The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-15
cARPET-BAGGeRs CRUSHED.
The Legitimate Government OF Haw all
to be Restored,

| The Legitimate government OF daW AL
to be Restored.
WASHINGTON, November 1O.-After
the Cabinet meeting to-day (Which was
of unusual duration, lasting over three
| hours and half Secretary Gresham,
| with the concurrence of the President
gave out for publication long report
to the President upon the Hawaiian
question, dated October Is, In which
the Secretary reviews the events, one
, by one, which had transpired up to the
time of the departure of Minister Will
lis for Honolulu. The report is se-
we're arraignment of Minister Stevens,
then representing this Government at
Hawaii, and Of Admiral Skerrett, who
| commanded the United States naval
| forces at Honolulu. The report con-
| cludes with these words:
"a careful consideration Of the facts
| will, I think, convince you that the
treaty which was withdrawn from the
Senate for further consideration should
not be resubmitted for its action there
on. Should not the great wrong done
| to feeble but independent State by an
abuse of the authority Of the United
States be undone by restoring the legi-
Innate Government Anything short
of that will not, respectfully submit,
satisfy the demands of justice. Can
the United States consistently insist
that other nations shall respect the in.
dependence of Hawaii while not re-
specting it themselves? Our Govern
ment was the first to recognize the in
dependence of the islands and it should
be the last to acquire sovereignty over
them by force and fraud"
Though no direct statement to that
effect accompanies the publication Of
this document, it Is assumed that the
instructions given to Minister Willis,
who left for his post at Hawaii just
about this time, after being twice de-
layed in his departure, are in conson.
ance with the tenor Of the views there
in expressed. 1t Is also assumed that
the change Of admirals in command at
Honolulu by the substitution of Ad-
miral Irwin for Admiral Skerrett,
which was made to take effect contem-
poraneously with Minister Willis's ar
rival thsre, had in view the contem-
plated change of policy on the part of
the United States. Minister Willis and
Admiral Irwin have undoubtedly by
this time carried out their instruc-
tions. (,
In his report Secretary Gresham
quotes copiously from reports made by
Minister Stevens to Secretary Foster,
and says:
"Mr. Stevens statements are at vari-
ance with the evidence documentary
and oral, contained In Mr.. Blount's re-
ports. They are contradicted by direc-
tions and letters Of President Dole and
other annexations, and by Mr.. Stevens
own verbal admissions to Mr.. Blount.
The Provisional Government was re-
cognized when it had little other than
q paper existence, and then the legiti-
mate Government was In full posses
sion and control of the palace, the bar
racks and the polics station. Mr.. Stew.
ems well known hostility and the
threatening presence Of the force land
ed from the Boston were all that could
have then excited serious apprehension
IN the minds of the Queen, her officers
and loyal supporters. 1t is fair to say
that Secretary Fosters statements were
based upon information which he had
received from Mr.. Stevens and the spe.
cial commissioners, but am unable to
see that they were deceived. The
troops were landed not to protect
American life and property, but to aid
In overthrowing the existing Govern
ment. Their very presence implied
coerclve measures ag ilnst 1t.
I'm statement given to Mr.. Blount
by Admiral Skerrett, the ranking nav-
alofficer at honolulu. he says: If the
troops were landed simply to protect
American citizens and interests they
were badly stationed in Arion Hall,
but If the intention was to aid the Pro-
visional Government they were wisely
stationed This hall was situated so
that the troops in it easily commanded
the Government building and the proc.
lsmation was read under the protec-
tion of American guns. At an
early stage of the movement,
if not at the beginning, Mr..
Stevens promised the snnexationists
that as soon as they obtained posses.
sion of the Government building and
there read proclamation of the char
acter above referred to he would at
once recognize them as de facto Gov
eminent and support them by landing
force from our war ship then In the
harbor, and he kept his promise: This
assurance was the inspiration of the
movement, and without it the aDnexa.
tionists would not have exposed them
selves to the consequences OF failure.
They relied upon no military force of
their own, for they had none worthy
the name. The Provisional Govern.
ment was established by the action of
the American minister and the pres
enee of the troops landed from the
Boston, and its continued eXistenceis
due to the belief of the Hawaiins that
If they made an effort to overthrow it
they would encounter the armed forces
of the United States. The earnest ap-
peals to the American minister for
military protection by the officers OF
the Provisional Government after it
had been recognized how the absurdl-
ty of the claim that it was established
by a successful revolution of the peo-
pie of the islands. These appeals were
confession by the men who made
them of their weakness and timidlty.
Courageous men. conscious OF their
strength and the Justice OF their cause
do not thus act. The Government OF
Hawaii surrendered its authority un-
der threat of war, until such time on
ly as the Government of the United
States upon the facts being presented
to it, should relnstate the constitution
al sovereign, and the Provisional Gov
ernment was created Ito exist until the
terms of the union with che United
States of America have been negotiat-
ed and agreed upon"