The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-14
As The Head Of the Government Of
the Hawaii Islands.
REPORT OF SECRETARY GRESHAM
May Have Been Given Out TO Test Public
Feeling, hut Is Probably Untrue- II ow
Can This Government Recognise and
Then Overthrow the ProvisiouaIs.

htStt'ot - SCh'hhhtT
cation from Honolulu telegraphed from
San Francisco. It arrived by the steamer
China. 1t Is written in the navy depart
ment cipher. Experts were set TO work
upon the dispatch and Secretary Gresham
took copy out to Woodlcy for a con-
ference over the matter with President
Cleveland Nothing was given out from
the state department as to the substance
of the dispatch.
w. p. Hastings. secretary OF the Ha'
waiian legation, was shown the dispatch
from San Francisco containing the news
that Minister Willis had arrived In Homo
lulu and was about to present his creden-
fials TO Pres dent Dole. This news was
obviously great relief to the mind OF the
members Of the legation. They declined
to talk about the matter, as usual. but the
satisfaction expressed at the presentation
by Minister Willis of his credentials TO
President Dole suggested that they might
have feared that the minister would bo
found to have been accredited to the queen.
Hawsiians' Hopes Raised.
The plan OF the Hawaiian representa-
tivts evidently is to stand rigidly up for
the rights they have secured by the recog-
milton OF their government. Minister
Thurston touched the marrow of their
hopes when he. sal that any attempt to
overturn the present government by
foreign pewer would be an act OF war. An
act of war requires the consent or declara.
ton OF congress.
Congress will undoubtedly take up the
subject OF Hawaii in some way imme-
diately upon assembling in December. The
fight, it is said. will be made on the ad-
ministration policy on this line-that it
has declared war without the consent of
congress. and has therein done an unlaw-
full act. What effect 1t would have on
this proposed policy IL the present govern
ment should relceably yield to the per-
suasions OF the Americans Is also dis
cussed. The question involved is whether
so peaceable a resistance could be regarded
as an act Of war. II is argued It would be
an act of aggression on a sovereign power
none the less because the power peacefully
yielded 10 the threats of so overwhelm.
iDgly superior force
Grcsham's Policy q Pur.lsr.
IL still remains an unanswerable prob
lem to those OF diplomatic experience how
the American minister accredited to the
Hawaiian government can, immedi-
ately upon presenting his creden-
tials, set about to destroy that govern
ment. This gives r.s, to many surmises
such as that the real policy to be pursued
by the statd derartment has not hitherto
beea announced at all, but that Secretary
Gresham's report to the president was
simply designed TO give opportunity to
read the public sentiment On the subject
1t is not at all probable that 1t is true,
but it shows that the policy Of Gresham is
considered so entirely extraordinary that
incre1ulity and speculations cluster about
it. There is a surmise that the restora-
tion Of the queen to the throne may not be
followed by the entire withdrawal If the
influence OF the United States, but that,
with the work Of the last administration
once undone, protectorate may be estab-
lished over the monarchy.
One clear and certain result of the pres.
ent incident would seem to be that annexa-
tion will mover he preferred to the United
States by the Hawaiians again. II there
is ever to be annexation the movement
will originate in this country.
Minister Thurston at Washington.
L. A. Thurston, the minister of the
present government OF Hawaii TO the
United States. returned to this city last
night. He left this city some weeks ago
to take charge Of the Hawaiian exhibit at
the Worlds fair
Mr.. Thur,ton WAS asked what course he
proposed to pursue in view Of the situa.
tion his government Is placed In by the
declation of the administration policy. He
replied that he had not perfected his plans
rs yet He thought he would be in Wash.
ington for several days at least. but init.
mated that his duties might call him away
Mt any time.
Mr.. Thurston has been q prominent
leader in what Is known as the reform
movement which has been in progress In
the Hawaiian Islands for number Of
years past. He is one of the most infuen-
tial Of those who secured the reformed
constitution from King Kalakua in 1897.
lie is a natural orator, and the recent
revolution in the islands was due In no
small part 10 Sis efforts.
His father and mother were born In the
islands and were children OF the early
missionaries who went out in sailing
vessels from New England around Cape
Horn. He, also. was born in the islands.
and after being educated In the United
Sites studied law and commen ced prso.
tice In Hon nolulu.
Consul Vlider's Opinion.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. L. AT the Ha-
waiian consulate In this city no word was
received which would throw further light
IN he situation at the islands Consul
Wilder stated that in case the administra.
tion should ask the provisional govern
ment TO step down aad ouT the request
would not 10 granted; but in case that
force should De threatened the provisional
government could have but one course TO
pursue; resistance Co tha power OF the
United States W uld be useless, but IL
would protest with all its moral force
against such bighhanded outrage.
Ihould the United States protectorate OF
tae monarchy be withdraw, that mon
archy would not last day. Unquestion.
ably, the next revolution would not BE- as
peaceable ~ the last aud the monarchy
would surely be overthrown once and for
all
A startling story.
SAN Francisco. Nov. i4-Itis reported
thai the British warship Champion se-
sretly left Esquimault for Honolulu Nov.