The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-20


1893. led a considerable portion OF Ameri-
can and other foreign merchants and
uaders az Honolulu to favor the anneXa-
ton OF Hawaii to the United States 1t is
sufficient to note the fact and to observe
that the project was one which zeal
ouSly promoted by the minister repre-
senting the United States in that country.
he evidently had an ardent desire that IL
should become fact, accomplished by his
and was not inconveniently scrupulous as
10 the means employed to that end.
stevens Too Jealous.
On the 18th day of November, 1892 nearly
two months before the first overt act
tending toward the subversion of the
Hawaiian government and the attempted
transfer of Hawaiian territory to the
United States, he addressed long letter
TO the secretary of state, in which the
case for annexation was elaborately ar
gued on moral, political and economical
grounds He refers TO the loss Of the
Hawaiian sugar interests from the opera
ton of the Mckinley bill, and the ten
dency to a still further depreciation Of
sugar property unless some positive meas
ure of relief is granted. He strongly in
Weighs against the existing Hawaiian gov
ernment and emphatically declares for
anneXa ton. He says: ''In truth the mon
archy here is an absurd anachronism. 1t
has nothing on which it logically or legiti-
mately stands. The feudal basis on which
1t once stood no longer existing, the mon
archy now is only an impediment to good
gOVernment-an obstruction to the pros
perity and progress of the islands,.
lie further says: LAS crown colony or
Great Britain or q territory Of the United
States. the government notifications could
be made readily and good administration
Of the law secured. Destiny and the vast
future interests of the United States in
the Pacific clearly indicate who at no dis
tant day must be responsible for the gov
eEnment OF these islands. nder terri
torlal government they could he as easily
governed as any Of the existing territories
of the United States. Hawaii has reached
the parting of the ways. She must now
other which outlets her i'm America, gives
her an American civilization and binds
also declares: One OF two courses seems
70 me absolutely necessary to be followed,
either bold and vigorous measures Tor an
ocean cable from the California coast TO
Honolulu. and Pearl HarbOr Derpetually
ceded 70 the United States with an Implied
prOtectorate over the islands. I believe
the former TO be the better, that which
VIII prove much the more advantageous TO
the Islands. and the cheapest and least
embarrassing, in the end, TO the United
stats. If it was wise fer the United
StaIs, through Secretary Marcy thirty
eight years ago TO offer to eXpend IOO.WO
to secure a treaty of annexation 1t GER
tainlv cannnot be chimerical or unwise TO
eXpend $4,000 to secure annexation in the
near future. Today the United states has
five times the wealth she possessed in 1884
are much stronger than they were then
] cannot refrain from expressing the opin-
ion with emphasis that the golden day is
near at hand"
Evidence Against Him.
These declarations certainly show dis
position and condition Of mind which may
be usefully recalled, then interpreting the
significance of the ministers conceded
acts. or when considering the probabih-
ties Of such conduct on his part as may
not be admitted.
In this view it seems proper to also quote
from a letter written by the minister to
the secretary Of state on the Sth DAY Of
March, 1892. nearly year prior TO the
first step taken toward annexation. After
stating the possibility that the existing
government of Hawaii might be over
turned by an orderly and peaceful revoiu-
ton, Minister Stevens writes as follows;
Ordinarily, in like circumstances the
rule seems to be to limit the landing and
Increment of the United States forces in
fOreisn waters and dominion exclusively 10
the protection of the United States lega-
ton, and of the lives ana property OF
American citizens. But the relations of
the United states 10 Hawaii are eXcep-
tional and in former years the United
States officials took somewhat e. eeptiOnal
action in circumstances of disorder, l de-
sire to know how lar the present minis
ter and naval commander may CeViate
from established international rules and
precedents in contingencies indicated in the
first part of this Dispatch
To minister Of this temper, full OF zeal
for annexation, there seemed to arise in
January, 1898, the precise opportunity for
which ne was watchfullv waftfng-an op-
portunity which by timely deviation from
established international rules and pre-
cedents' might be improved TO successfully
accomplish the great object in view; and
We are quite prepared for the eNuluant
enthusiasm with which in a letter 10 the
state department dated Feb. 1, 1893, he
declares: The Hawaiian pear is now fully
United States TO pluck it,"
As a further Illustration of the activity
ton is called to the fact that on the day
the above letter was written, apparently
unable longer 10 restrain his ardor. he is
sued proclamation whereby, in the name
OF the United States he assumed the pro-
lection of the Hawaiian islands and de-
clared that said action was taken pend
ing and subject to negotiations at Wash
ington.' OF course, this assumption of a
protectOraee was promptly disaVowed by
our government but the American flag re-
manned over the government building at
Honolulu and the forces remained on guard
until April, and after Mr. BlOunts arrival
on the scene. when both were removed
A brief statement Of the occurrences that
led to the subversion of the constitutional
government Of Hawaii in the interests OF
annexation to the United States will ex-
hibit the true complexion of that trans
action.
Triumph of the Plot.
On Saturday, Jan. IA, 1893, the queen Of
Hawaii, who had been contemplating the
proclamation of a new constitution, had in
Difference to the wishes and renonstrances
Of her cabinet renounced the project for
the present at least. Taking this relin-
quished purpose as a basis Of action citi-
ems Of Honolulu, numbering from fifty to
one hundred, mostly resident aliens. met
in a private office and selected a so-called
committee Of safety, composed Of thirteen
persons seven OF whom were foreign sub
1ects, consisting OF five Americans, one
Englishman and one German. This COM
mittee, though its designs were not re-
Vealed, had in view nothing less than an
nexation to the United States. and between
Saturday, the 14th. and the following Mon
day. the 18th of January-though exactly
what action was taken may not be clear
" dlsclosed-they We're certainly I'm COM
municatiOn with the United States minis
ter. on Monday morning the queen and
her cabinet made public a proclamation,
with a notice which was specially served
upon the representatives of all foreign
governments, that any change in the con
Stitution would be sought only in the
methods provided for by that instrument
auspices OF the committee of safety, a
mass meeting of citizens was held on
that day TO protest against the queens al
legged illegal and unlawful proceedings and
purposes. Even at this meeting the COM
mittee of safety continued to disguise their
real purposes and cOntented themselves
with procuring the passage Of a resolu-
ton denouncing the queen and empowering
TO secure the permanent maintenance of
law and order. and the protection Of life
liberty and property in Hawaii" This
meeting adjourned between and O'Clock
Immediately after such adjournment the
committee, unwilling to take further steps
without the cooperation Of the United
States minister, addressed a note repre-