The National tribune., 1893-11-23
THE HAWAIIAN NATTER.
At Last Reports the Provisional Govern.
,nent Still I'm Power.

AT Last reports the provisional Govern
ment Still I'm Power.
When the news came the other day by the
steamer Australia, which left Honolulu on the
18th instant. to the effect that United States
Minister Willis had presented his credentials to
President Dole, Of the Provisional Government,
and had not, up to the time of the departure of
the steamer. given any intima.ion of intention
on the part Of the Government to insist upon
the restoration of Queen Liliuokalani, much
So rpriso was felt.
This apparent backdown upon the part of the
Presidential messenger gave rise Immediately
to all sorts of conjectures, principal among
them being whether Minister Thurston could
have possibly had time to warn President
Dole by the steamer that went before that
which conveyed Minister Willis. But in view
of the astonishment displayed by Minister
Thnrston upon tho publication of Secretary
Gresham's letter, the date Of which made it too
late for him to send word 10 President Dole,
this was deemed by some impossible
Yet this theory is supported by the sta,e-
ment of an official of the Australia, which
carried Minister Willis. He says:
Il know as fact that Thurston sent an
urgent message 10 President Dole on the last
trip of the Australia. 1t went down to the
island along with Minister Willis. 1t warned
Dole not to be deceived. and declared the in
tentious Of the United States Government. 1t
told Dole that the only salvation for the islands
was 10 transform, as speedily as possible, the
Provisional Government into Republic. This
would checkmate the claim of Gresham that
the Provisional Government lost its legal life
when the United States refused to annex
Hawaii Minister Willis in some way learned
of the contents of this important dispatch from
Thurston to Dole while he was in San Fran
cisco. He Immediately commu nicated by CT
pher with Washington, and his original in
s.ructions were somewhat modified"
After Willis presented bis credentials to
President Dole secret conference was held
| between the two. Willis threw off all d isguise,
snd hlnntly told Dole that the declaration of q
Republic would not be tolerated. Dole conse-
quently hesitated about carrying out Thursion g
plan.
"In the meantime Minister Willis sent out
| q number Of trusted agents to canvass public
sentiment. He found SO largo proportion of the
| community favorable TO the Provisional Gov
| eminent that he dared not antagoniZe it by
| force, he originally intended. So, each side
having made its BLUFF. Willis has begun to
undermine the power of tho Provisional Coy
/ eminent" ' fas'
No proof of the truth of this statement can
| OF course be offered. but it is most plausible
A positive statement was made the other day
| by prominent Hawaiian resident To the effect
| that the representations made by Commissioner
| Blount, as reflected by Secretary Gresham's
letter, were contrary TO facts; that the Pro-
| visionai Government completed the work OF
| revolution before calling OH Minister Stevens
| for support. and that 1t did not use the name OF
the United States Government to impei sub
mission to their influence.