New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-26
PROF. ALEXANDERS STATEMENT.

| PROF. ALEXANDERS SETTLEMENT
The statement of Professor Alexander regard
| ing Hawaiian affairs which was published III
| The Tribune yesterday, is in some respects the
most important that has yet been made. He
| is a man not unknown in educational, scientific
and historical associations in this country. He
is Il man of unusual gifts. the son of one Of the
first missionaries in the Sandwich Islands, him
self q native Of Hawaii, who graduated with
next to the highest honors at Yale, and ever
since his graduation has occupied places of high
honor and trust under various Governments of
the islands. He has no political axe to grind.
But Mr.. Blount preferred to his testimony that
of Wundenberg, who was one of the rcvoli-
tonsts until he found that he could not get
the office he wanted and then turned royalist.
There could not be greater contrast rs re-
spects credibility of information. 1t pleased
Commissioner Blount to suppress all the ma
teral part Of Professor Alexander's statement
and to rely largely upon the assertions Of the
discarded ofticesccker, whose opposition the
Republican Government of Hawaii incurred by
failing to make the revolution personally profit
able TO him.
Those who know Professor Alexander under
stand that his statements as 10 all matters in
dispute are entitled to the utmost confidence.
There are some men in this world who are so
conscientious, and careful not 10 allow per-
sonal feeling to bias their statements. that they
always lean little backward, so TO speak.
i'm their desire to stand straight That is pre-
ciscy the character Of the SurveyorGencral
whose testimony the gross Misrepresentation
hayn Ira W Pro
fessor Alexander has been in such personal re-
lations with the former King, with the late
Queen. and with the leading men Of all parties
in Hawaii that his eyewitness testimony OF the
revolution and Of the events which caused it
cannot be reasonably disputed. Yet It pleased
President Cleyeands Commissioner TO suppress
his evidence, and to accept in place of it that
of persons not entitled to credit
The President will not gain anything, in the
estimation of thoughtful or just persons, 'by
such a distortion of evidence. 1t comes to light,
day by day. that all the men upon whom civil
ization and Christianity in the Hawaiian Islands
have depended during the last thirty years were
in hearty sympathy with the revolution, regard
ed it as absolutely necessary TO the welfare Of
the country, were prepared to sustain it at any
cost, anu WOulu REGARD tnc prOpOScu TclnSlitc
ment of the Queen as a relapse into barbarism.
The United States cannot afford to make itself
responsible for any such change, even on the
theory that the action Of Minister Stevens was
open to criticism. But according to the tcsti-
mOny of Professor Alexander, Mr.. Castle, OF
" The Honolulu Advertiser y; Mr.. Thurston, and
hundreds Of others who were present and par
Elephants, and whose evidence no one can rca-
sonably dispute, the revolution was absolutely
completed without any action Of the United
States authorities or Marines who were after
ward landed solely for the purpose Of protecting
the property Of American citizens which Il riot
and bloody conflict might have endangered.
1t does not suit President Clevcland's plans
that such testimony as this should be accepted
as basis Of action His aim has been from the
first to dscrcdit, as far as he could, the action
Of the Harrison Administration. 1t was not
high or honorable aim. and it Is exceedingly
probable that he will regret, before many
months have passed, that he saw fit TO seek a
personal or partisan advantage at the expense
Of National interests.