The herald., 1893-11-18

SOME ONE HAS BLUNDERED
Gossip About the Hawaiian
Situation.
Cleveland's Policy Generally
Condemned.
Ex-Secretary of the Navy ThompsoA
Heard From.
Senator PETER TaIks-The Proviaiounl
Senator PETER Talks-The Provisional
Government Not Likely to Submit
TameIy to thsEcdict from
Washington.
By the Associated Press.

menting on the report that Minister
Willis had been placed in supreme COM
mand oi the naval forces at Hawaii, and
that regular officers OF the navy are COM
manded to obey such orders as he may
issue, ex-Secretary of the Navy Thomp-
son said tonight 'sBy what authority
the president issued such an order ID
hard to understand. The presidentis
commander-in-chief of the army and
navy, and during state Of war may
/ place at the head of either whomsoever
he pleases, but if there is not war his
nomination must be confirmed before 1t
can take effect. In time OF peace sregu-
lar officer OF the navy is in command,
and he cannot be superseded even by
the orders of the president. II the ru-
NOR referred to is true, the president
evidently has regarded himself as above
both the constitution and law, and in so
doing assuming authority which the
queen OF England would NOT dare exsr.
cise."
AN INTERESTING TALK.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.--N. A. Arm.
strong, at one time attorney-general Of
the Hawaiian islands, talks intereft-
ingly OF the situation there. He said
today: "It seemed to me as much as
10 years ago that 1t was not possible to
maintain the existing form OF govern
ment. Then the white people were
loyal to the monarchy beyond what any
of the natives were. As matter OF
fact, the natives never were in eympathy
with the constitutional government that
succeeded the rule of superstition and
blood of the old chiefs. If at
any time the white peoples support
had been withdrawn it would have
-crumbled to pieces. Liliuokalani was
appointed regent in KalakauR,s absence
on his trip around The wutfd. on which
4 accompanied him. Tbs late I'll. A. r.
Carter, formerly Hawaiian minister at
Washington, acted as attorney general
ad interim in my place. and one OF the
first things he said to me when we got
| back was that il Liliuokalani ever cue
ceeded to the throne there would be
trouble for the people of the islands.
Even of Kalakaua, who was more popu-
lar than Liliuokalani, the natives al
ways said: Sole aliu; he is no chief.'"
MINISTER wILLIs's DISPATCH,
CHICAGO. Nov. ia Washington spe-
cial says: The contents of the cipher
dispatch from Willis, at Hawaii, to
| Gresham, are now known. The dispatch
| informed the department that the pro-
visional government was prepared to re-
siet overthrow. Willis discovered upon
his arrival that the provisional govern.
ment, if it had not anticipated the ul-
timatum of Cleveland, was at least pre-.
pared for it. A cargo OF arms and
ammunition had iust arrived for
| ho mt nd
was in it's possession. The cargo
comprised 100 stacks of improved riflee.
four Gatling machine guns and two
Maxim rapid-fire guns with bountiful
supply of ammunition. Until the re.
ceipt OF this dispatch all the adminis-
tration officials were sanguine and pub
licly expressed the firm conviction that
the provisional government would
quietly submit to the edict of this gov
ernment. The collection Of arms puts
different phase on the matter. 1t shows
beyond question that the Dole party in.
tends to maintain it's position, if posi-
ble. 1t also puts Minister Willis
in a rather embarrassing position,
for it now trsnspires that his instruc.
tions did not admit OF his going to the
limit of using marines for accomplishing
the queens transfer to the throne, with.
out first informing the state department.
of such necessity. His dispatch, there
fore. plainly indicates that he considers
q resort to arms necessary. That the
minister will get such instructions there
can hardly be any reason to doubt, in
view of the positive position taken by
the president.
1t is said Willis dispatch contained
the statement that the provisional gov
ernment has gradually accumulated
munitions of war till it has on hand
1900 rifles. two gatling guns and four
| Maxim guns, besides plenty of ammuni-
| ton. The available force OF police
officers and guards on hourly duty in
Honolulu is 2Sc, while there is a reserve
militia of 500 which can be called to-
gether in 80 minutes notice, and there
are further reserves which swell the
total under the provisional government
to 100. 1t is supposed 500 more could
be had from the other islands.
NOTHING TO GIVE OUT.
WASHINGTON, Nov. II. - Secretary
Gresham today said to an Associated
Press reporter, with come emphasis.
that nothing further would be given out
on the eubject of Hawaii. Blount's re.
port was not to be given to the public,
He strongly intimated that there was
nothing in the report not indicated ip
the secretary's letter to the president.
| He declared that there was no
truth whatever in the story thai
the department has tug outside u
San Francisco harbor to gain time in
bringing dispatches from Minister
Willis into port. He went on to say
it was not true that anything further
had been dispatched to Minister Willis.
This assertion seems to be meant as an
intimation that Willis has received hie
instructions and is fully equipped to act
in ali contingencies.
SENATOR PEFFER's VIEWS.
Senator PETER takes decided ground