Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-12-21
WILLIS ANSWERS EVASIVELY.
The Provisional Government Demands to
Know CIeveland'S Hawaiian Policy


Honolulu, H. L., Dec. 8, via San Fran
has not virtually changed in the three
days which have elapsed since the sail
/ ing Of the steamer Oceanic, several mat
ters of more or less importance have
TRANSFERRED, and the latest diplomat &c
communications between Minister Will
| lis and the provisional government have
| been secured by the Associated Press.
On November % President Dole adj
dressed note to Minister Willis in
| which it was stated that the provisional
government had received notice from
| Minister Thurston of Secretary Gresh
ans letter. The provisional govern
ment wished to inquire if it was correct,
and if so intimated that it was due them
to be informed what were the intentions
OF the United States in relation to the
recommends of the Secretary of State.
On December 2 Il reply was received
by President Dole in which Min
lister Willis stated in substance
that he considered the letter of
Secretary Gresham a domestic matter
with which he (Willis) had nothing to
do. II was his opinion, however, that
! President Cleveland would decide to
| furnish definite information and in
|
| certain advices which had already been
transmitted to him. 1t was Minister
! Willis opinion that President Cleveland
would be able to come to a conclusion
| because he was anxious to have
| the Hawaiian trouble speedily
settled. A previous note had also
been received from Minister Willis, in
which it is understood he acquiesced in
the notice served upon him that no
troops should be landed from the United
States man-of-war without the written
consent of the provisional government.
On December Z the executive and
advisory councils of the government
met to consider the question of investi-
eating the conduct and loyalty of a
number of employees known to be roy
alists or royalist sympathizers. The
matter had been discussed in the cabi-
net but no conclusion had been
reached, and Minister Damon suggested
| that the advice of the advisory council
| be asked The matter was taken up i'll
open session before large number of
sitors and resulted in the passage OF
lhe following resolutions with but one
dissenting voice:
! ReSolred, That it is the opinion of this adj
visory council that the executive should
| proceed upon an investigation as to the 10y
! atty Of all employees of this government and
! the support gwen by them to it.
! Resolred, That III the determination ofthe
! loyalty of the employees of this government
| the standard shall include active support of
| this government and its purposes i'll the
| past.
The grounds upon which the advi-
sorry council based the necessity FOR
their action are briefly summarized
from f. NJ Hatch's speech in their
support, as follows:
We are in an anomalous condition.
! Through the existing and only government
we have been discredited in the eyes of the
| world by the utteranceS of Secretary Gresh-
am. We now have our work to do over
again. We must now settle the question Of
restoration ourselves. The lady across the
way still claims to be queen and appeals to
q foreign power-the United States-to re-
instate her. AS long as this state of affairs
continues we are in the midst of con-
tict and must keep in the employ
mcnt of the government only those
whose loyalty is unQueStloncd. This
is not question of civil service
reform or anything of the kind, A deeper
and more fundamental question is involved.
| We can have no traitors in our midst. We
may at any moment have to call upon our
| followers to support at the risk OF their
| lives. Nothing could be more demoralizing
than the suspicion that when approaching
the rendezvous thc executive building) i'll a
|
found there. One or two determined
traitors could do immense damage under
| such circumstances.
Minister Damon disapproved of ac-
ton in the matter at the present time,
basing his argument upon the
clause in the proclamation of last Jan
uarv requiring only the oath of Office
from those retained in office by the
provisional government. The same
evening a rumor was started that Min
lister Damon had resigned, or had told
two royalst Office holders that be
would resign before he would con-
sent to their dismissal. In an
interview with the representative
Of the Associated Press yesterday Min
lister Damon declared he had no inten-
ton of resi"ning. You can state posi-
lively there is no dissension in the cabl
net" he SAID. "There was merely Il
difference of opinion on the matter OF
policy That is now settled, and if nee
essary removals will be made in my de-
partment as elsewhere. | refused pos
itively to resign when asked to do 50 by
f, two persons.
The investigation OF the alleged mis-
conduct of f. w. Wundenburg, one OF
the chief witnesses cited by Secretary
Gresham from Blount's report, has been
concluded Wundenberg refused to
testify against himself on certain points
and thereby prevented the attorney
general from bringing in testimony rs
to ex-Minister Stevens actions during
the 10th of January. The decision OF
the supreme court, signed by all three
Judges, was filed yesterday, and con-
cludes:
The respondent having voluntarily con
tnucd in office under the present govern
! ment after its foundation, owes respect and
| LOYALTY to it even if he has not taken sol
emn oath TO support and bear true allegi-
ance to the provsio nal government OF the
| Hawaiian Islands. as in this case he did.
The result OF this investigation leads us to
order the removal Of the respondent
| (Wundenberg) from his office of deputy
| clerk of the circuit coult First Circuit,
which is done accordingly.
This decision endorses the principal
upon which action was taken on last
Thursday by the advisory council re-
garding removals, and is important, as
no further opinion of the supreme court
will be required before action.
I Il -