Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-12-20
WILLIS ANSWERS EVASIVELY.
The Provisional Government Demands to
Know CIeveIand'S Hawaiian Policy.

has not virtually changed III Ino JnTee
days which have elapsed since the sail
ing of the steamer Oceanic, several mat
ters of more or less importance have
transpired, and the latest diplomat c
communications between Minister Will
lis and the provisional government have
been secured by the Associated Press.
On November % President Dole adj
| dressed note to Minister Willis in
which it was stated that the provisional
government had received notice from
Minister Thurston of Secretary Gresh-
ANS letter. The provisional govern
| ment wished to inquire if it was correct,
and if so intimated that it was due them
to be informed what were the intentions
of the United States in relation to the
recommends of the Secretary of State.
On December 2 a reply was received
| by President Dole in which Min
lister Willis stated in substance
that he considered the letter of
| Secretary Gresham a domestic matter
with which he (Willis) had nothing to
do. II was his opinion, however, that
| President Cleveland would decide to
furnish definite information and in
structions as soon as he had received
certain advices which had already been
| transmitted to him. 1t was Minister
Willis opinion that President Cleveland
would be able to come to conclusion
! because he was anxious to have
| the Hawaiian trouble speedily
settled. A previous note had also
| been received from Minister Willis, in
which it is understood he acquesced in
| the notice served upon him that no
| troops should be landed from the United
States man-of-war without the written
| consent of the provisional government.
| l. j
| advisory councils of the government
met to consider the question of investi-
eating the conduct and loyalty of a
number of employees known to be roy
alists or royalist sympathizers. The
matter had been discussed in the cabi-
| net but no conclusion had been
reached, and Minister Damon suggested
| that the advice of the advisory council
| be asked. The matter was taken up in
open session before large number of
.sitors and resulted in the passage of
| the following resolutions with but one
| dissenting voice:
Resolcsd, That it is the opinion of this ad-
visory council that the executive should
| proceed upon an investigation as to the 10y
atty of all employees of this government and
| the support gwen by them to it.
! ReSolUed, That in the determination of the
| loyalty of the employees of this government
|
| this government and its purposes in the
| past.
The grounds upon which the advi-
sorry council based the necessity FOR
their action are briefly summarized
| from f. NJ Hatch's speech in their
support, as follows:
| We are i'll an anomalous condition.
! Through the existing and only government
! we have been diScredited III the eyes of the
! world by the utterances of Secretary Gresh-
! am. We now have our work to do over
| again. We must now settle the question of
| restoration ourselves. The lady across the
! way still claims to be queen and appeals to
a foreign power-the United Stares-to re-
! instate her AS long as this state of affairs
! continues we are in the midst of con-
| tiict and must keep III the employ
ment of the government only those
is not a question of civil service
reform or anything of the kind. A deeper
and more fundamental question is involved.
! We can have no traitors in our midst. We
| may at any moment have to call upon our
! followers to support US at the risk OF their
| lives. Nothing could be more demoralizing
than the suspicion that when approaching
| the rendezvous (the eX ecutive building) in
moment Of danger, treachery might be
| found there. One or two determined
| traitors could do immense damage under
such circumstances.
ton in the matter at the present time,
basing his argument upon the
clause in the proclamation of last jan
uary requiring only the oath Of office
from those retained in Office by the
| provisional government. The same
evening rumOr was started that Min
lister Damon had resigned, or had told
two royalist office holders that he
would resign before he would con-
sent to their dismissal. In an
interview with the representative
Of the Associated Press yesterday Min
lister Damon declared he had no inten
lively there is no dissension in the cabi-
net" he said. ''There was merely q
difference of opinion on the matter Of
! policy. That is now settled, and if nee
essary removals will be made in my de-
| partment as elsewhere. [ refused pos
itively to resign when asked to do SO by
two persons"
The investigation OF the alleged mis-
conduct of T. w. Wundenburg, one Of
the chief witnesses cited by Secretary
Gresham from Blount's report, has been
concluded. Wundenberg refused to
testify against himself on certain points
and thereby prevented the attorney
general from bringing in testimony as
to eX-Minister Stevens actions during
the 10th of January. The decision of
the supreme court, signed by all three
judges, was filed yesterday, and con-
cludes:
The respondent having voluntarily con-
tinued in office under the present govern
| ment after its foundation, owes respect and
| loyalty to it even If be has not taken sol
emn oath to support and bear true allegi-
ance to the provisional government OF the
| Hawaiian Islands, as III this case he did
| The result Of this investigation leads us to
order the removal Of the respondent
! (Wundenberg) from his office Of deputy
clerk of the circuit court, First Circuit,
which is done accordingly.
This decision endorses the principal
upon which action was taken on last
Thursday by the advisory council re-
garding removals, and is important, as
no further opinion of the supreme court
will be required before action.
When seen this morning, President
Dole stated that Investigations Of mis-
conduct and disloyalty in office holders