The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-22
Annexation Of Hawaii Has Long Been
Democratic Policy.
BRIEF REVIEW OF PAST EFFORTS
which Were squeiched by Secretary OF
State Marcy-The Ex-Minister Touches
Upon the state of Affairs in Hawaii
and Explains His Action.

for the home of bis nephew, Elmer
Stevens, at West Somerville. The travel
Ter partook of light supper, and almost
Immediately retired.
On the train yesterday Mr.. Stevens
entered into conversation with an ac-
quaintance and talked some regarding
Hawaii. In the course of the conversation
he alluded to the shadow which had fallen
upon his home circle in the death of his
daughter. saying that her sudden demise
had left him with much less interest in
the affairs Of the world. Continuing, he
said:
MY desire from the start has been, and
is now, TO do all could for the Hawaiian
people, who are now passing through
state Of excitement to be compared to
nothing except the state of the people Of
the north during the first two years of the
civil war. TIL ere is the same interest and
the same state of public feeling.
''The treaty of annexation was in line
with the Democratic policy for so years.
This is something that seems 20 have been
overlooked. but Is fully brought out in
documents ordered printed last winter.
when the late William l.. Marcy was
secretary Of state there was AN attempt
made TO bring about the annexation of the
islands, the effort being In line with Dem
ocratic policy. A commissioner was ap-
pointed and sent to open negotiations with
the king and the chiefs
There were then a great many chiefs
They are mostly dead now and the com
missioner was instructed to extinguish
their title TO the country and was author
lied to offer them, together with the king,
s100, 900 for full and complete relinqaish-
ment of their rights He was further in
structed 10 provide for the admission of
the islands into the nion as territory.
From the first obs tacles were thrown
in his way. How or why was not tAen
understood, but after the fall Of the
government OF the queen, papers were
placed in my hands explaining the whole
matter.
''The then king had for a minis.yA of
foreign affairs an old Scotchman NAMED
Willie. He has been dead for very many
years. but in his time must have been
very able and adroit man. He had great
influence with the king, and through him
with the chiefs.
STAYED or by Politics.
"The internal politics of the United
States raised the first barrier against the
commissioner. The slavery question was
then all important and with it the ques-
tion of the admission of ter~itories as
states with or without slavery.
"The Hawaiian people were strongly OPP
posed to slavery, and the missionaries and
religious people agreed with Willie that,
If annexed at all, they must come into the
Union as state. That point, although in
doing so he exceeded his instructions, the
commissioner was Obliged to agree to.
"The next step taken by Willie was to
induce the king and the chiefs TO increase
their demands for money. Step by step
this was done, until the treaty submitted
to Secretary Marcy provided for the pay
ment Of S300,0O0, and the admission of the
island as state. The state department
held the commissioner Co the letter Of his
instructions, and the treaty was rejected"
Stevens Explains His Action.
Mr.. Stevens then touched on the present
state Of things in the islands and on his
famous act of ordering the landing of the
United States marines. He said that even
had no request been made to him by the
head of the provisional government, the
marines would have been landed TO save
the city from the danger of fire and
plunder
He acted under the last instructions
touching on that subject issued by the
state department. the letter of Secretary
Bayard to the then minister holding the
minister and the commodore OF the United
.tates feet there Irresponsible not only
for the preservation Of American property
ana the safety of American citizens, but
for the good order Of the city"
Have you seen any occasion to change
your opinion rs 10 the course you took"
~ have not" said Mr. Stevens. He said
he should stand by what he said in his adj
dress before the San Francisco Chamber Of
Commerce, his address Co his fellow
citizens after his return TO Augusta and
his recent short note to the secretary OF
state.
Tn a chatty and quite informal way he
raised the point that the government of
the United States had all along been keep
ing the late Hawaiian government in
power, and thnt, while in 1874 the United
States minister did not pronounce for the
elected king, the moral effect of the land
ing of the United States marines was to
enable him TO take his place in peace.
Ills Policy Endorsed.
Mr.. Stevens held that the great meeting
OF the San Francisco Chamber of Com
merce. made up OF men fully acquainted
with the Hawaiian situation, was the best
Endorsement of his policy. "Thc people of
the islands 10 as naturally to San Fran
cisc,. d. 81. e.vp,e OF AugUs'
go 90 Boston"
In conclusion Mr. Stevens said he dlt
not regard the position taken by the q
ministrntion rs the policy Of the Demo
cratic Iar'y, holding that the Democrat
party will b. true to It's historic policl
which Is 60 b. summed up in thess words
we must have the Hawaiian Isiands."
He said he was firmly determined, II
matter what o.ners might d. not 10 trcsi
the subject from a political, much less a
party standpoint
Relief That tho Queen t. Restored.
WASHINGTON, Nov. c2.--At The slate de
partmopt IL was said that the newspaper
A IL L.. II L..