The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-11-16
RED-HOT TALK.
Hon. ]. L. Stevens Reply to Sec
retary Of State Gresham.
The Ex-Minister Tells the Story Of the
Hawaiian Queens Overthrow.
He Charges the Secretary of State With
Cruelty, Not Only to the Living, But
to the Dead-Queen LII Herself
InaugurAted the Revolution.

Stevens, late minister to Hawaii, will
make the following reply to Greshams
announcements:
According to the announcement,
public crime of startling Importance is
about to be committed under the au-
thority of the American government.
A public crime of less proportions, but
in its moral type similar to the
sitting of nation with life and
the reform aspirations OF Poland
and Hungary, few years ago,
by the imperial despots, and to the
crushing out of the new-formed repub-
lie of Rome by the usurped powers OF
Louis Napoleon. All that American
pietv, American benevolence, American
schools and American patriotism have
accomplished in Hawaii in the past
seventy years are now centralized IN
the provisional government, and stand
in its support. 1t is a government hon
estly and ably administered, and the
best government that Hawaii ever had.
know not the influences which in
duced Secretary Gresham to become an
active agent in attempting such an
offense against civilization, justice and
law.
His hostility to ex-President Harri-
son and to the illustrious ex-secretary
of state, who passed to his grave in
January last, is well known. 1t was
that which caused him to betray and
desert the great political party whose
honors he had shared and brought
to his present attitude and their
works So far as his recent mani
festo on Hawaiian affairs casts refiec-
ton upon my official action l care
little, except to the degree that his
cruel and untruthful words strike at
the noble band of men and women who
have for ten months stood so devotedly
and unitedly in defence of American
civilization. The remarks made by me
before the chamber of commerce III San.
! Francisco on June and before the citi-
zens of Augusta, published in the Ken
nebec Journal, are answers to most of
the unjust imputations of my unofficial
action.
Perhaps nothing better shows the
character of the secretary's assault
than what he says about the hall
which the men occupied few days and
until better quarters could be secured.
After had made my request to Capt.
Wiltz to land his men as precaution-
ary safeguard to American life and
property, he and his officers informed
: me that their men must have shelter
for the night. Without special informa-
] ton in that regard had supposed that
! the ships marines had tents of their
own for their temporary use in case OF
emergency on shore. i wrote note and
sent it by a messenger to secure large
hall which was supposed to be avail
able. The man in charge of the
hall was several miles away and | had
ncc known of the existence of the Arion
hall until that evening, when a mes
senger with my note was sent to the
supposed agent of the Arion hall, who
was royalist, He returned me a
courteous answer saying he would be
pleased to let the hall for the specified
purpose, but he had ceased to be the
agent, informing me who then had
charge of the hall This required a
third note and third effort of mes
senger, which proved successful. Sc
much time had thus been consumed
that the Boston's marines and sailors
were obliged to stand weary hours in
the street before they were able to &C
to their night quarters All of them
would have been held at the legation
and consulate but for want of room
whereas as many as possible were re
ceived, these localities being severa
streets and squares from the palace
and government building.
For the occupation of Arion hall by
the men of the Boston the committee o.
public safety and the supporters of the
provisional government had no more
responsibility than Secretary Gresham
himself
Queen Liliuokalani inaugurated the
revolution by attempting to destroy
the legislature by revolutionary
means From Saturday afternoon
January IA, to January is, there was
no government in Honolulu except il
the self-possessed attitude of citizens
who assembled in great mass-meetine
January 16 and consummated thei,
efforts for law and order by the es
tablishment of the provisional govern
ment on the nth, which was promptly
acknowledged by all the foreign repre-
sentatives.
Liliuokalani and her favorites hai
destroyed her throne by revolution
ary outbreak when the men of tbs
Boston landed. In the exciting hour.
preceding and following her fall, hel
representatives, as well as those wht
formed the provisional government
had equal access to the legation. IL
all proper inquiries my answer wal
that the United States marines coult
| - \ g. -
government might exist would have ts
be recognized.
When did recognize it, late in tn,
afternoon of the 18th, the provisions
government was complete master O
the situation, had full control of thu
city and of the government archives
the police station being surrendered
and at the mercy of the provisional gov
ernment
1t was small building in which thu