The Indianapolis journal., 1893-11-14
CALLS 1T A PUBLIC CRIME.
Ex-Minister stevens VentiIntes Gresh-
ans Unamerican Report.

the downfall or queen LlIiuokalanl, man
of integrity, whose word cannot be doubted,
and who is better qualified to speak the
question at issue than any other American.
has signed letter in the Kennebec Jour
nal this morning. 1t is reply to Secretary
Gresham's report, and is as follows:
According to authentic reports from
Washington, a public crime of startling i'm
port is about to be committed under the au-
thority of the American government A
moral type similar TO the sitting of ma
tional life and the reform aspirations of
Holand and Hungary few years ago, by
the imperial despots, and to the crushing
out of the new formed republic of Rome
by the usurped powers of Louis Napoleon
All that American piety, American be-
nevolence, American schools and American
patrio tism have accomplished in Hawaii in
the past seventy years are now centralized
IN the provisional government and stand
IN It's support 1t is government honestly
and ably administered, and the best gov
ernment that Hawaii ever had. 1 know not
the influences which induced Secretary
Gresham TO become an active agent in at
tempting sucn great offense against
american civilization, justice and law. His
the nlustrious ex-Secretary Of State, who
passed to his grave in January last, is we'll
known. known. 1t was that which caused him to
petray and desert the great political party
whose honors he had shared and brought
nm TO his present attitude toward his for
iner associates and their work. So far as
his recent manifesto on Hawaiian affairs
casts reelection upon my official action,
care little, except TO the degree that his
noble band of men and women who have
Tor ten months stood so deVotedly and
unltedly In defense of American civilization.
Inc remarks made by before the
chamber Of Commerce in San Francisco
June /, and before the citizens of Augusta
republished in the Kennebec Journal to-day,
are answers to most of the Shamefully un-
just lmputations on my official action, un-
ger circumstances requiring my deepest anx-
lety 10 faithfully serve my country and the
cause Of humanity. Perhaps nothing better
shows the character of the Secretary's as
sault than what he says about the hall
few days until better quarters could be
procured. After had made my request to
Captain Wiltz to land his men as a precau-
property, he and his officers informed me
that their men must have shelter for the
night Without special information in that
regard, 1 had supposed that the ships ma
rlnes had tents OF their own for their GUS
tomary use in case of emergency shore
1 at once wrote a note and sent it by
messenger to secure a large hall that was
supposed to be available. The men in
charge of the hall were several miles away
Arion Hall until that evening when a mes
senger with my note sent to the sup
posed agent of the Arion Hall, who was q
RoyaliSt. He returned me a courteous an
swer, saying he would be pleased to let the
hall for the specified purpose, but he had
ceased to be the agent, informing me who
a third note and third effort of messen-
ger, which proved successful So much time
had been consumed that the Boston's ma
rineS and sailors were obliged to stand
weary hours in the street before they were
able to go to their night quarters. All of
them would have been lodged at the lega-
tion and consulate but for want of room,
whereas as many as possible were received,
these localities being several streets and
squares from the palace and government
building. For the occupation OF Arion Hall
by the men of the Boston the committee
or pubic safety and the supporters of the
provisional government had no more, re-
sponsibility than Secretary Gresham him
self.
Secretary Gresham assumes that the
friends OF annexation made the revolution
provisional, and that the government, when
acknowledged by the United States minis
ter, existed only on paper The Queen in
destroy the LEGISLATURE by revolutionary
means. From Saturday afternoon, Jan. IA,
to Jan. 16, there was no government in Hon
olulu except IN the united and f-possessed
attitude of the citizens, who assembled in
mass meeting on Jan. 16 and consummated
the efforts for law and order by the estab-
lishment of the provisional government on
the 17th which was promptly acknowledged
by all the foreign representatives who were
familiar with the Queen and her favorites.
In the exciting hours preceding and fol-
lowing her fail her representa- tives as well
as those who formed the provisional gov
e,nment, had equal access to the legation.
To all proper inquiries my answer was
that the United States marines could not
take sides, but whatever de facto govern
ment might exist would have to be recog-
nized. When | did recognize It. late in the
afternoon of the 18th, the provisional gov
ernment was complete master of the situa-
ton, had full control of the city and of
the government archives, the police station
being surrendered and at the mercy of the
provisional government. 1t was a small
building, in which the disorganized and
paramour, Marshall, took refuge and they
must have surrendered in a few hours by
the mere force of hunger. The provisional
government knew its power to possess the
station at once, but wished not to take the
life of its occupants 1t deemed it wise to
await their surrender. Had the Queens
supporters dared TO resist the organization
of the new government then the only pos
sible time to do so was during Sunday
and Monday, the 18th and 18th, while the
citizens attending their mass meet
ing, selecting their committee of public
safety and preparing to organize govern
ment as openly as public meetings are held
in any American city. They did not dare
to attempt to arrest or interfere with the
aroused white citizens
"It was united and Irresistible move
ment of the same men with now increased
numbers that took away the despotic pow
ers of King Kalalakau in 1887 and crushed
the Wilcox revolt i'm 1880. They gathered at
the armory with rifles in hand, which were
increased by other arms openly carried in
carriage from gun store. with only
three men in charge The only govern
ment that existed, or could exist under the
circumstances, was the provisional govern
ment. Whoever denies this has no other
basis for his denial than perjured affidavits
hundreds of which ere obtainable in the
slums of Honolulu at 81 each. An effort
has been made TO damage my recognition
Of the provisional government by dispute
as to the hour OF the clock at which +
gave recognition. This is of no essential
Importance, for, in fact, all resistance TO
the formation Of new government prac-
tically ceased more than two days before.
The committee of public safety and the
provisional government constituted the
only Hawaiian government de facto exist
ing for twenty-four hours previous 10 my
recognition. the monarchical government
having completely collapsed several DAYS
before All unjust imputations on Captain
Wiltz and myself will vanish into thin air
and the crime of attempting TO crush out
the supporters of the Hawaiian provisional
government will stand out in bold relief TO
Americas shame JOHN l.. STEVENS"
British Warship Gone to Honolulu.
SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. bit is reported
here that the British war ship Champion
secretly left Esquimalt for Honolulu Nov.
s, the day after Secretary Greshams letter
was made public.
He WAS Merely Joilffying.