The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-29

4
the rejection Of the programme which he
put forward
Tho Struggle OF Hawaii for Freedom.
The assumption Of Messrs. GRESHAM and
BLoUNT that the idea OF ovcrthrowing
monarchy in Hawaii was originated by
| Minister STEVENS and Capt. WILTsE. in
| combination with a few men like Chief
Justice DOLE and his intelligent as
sociates In Honolulu. is disposed OF by
| recalling a few facts. There is clear ev.
dence that the possibility OF achieving
what was actually accomplished last winter
had been seriously considered In Hawaii
long before Mr.. STEVENS was sent to Homo
lulu as Minister or Capt. W1LTsE had been
ordered thlther with the Boston.
1t will not be necessary to go back forty
years to the Administration OF President
PIERCE. when Hawaii sought and almost
accomplished annexation, nor even twenty
five years, to that 81 President JOHNSON
who. from conditions then already exist
ing, prophesled that the Islands would lat
no distant day voluntarily apply for admis-
sion to the Union" Six years ago, widely
published tdings from Honolulu declared
that "only the presence OF British and
American men-of-war prevents an out
break. Annexation sentiment Is growing
There can be no doubt that the State OF
Hawaii. the thirty-ninth In the Union,
could become q reality. The union can
be accomplished IL the United States
will assume the Hawaiian debt" So it
appears that during Mr.. CLEvELAND's for
mer Administration. long before Minister
STEVENS went to Honolulu, annexation was
discussed Another letter, written about
the same time. December. 1887, by mem
Der OF the Legislature, took up the same
point. I'VE are In the midst OF exciting
times. and 1 think. II the ships OF war we're
not here. the King would be dethroned."
Still another had reached like con-
clusion IF the King does not assent
to the acts OF the present Legislature he
will be dethroned and provisional gov
eminent will be substituted" A year later
published letter from Honolulu declared
that the King had acceded to the demands
OF the Reform League. knowing that. other
wise, that body. which had the support OF
nearly all the foreigners and some OF tho
best native element, would dethrone him.
Here therefore. IL is evident that dethrone-
ment. provisional government. and annex
alton were policies contemplated and re-
solved upon, in case Of exigency, five and
even six years ago.
Again. the predecessor Of Admiral SKIER
RETT. who was selected by Secretary TRACY
last winter for the command OF the Pacific
station. had been Admiral GEORGE BROWN.
That officer. returning from Honolulu in his
flagship. the Charleston during the summer
OF 1890, on arriving Mt Seattle expressed
the belief. rs a telegram from the latter
point phrased it. that I" the next steamer
from the Hawaiian Islands would bring
news OF a revolution and probably OF
the declaration OF republic" He
said that the Charleston had been at
Honolulu several months. and during all
OF my stay there matters were becoming
more and more perturbed. and an uprising
by the revolutionists had actually been
planned for the 4th OF August" This revo-
luton did not occur. but 1t is noteworthy
that Admiral Brown expected 1t to be
brought about not by foreigners but by
those natives who desired form OF gov
eminent which would give them larger
share OF the offices. Long before the ar
rival OF the Boston at Honolulu. news
from that port declared that many OF tho
natives were /" in sympathy with the Ameri-
cans, and want either n republic or annexa-
ton with the United States"
The dethronement OF the Queen at last was
a surprise. because no one could have ex-
pected she would commit the folly OF draw
ing on her fate by attempting to destroy
the Constitution OF the country. When,
however. that overthrow was accomplished,
Mr.. STEVENS and Capt. WTLTsE accepted
and recognized result toward which the |
events OF six years had been leading.
Monarchy was overthrown in Hawaii
much as 1t has been overthrow in other
countries. by the intelligent action OF an
outraged people. 1t was largely because
the result had long been looked forward to |
as possibility. that 1t was 30 peacefully |
brought about. To find In that energetic |
and bloodless action reason for setting up |
the throne again. with the aid Of the sailors |
and marines Of our free republic. is mex |
pressibly shocking to the American people. |