Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-11-22
FOR ANNEXATION.
Line Of Democratic Policy
For Fifty Years.
4 CHAT With STEVENS
Brings Forth an Interesting
Story of Hawaii.
Has Not Changed His Opinion Concerning
the Action He Took.

SoMERvILLE, Mass, Nov. 22-Ex- Min
lister to Hawai- S evens is at the home OF
his nephew in this city, having arrived
from Augusta, Me, yesterday. t. news
paper man on the train Mr.. Stevens said
that he could not make full and formal
| statement now of his side of the case, aud
with that understanding talked interest
ingly. "This matter Is OF little personal
interest to me-" he said. "The sudden
| death Of my daughter, the breaking Of our
home circle, left me with so much less in-
teresr in the affairs f this world.
MY desire from he start has been, and
Ia now, to do all could for he Hawaiian
people, who are now passing through a
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. There is the same interest and
the same state of public feeling.
THE treaty OF annexation was In line
with the Demo ratio pol cy for so years.
This II something tina seems to have been
overlooked, bur l. fully brought out In
documents ordered printed last winter
"When the late William l.. Marcy was
secretary II state there was an attempt
made to bring about the annexation Of the
ocratic policy. A commissioner was ap-
D inted and sent TO open negotiations with
the king and the chiefs.
There were then great many chiefs
They are mostly dead now and the COM
missioner was instructed to extinguish
their title to the country aud was author
lied to offer them. together with the king,
100000 for full and complete reinquish-
ment Of their rights. He was further in
structed 10 provide for the admission of
the islands into the y MON as n territory.
From the first obstacles were thrown
In his way. How or why was MT then
underst ,od but after the fall Of the
government OF the queen, papers we e
placed in my hands explaining the whole
matter
A Canny Scots Influence.
1.-THE then king had for a minister OF
foreign affairs an old Scotchman named
Vile He has been dead for very many
years, but In his time must have been a
very able AID adroit man. He had great
influence with the king, and through him
with the chiefs.
1.-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 she admission of territories 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.
IL annexed at all, they must come into the
Union ss sta'e That point, although in
doing so he exceeded his instructions, the
commissio rer 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 $300,0 and the admission of the
| island Ms n state. The state department
held the commissioner TO the letter of his
instruc ions, and the treaty was rejected"
why Troops Were Landed.
Mr.. Stevens then touched on the present
st tie 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
plumber.
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
States feet there responsible not only
for the preservation Of American properly
ana the safety OF American citizens, but
for the good order of the city"
Have you seen any occasion t. change
your opinion as to the course you tookp
81 have not" said Mr.. Stevens. He said
be should stand by what he said In his sd-
dress before h. San Francisco Chambe Of
Commerce, his address to his fellow
citizens after his r, turn to Augusta and
his recent short note to the secretary of
state.
In a chatty and quite informal way he
raised the point that the government Of
the United States had nj along been kee >
ing he late Hawaiian government in
power. and that, while in 1874 the United
Sta es 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.
Substantial Backing.
Mr. Stevens held that the great meeting
Of the San Francisco Chamber OF Com.
merce. made up of men full acquainted
with the Hawaiian situation, was the best
indorseme OF hi licy. 1.-The people of
the islands 20 rs aturally To San Fran
CISCO" he said, ''as the people Of Augusta
60 to Boston"
In conclusion Mr.. Stevens said he did
not regard the position taken by the al
ministrstion as the policy Of the Demo-
cratic par y, holding that the Democratic
party will be true to It's historic policy
which is to b- summed up In these words:
I'VE must have the Hawaiian islands"
He said he was firmly determined, no
matter what others might do, not TO treat
the subject from political, much less q
party standpoint