The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-11-07

foreign land he was very guarded in
his statements as to policy which this
government would pursue toward Ha-
wall. When asked if it would not
soon be necessary for President Cleve-
land to announce his policy with
reference to the Hawaiian islands,
Minister Willis replied that the time
was near at hand-so near, in fact,
that the decision of President Cleve-
land would probably be made known
upon his arrival in Honolulu. Minis
ter Willis carries definite instructions
on the annexation question, and as he
and his family intend to reside in the
Hawaiian islands for an extended
period, going there with the appoint
ment of minister, it is evident that
the instructions are adverse to the
hopes of the annexationists. Mr..
Willis declined to make statement
with reference to the Washington dis
patch which stated that President
Cleveland favored protectorate.
81 know that the feeling on this
coast is strongly in favor of anneXa-
tion,n said he. 1.-THE commercial re-
lations between San Francisco and
Honolulu are such that annexation
must have ardent advocates in this
city. Then the desirability of the
possession of the islands for naval
purposes appeals strongly to many
Americans. AS the accredited minis
ter, however, it would be unwise for
me to outline in advance the policy
which the American government may
pursue toward Hawaii"
Mr.. Willis has long been a resident
Of Louisville, Ky. He was born in
Shelby county, that state, on January
%, 1913. His early education was re-
ceived in the common schools of Ken
lucky. He graduated at the Louis
vile male high school in 1860. For
four years he taught school, and in
the intervals of his employment
studied law, graduating from the
Louisville law school in 1866. He was
elected attorney of Jefferson county,
of which Louisville is the county seat,
in 1870. In 1872 he canvassed his state
in the interest of the democracy, and
served as a presidential elector
on the democratic ticket. In
1874 he was reelected attorney of
Jefferson county, and served in that
capacity until sent to the FOrty-fifth
Congress. He was returned in the
Forty-siXth, Forty-seventh, Forty
eighth and Forty-ninth Congresses as
a Democrat, and during Speaker Car
isles regime filled the important post
of Chairman of the Committee of Riv-
ers and Harbors.
Mr.. Willis enjoys the distinction of
being one of the first if not the first
Representative in Congress from a
State East of the Mississippi to come
out strongly against Chinese immi-
grafton.
His speech, in which he recited the
troubles with the red man and the
black man and pleaded with Congress
not to cause another great radical
question to arise by the further adj
of the yellow man to this
country, made him many friends on
this coast.
In speaking of the subject of
last evening he
said: 81 began the study
of the question relating to Chinese
with prejudice in favor
Of the Chinese, thought that the an
i-Chinese views were inspired by the |
sandlot and shared by hoodlums only. |
| soon became convinced of my error. |
| saw that l was entirely wrong and
[ reported the bill to the House of Re-
presentatives limiting the number of |
Chinese which a vessel might bring |
to this country to fifteen. This bill
was vetoed by President Cleveland. |
think our immigration laws should
be more rigid. We need to exclude
many of the immigrants from Europe
IS we'll as the Chinese. We do not
want people in this country who will
not Americanize."
This is the first visit of Minister
Willis TO the West and he says he is
lshamed of the fact.
81 have been N Europe several
INES" said he, "but l have marvel
ID more at what have seen on my
rip from Washington to this city that
can tell. had no idea of the gran
leur of the Rocky mountains and the
Sierra. There is nothing which /
lave seen in European scenery to
ompare with them. It would be
much wiser for the American citizen ]