The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-11-21
a COMMITTEE CALLS ON UNITED
STATES MINISTER
WILLIS
An Address Made To Him and a
short Time Spent In CONVEX
sation-The Committee
Very Cordially
Received

| 1uSS were ucIu pcu1hO ClOoOO UOO4
and ne one was allowed in the
meetings who was not enrolled OF
the books of the league, and none
of the proceedings could be ascer'
tanned.
Last Friday evening at a meet.
ing held in Robinson's hall, a com.
mittee was appointed by the league
to call on the new American min
lister, to welcome him to Honolulu
and to give him such information
in regard to the league as he might
desire.
This was done Monday, by ap-
pointment, and the committee was
cordially received by Minister
Willis. The following address
was made by one of the committee :
Hon. ALBERT S. WILLIS, Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipo-
Tertiary of the United States of
America.
DEAR SIR: AS you are doubtless
aware, a considerable number of citi-
zens of the United States reside in the
Hawaiian Islands. Having love and
veneration for the United States, it is
but natural that fraternal feeling
should exist among men so far from
their native land, and being DESTROYS
of cultivating these fraternal feelings,
an organization has been effected
where only citizens of the United
| States have been admitted to member
ship. The aims and objects of the or
ganization may be briefly summarized
as follows: To bear true allegiance to
the United States and, so far as posi-
BILE, to advance the interests of our
native country; TO aid and protect the
members of the organization, and to
assist in all honorable ways the MEM
bers of the organization in obtaining
employment; and to advocate the just
cause of the members and others ow-
ing allegiance to the United States of
America.
The organization has assumed the
name of American League, and for
the better protection of its members
has adopted simple ritual and has a
password, to be changed as often as
necessary. While eligibility to MEM
bership is based on United States
citizenship, the application must go
into the hands of a committee, who
investigate as to the qualifications of
the candidate, including character
and habits, with the object Of Feceiv-
ing only those who are reliable and
worthy.
The members of the league earnest
ly desire that the Hawaiian islands
should become a part of the United
States, and with that object in view
the organization will support the
present Provisional government of
Hawaii, and in all honorable ways
aid in accomplishing annexation.
Believing that you would desire to
know something of the aims and
methods of work of the organization
this committee was appointed to visit
you, and give you such information as
you desire concerning the organiza-
ton, and to extend to you a cordial
greeting. 1t would afford US pleasure
to meet and greet you under the most
ordinary circumstances, but, coming
as you do as a representative of
the president and the people of
the United States, and consider
ing the Importance of your mission,
it affords US peculiar pleasure TO give
you welcome. Some Of our members
have resided in Hawaii for many
years, while others have come within
the last few years, and some have ar
rived within the last year; yet wheth-
er we have been away from America
n four rOonnfhG NJ Uhnfh-
er native born citizens Of the Union
or citizens by adoption, we still ven
crate and love our country, and will
cooperate with you in advancing its
best interests, and looking out for the
welfare 1the citizens of the United
States, whether they are such from
birth-right or adoption. If, at any
time, there is an opportunity for us to
aid you, feel free to command us, and
be assured that under all circum-
stances we desire to make your stay
here pleasant to yourself and benefi-
cial to the country which you repre-
sent, for it is our common country,
and in its welfare we are all inter
ested.
We have delayed somewhat in call
ing on you, believing that your official
duties and the numerous calls being
made would fully occupy your time
for the first few days.
COMMITTEE AMERICAN LEAGUE.
Minister Willis replied, thanking
the committee and the league for
the call, and talked with them for
some time. He impressed them
very favoEably with the cordial
manner in which the visit was re-
ceived.
Later, one of the committee
again called on the minister, and
informed him that, in the address
made him, the fact that the league
was firmly opposed to royalty was
omitted. This, however, was hardly
considered necessary, as it would
naturally be assumed that any
league of American citizens would
be opposed to royalty, but the cor
rection was made so that there