Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-12-16
AT A CRITICAL TINE.
A Case Where Troops 0C-
Cupied Honolulu.
KNEW ABOUT REVOLUTION.
Stevens Letter, Presidents Friends
Claim, Proves the Charge.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l8.-Among many
other interesting papers relating to the
Hawaiian affairs which have not been In
eluded in the published volumes Of the
state department correspondence, is Min
kter G.. w. Merrill's account of the Will
cox revolution of 1889, which sheds light
upon the Stevens dispatch Of March y,
1892, asking instructions in the event OF
similar occurrence, TO which dispatch,
IL Is stated, no record can be found In the
state department Of any reply having been
made by Secretary Blaine Mr.. Merrill
writes under date of Honolulu, Aug. i,
1889:
"About a. m, July 80, 1889, a message
from the king informed me that an armed
party, led by Mr. Wilcox, was In posses
sion of the palace grounds, and soon
thereafter it was learned that the in
surgents were In charge Of the building
containing the government offices. AZ
soon as possible / had communication
with Commander Woodward OF the
United States steamer Adams, and at
once all necessary preparations were made
to land force necessary for the protec-
tion Of the people and property inter
ested."
Mr.. Merrill relates in detail how the
British, Portuguese and French commits
sioners came TO the United States legation
and informed him that they had deter
mined ''to occupy the tops of the buildings
with sharpshooters for the purpose of pre-
venting the use of the cannon which were
known to be in the possession Of the insur-
gents inside the walls enclosing the palace
grounds"
"At this juncture," continued Mr.. Mer-
rill, "as the report of small arms and
cannon came from the palace grounds
and immediate vicinity quite rapidly, at
once requested Captain Woodward Of the
United States steamer Adams, the same
vessel now at Honolulu, to send to the le-
cation body of marines, which request
he promptly complied with" Mr.. Mer-
rill adds that, after the affair was over
the members of the cabinet and many
prominent residents expressed much COM
mendation of the prompt landing Of the
men,"
Cleveland vindicated.
The publication here of Minister Ste
vens' letter to Secretary Blaine of March
8, In which he asks explicit instructions
relative to the use of the naval force In the
event of revolution, which he re-
CARDS as imminent likely to occur at
CARDS as imminent and likely to occur at
any time, has greatly changed the aspect
of affairs, and renders the position Of the
president entirely satisfactory to his
friends In both houses. Blaine's letter in
reply cannot be found, but that he did
reply there is no doubt, at least that is the
belief of those In the state department
who were then and are now in position to
know
Blaine never disguised his desire TO
secure at the earliest moment the acquisi-
tion of these islands. Stevens was sent
there for that purpose. There are other
letters Of Minister Stevens's bearing on
this question, which clearly show that he
was conniving at and was fully aware Of
all the movements of the revolutionists a
month before Jan. IA. All these matters
will be set forth in the presidents special
message.