The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-11-21
THE STARS INTERVIEW MIDDLE.

NC 1uNCl NICh WIN N11O @AhASA4Ne1AA
minister published in the Star of
the 18th instant proves to be a most
unfortunate blunder. As it is likely
to form an interesting episode in
Hawaiian journalistic history it
may be well to place the facts on
record for future reference, and for
the benefit of the public. The fol-
lowing was printed as the inter
view:
"Can you not authorize the Star to
say something, Mr.. Willis, which will
allay the present excitement and quiet
the numerous rumors afioat?"
ID "Yes, believe that the time has
come in which ii is right and proper
for me to use my discretion in this
matter. You are authorized to say
from me that no change in the present
situation will take place for several
weeks. 1 brought with me certain in
structions from the United States gov
eminent on the Hawaiian situation.
Since my arrival here contingencies
have arisen about which neither the
United States government nor myself
were aware when j left Washington.
/ have thought best in the exercise of
the discretion allowed me, to submit
these matters TO Washington before
proceeding further in carrying out my
original instructions. / forward my
dispatches 10 Washington by today's
steamer, and until receive an answer
TO them no change will take place in
the present situation nor will any be
allowed
"What do you mean by the express
sion nor will any be allowed?'"
(2) al mean just this: That until
the time comes for me to carry out my
instructions the peace and good order
Of this community will be kept undis-
turbed in the interests of humanity.
That any attempt made by any person
or persons TO make trouble will be
promptly checked and punished. You
may put the matter more plainly and
say that even if the Provisional gov
eminent discharged the whole of its
troops no lawlessness would be al
lowed for one moment under the pres
ent situation OF affairs
ssThis will go great way towards
allaying the present excitement, Mr..
Willis; can you not add something
more?" asked the reporter.
tS) "Yes, you may say that depre-
cate the course of certain newspapers
in stirring up factional trouble here,
and that i admire the recent course of
the Star in that regard. 1 think that
the tone Of its articles on the political
situation has been proper and con-
sistent under the circumstances. The
whole Hawaiian question is now in
allegiance and nothing that the news
papers can say or do will alter the
situation one iota. make this state
ment on my own responsibility and
in the hope that it will allay the pres
ent excitement. There is not the
slightest necessity for any one to stay
out of bed nights for fear of any trou-
bic of any kind, for none will be per-
mitted.n
Paragraphs marked (1) and (2)
it was thought might convey in
the main what the minister desired
to express, but when paragraph (3)
singled out the Star as the model
paper which does not stir up fac
tional trouble here, everyone who
read the lines said that Minister
Willis could never have uttered
such a remark. And it naturally
threw some discredit on the inter-
view, which belief was confirmed
when the Bulletin, the next even
ing, printed the following note re-
ceived from the, minister, the italics
being ours:
To THE EDITOR OF THE BULLETIN
Il have hastily glanced at the manu-
script which YOU have left. The inter-
view in the Star was submitted to me,
but / did not scrutinize it carefully.
IL contains several expressions
Chich are misleading; due, / am
sure, not to any intention on the part
Of the writer. The short conversation
which I had with him had no politi-
cal Significance whatever. When my
government is ready to make any
official or political statements, it will
be elsewhere.
I regret that a casual remark,
IN regard to the attitude Of the
press here, has been 8liSconstrued.
when spoke to the reporter of the
Star, il was the representative of the
entire press. | am not its censor, and
INV remark was not intended to be
construed to the disadvantage of any.
It was intended as an appeal to all, TO
unite in preserving peace and good
order, which is, know, the wish of
al good citizens.