The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-07-15
4 Well Deserved Tribute to Cap
tain WiIfse.
The Causes and Conditions which Pre-
coded and Followed the Over
throw OF Monarchy.

ne following lettef from tne CIT
liens of Augusta, Maine, irrespec
tive of party, to Hon. John l.. Stew,
ems, ex-United States minister tc
Hawaii islands, and that gentle
mans reply, Will be of interest to
every reader:
AUGUSTA, Me, jane 26, 1898.
Hon. John l.. ISteUeHS:
DEAR SIR:-The undersigned would
be pleased for you to name q date
when it would be convenient for you
to meet your fellow citizens of Angus
Ia, in an informal reception at the
Augusta opera house and address them
upon Hawaiian affairs.
The people of your city, irrespective
of party, feel just pride in your dis
tinguished public services, and desire
an opportunity TO give Il general eX-
preston of the warm welcome home
that is in their heartS-an opportunity
that would have been sought earlier
but for the sad bereavement in whose
shadow you returned to us.
Awaiting your pleasure, we remain,
with assurances of our high personal
regard.
Signed by several hundred citizens.)
To whom Mr.. Stevens sent the
following reply:
AUGUSTA, Me-, June 20, 1898.
GENTLEMEN - Your cOmmunica-
ton proposing to give me public re-
ceptiOn on my return from several
wears official residence in Honolulu,
and requesting me to make an address
on Hawaiian affairs, has been re-
ceived. Thanking you sincerely for
this kind recognition, will respond
affirmatively to your request at such
time and place as you may determine
The future destiny of the noble Amer
lean colony on the Hawaiian islands
is of profound interest to all friends of
humanity and especially to the citi-
zens of the United States.
Most truly yours,
JOHN l.. STEVENS.
The reception and address took
place at the Opera house in Angus
ia, Maine, on June 29th, and the fol-
lowing, published in the Kennebec
Journal, is
EX-MINIsTER STEVENS SPEECH.
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle
men:
Circumstances outside of my con-
troll, and no wish of mine, make it
proper for me to have something to
saw about Hawaiian affairs. Return
ing to my old home after nearly four
years absence in n distant country,
whose conditions and events deeply
interest you, l feel assured that my
old acquaintances and friends, whom
n vii
lieve that / will speak only the plain
truth, and that no personal vanity,
but duty to my country and to the
people whom / have just left, induce
me to try to throw some additional
light on the Hawaiian question. i
trust you will receive my assurances
that / cannot and will not speak from
the standpoint of party. The KIND OF
public service which 1 have just left,
and in which / have spent thirteen
wears of my life, does not admit of
partisan prejudice and partisan aims.
When the diplomatic servant leaves
his own country for service abroad, he
goes under the flag of the nation and
not with the badge of party. As he
sails thousands of miles away, dis
lance and patriotism very soon unite
To- canse him to think only OF the
great American family whose inter-
and defend against foreign rivalries
and intrigues.
/ am, then, claiming no special
merit when / say, that a. an Ameri-
can representative abroad have
maintained it as q cardinal principle
of my service to recognize no home or
domestic politics in my official action.
Looking through the telescope of dis
lance I have been able TO see only
common flag floating proudly over the
united American nation.
Touching Hawaiian affairs at this
time I deem it especially hitting to
stand in this attitude Of an American
only. fully recognize, and am glad
to recognize, that in the seventy years
Of American relations to the Hawai-
ian islands, the great parties OF TINS
country have occupied common
ground and shown a firm American
front to our fore. gn rivals and an equal
determination to protect the Ameri-
can and native Hawaiian interests IN
those islands. We have said, in effect
if not in words, to other nations, you
may, If you will, take possession OF
many islands in the Pacific, subdue
and improve them at your will, but
IN these islands standing at our gates
1n2 fronting our coasts, American
ishts and interests are before all for
0'sn claimants, the natives shall be