The herald., 1893-06-02
A FIRM ANNEXATION|ST,
Ex-Minister Stevens on the
Hawaiian Question.
He Says the Islands Should Be
Speedily Annexed.
Not to Take Them In Would Be An
Irreparable Mistake.
The Ex-DiplOmat's Address Before the
San Francisco Chamber OF Conn
merce-Plain Talk About the
Deposed Queen.
BY the Associated Press.l

BY the Associated Pres5.t
SAN Francisco, June Hon. john
L. Stevens, ex- United States minister to
Hawaii, addressed the chamber of COM
merce Of this city today on the subject,
Hawaiian affairs and their relation to
the interests of the United States." A.
large number of business men were
present and gave the speaker an ap-
preciative reception. AT the close of
the address resolution was adopted
favoring the speedy annexation of the
islands.
Mr.. Stevens, in relating his first inn
pressions upon Hawaii, said he had not
been long in Honolulu before he per-
ceived how thoroughly an American
city it was and how predominating were
all American interests on the islands.
He found an intelligent body of citizens
of American and European origin, sup
porting semi-barbaric monarchy, dead
in everything but it's vices; coarsely
luxuriant in it's tastes and wishes and
spreading social and political demoral-
ization throughout the Islands.
The speaker then related incidents IN
the career of the deposed queen, Liliuo-
kalani, and charged her not only with
personal immortality, but also with hav-
ing, by unconstitutional and arbitrary
methods. secured the adoption of cer-
tain measures, such as the opium and
lottery bills, and recited her attempt to
promulgate a new constitution, which
finally aroused the respectable element
of the community to action.
Mr.. Stevens then reviewed in detail the
circumstances of the revolution and the
overthrow of the queen last January,
and the subsequent establishment of the
provisional government. He spoke of
the danger OF riot and incendiarism at
the time of the revolution; the fact that
there was no adequate police, ia.as tss N. m
cordingly made ior the landing of men
from the United States steamship Bos-
ton. In this connection Mr.. Stevens
said in part:
"Under diplomatic and naval rules. the
United States minister and naval COM
mander would have ahamefully ignored
their duty had they not landed men of
the Boston for the security of American
life and property and the maintenance
of public order, even had the committee
of public safety not requested us to do
30. The Boston's men stepped not an
inch from the line of duty they never
lifted a finger in aid of the fallen mon
archy or the rising provisional govern
ment. All assertions to the contrary.
by whomsoever uttered, are audacious
falHehoods."
The remainderof Mr.. Stevens' address
was a plea for the annexation of the
islands by the United States. In speak
ing OF the desire of the provisional gov
ernment in this matter, he said that
without the expenditure of a single
American dollar they offer this rich
prize; this splendid possession of the
Pacific, to the American government, in
trust for the American people. He con-
tinued, in part:
These islands for 20 years have been
carefully watched by American states
men and nursed by American patriotism,
American merchants and American
goat bounty have fostered their PROS
perity. BY the contiguity of interests
OF water and of necessary laws of inter
communication, they belong to the
American system pf states. For atrateg-
ical and commercial purposes they are
more valuable to the United States than
Cyprue, Malta and Bermuda to Great
Britain. So Adams and Webster, Clay
and Marcy saw many years ago. So
Seward and Blaine clearly perceived at
more recent dates, and 30 Bayard and
Cleveland must have understood when
they issued their instructions July 10,
1887, to Minister Merrill and the naval
commander, holding them responsible
for public order and American life and
and American predominance
at Honolulu. Clearly President Harri-
son and the foreign relations commit
tee OF the United States Senate saw the
great value of Hawaii when they gave
5heir signatures to the treaty of annexa-
5ion. On those islands is established an
American colony, with solid bseis of
American civilization
Speaking of the attitude of the native
aawaiians on the subject of annexation,
Mr.. Stevens said the question at issue is
lot the race OF the white man against
he native Hawaiians, as 1t has been re-
ported. The supporters of annexation
ire the more responsible of the whites
md the best of the native Hawaiians.
The opponents OF annexation are chiefly
he less Responsible of the native Ha-
Vaiians, led by white adventurers.
In closing, Mr.. Stevens said: 81 do
lot believe that the administration OF
President Cleveland will neglect this
,reat American opportunity, careful and
cautious as it is its duty to be, but in
lue time and at an early date. believe
t will not fail in its great duty to the
American people. 1t will not POSTPONE
hat which cannot be long postponed
without danger and without putting
oyal American friends in the Hawaiian
Stands to grave anxieties and grave
,erils. These islands will be accepted
md placed among the Jewels of Amer
cas- future crown of empire and glory.
failing to accept this valuable prize
Vould surely bring our statesmen to the
ar of history with an indictment OF
laundering criminality from which
mere could be no escape"