The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-13

Those who have studied Mr.. Cleveland's
character long ago reached the conclusion
that he is vain. opinionated and arrogant,
but it is doubtful If he ever gave a more
striking exhibition Of these qualities in a
single sentence than he did when he asked
a gentleman who had been making a study
of Hawaiian matters for thirty years if he
thought he knew as much about them as
he 0he PresidenD did after a careful inves-
tigation of eight months.
In giving his full approval to Secretary
Gresham's one-sided statement the Presi-
dent indorses the charges therein contained
| against Minister Stevens, Captain Wiltse
and other American citizens. Captain
Wiltse is dead and cannot defend himself,
but no, doubt Mr.. Stevens will be heard
from in due time. There is abundant con-
temporary evidence that the charge that
he took an active part in bringing about
the revolution is false. but this evidence
is carefully excluded from the Gresham
letter. If he had chosen to search the
files Of the State Department he would
have found evidence there that Mr.. Stevens
took no part whatever in the events that
led up to the revolution, and, in fact, was
not in Honolulu A press dispatch from
Washington OF Feb. 8. 1893, said:
Mr.. Thurston stated that the report tel,
bearers Of a letter from United States Min
lister Stevens to the officials of this govern
ment was incorrect. Mr.. Stevens he said,
sent a letter to the Secretary Of State,
which we brought with US on the Claudine,
and which was forwarded by mail from
San Francisco" This letter to which Mr..
Thurston referred was received at the State
Department this morning, and contained
one fact which has not heretofore APP
peared in the dispatches on the subject,
and that puts a somewhat different aspect
on Mr.. Stevens's actions from that pre-
viously reported-that was that the revolu-
ton was a complete surprise to the minis
ter and to the commander of the Boston.
Mr.. Stevens said he left Honolulu on the
Boston early in January, for a visit TO some
| of the other islands, with no idea that any
trouble was pending. The Boston did not
return to Honolulu TIL Jan. 13, and the min
to find the government in a state of tur-
MOL and excitement. The events OF the
Boston eliminated on the 18th in the de-
thronement Of Queen Liliuokalani.
This shows that the official files Of the
4 oldlG department COIltdl d lCllci
Mr.. Stevens himself, written Immediately
after the revolution, showing not only that
he had had nothing to do with bringing it
about, but that it practically eliminated
during his absence from Honolulu. and that
it's occurrence was a complete surprise to
him. Mr.. Stevens's word on this point is
better than that of Mr.. Blount, who was
sent out to act the part of a sneak and spy
and to make an ex parte report on which
Secretary Gresham might base a bitter and
venomous letter.
1t is worthy of remark that from the be-
ginning to the end of the Secretary's letter
there is not one patriotic word, not a word
recognizing the Importance of controlling the
Hawaiian Islands or their trade by the
United. States. The march of empire and the
manifest destiny of the Republic receive no
recognition from the jealous and irate Secre-
tary. This is a plain departure from the
American policy for forty years past. Dur
ing all that length of time one President
after another, one Congress after another,
one Secretary of State after another, all
our naval officers, every broad-minded
statesman, every sagacious business man,
every intelligent American has recognized
the fact that the Hawaiian Islands consti-
tuted an outpost of the United States and
that there were special and strong reasons
why this government should establish, main
tain and protect American interests in tax
islands. Even President Cleveland, who
now insists on the restoration of n corrupt
monarchy, which would be equivalent tc
the Acknowledgement and ultimate Danish
ment of all the American residents was not
always of this way of thinking. In his an
nual message to Congress in 1856, he said:
L express my unhesitat,ng conviction that
the intimacy of our relations with hawai-
should be emphasized. As a result or tht
rec treafy Sria 4 snd AnstraIiaI
traffic, are virtually an outpost OF Amer
lean commerce and a stepping stone to IN
growing trade of the Pacific. The
influence we have there &C
quired, once relinquished, could only will
difficulty be .regained, and a valuable grount
OF vantage for ourselves might be converted
into q stronghold for our commercial com
petitors.
Here was some recognition of the impor
lance of maintaining American supremacy
in the islands. Here was some recognition
of the fact that three-fourths of the bust
ness and money interests of the islands ar
in American hands. But Mr.. Cleveland ha
changed his mind since these patriotic word
were written. His recent investigation o
the Hawaiian question leads him TO no othe
conclusion than that 1t is the duty OF tn
United States to re-establlsh a monarch,
which the people of Hawaii have over
thrown and to restore a Queen whom the;
detest.
The public may never know whether tn
President dictated TO his Secretary tn
course that should be pursued in this mat