Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-13
A Case OF History Repeating Itself,

To the Editor Of The Evening star:
The article 'Liliuokalani's Side in Thurs
days STAR is a most lucid presentation of the
other side of the Hawaiian problem. 1t il
a refutation of the first advanced claim tina.
the mass of Hawaiians favor annexation, and
finally contains grave accusations against Min
lister Stevens and other Americans residing at
Honolulu.
In her statement, as published by The EVEN
ING STAR, the ex-queen satisfactorily demon
stTates that the recent revolution and COUP
have been engineered by the American element
III Hawaii, headed or abetted by the diplomatic
representative Of the United States This is
only one other of History repeats itself -
The same thing has happened before. 1t was
on the 30th of June, 1887. For some weeks
prior to that date the Pacific Commercial
Adrerfiser. the acknowledged organ of the
American missionary party. had attacked King
kalakaua and his ministry, denouncing them in
most rabid terms for their extravaganza and for
accepting brides III connection with the opium
license. There were legal and constitutional
means at the disposal of the indignant re-
formers to rectIfy these abuses but such means
were not resorted to. Suddenly all became
silent. 1t Was an ominous silence. Treason
was in the atmosphere. On the morning of
June 30 the telephone centrsls rang up all their
customers and stated there was a revolution
in Honolulu. martial law vas declared and "a pro-
visioral government established by authority of
which no telephone messages would be trans
mitted until further orders. Demands were on
that day made upon the king that he grant a
new constitution, dismiss his ministers and Sc
lect others from list of twelve names of the
leaders of the revolt. The king acouiesced
Thurston became premier. ALI civil and mill
tary Offices were distributed among the favor
ties and adherents of the new party The
movements OF the new cabinet were guided by
tine notorious secret council of thirteen. Mr..
Merrill, United States minister to Hawaii dur
ing Cleye,and's first administration, was mem
toned a. one of the council. The entire scheme
was a project OF self ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The fact
Is. as later Developments have shown that il
was not expected that Kalskaua would grant
the peremptory demands made upon him. In
the event of his refusal the monarchy was TO be
abolished and republic proclaimed. with one
Of the famous thirteen president. The dis
graceful Thurston-Ashford wrangle, which
illuminated In The resignation, in 1882 of this
same cabinet, disclosed many of the dark me III
DDS pursued by the leaders Of the June revolu-
ton.
In the late uprising Minister Stevens seems
20 have taken even more active part. Accord
ing to all reports from Honolulu he had shown
himself As openly antasonistic to the Hawaiian n
government and sovereign long ere the revolt
nlaseFlSiized. thereby encouraging treason on
the part OF the Hawaiian subjects. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that the fair name OF America shohld
be sullied by such acts of some of her represent
atives, who from personal motives and inter-
ests oversIep the bounds of their authority and
make themselves guilty of very un-Americap
conduct. We Americans believe in liberty aad
justice and do no; advocate the doctrine that a
big fellow should bully small boy simply be-
cause he is small. We have had a dose OF tina;
Ourselves little more than a century ago and 6
know just how II tastes. II Hawaii is to be
annexed. let it be done in constitutional legal
and fair manner, by the vote of its own sover-
egn people. They are intelligent enough to
know what they want and what is good for
them. But let not this grand United States be
party to any act Of injustice, intrigue OF
treason. s. JosEPa Rips.
March IL, 1898.