- sident's
statement that tbs three points at which our
small naval force was placed was not favorably
chosen for the protection Of American life and
property Is radically an error, as all know who
Gre familiar with the map and buildings of Hon
olulu.
"That the Hawaiian monarchy was over
thrown by United States force was and
is put forth for the sole purpose of
bringing discredit on the preceding ad.
ministrstion at Washington and on the action
of the foreign relations committee of the
United States senate In favor Of annexation.
1t remains to be seen II the American congress
and American people will approve the con-
spiracy TO make war on the provisional govern.
ment at Hawaii and use the military force OF
the United States or the diplomatic pressure
of the United States for the restoration OF
semi.barbarous queen in wanton defiance OF
the best American opinions and antecedents
and by an excessive use of executive power
against an American colony more positive and
less excusable than that which George III. and
his ministers sought to impose on the American
colonies that formed the government Of the
United States JOHN L. STEVENS"