The herald., 1893-11-19
ALL QUIET IN THE ISLANDS.

ALL QUIET IN THE ISLANDS.
The steamer Australia, which was go
anxiously expected, arrived yesterday
from Honolulu, but che brought no
news OF sensational char actsr. Up to
the time of her departure there had
been no change in the aspect of affairs.
Envoy Willis had presented his creden-
tials to President Dole and they had ex-
changed diplomatic courtesies of the
most friendly and smicsble character.
Yet there appears to be something
under the surface in all this business
which denotes that Willis will spring
his instructions upon the provisional
government as soon as he considers the
opportnne time has arrived. The
Gresham letter had not reached the
islands when the Australia sailed.
When that letter reaches there it will
&C. like bombshell. and President
Dole will ask the envoy what
it means. He will then un-
doubtedly unfold his instructions. What
these Instructions are may be easily
guessed at in the light of the positive
attitude taken by the secretary of state
that justice demands the restoration OF
the queen. When this ultimatum is
submitted, we shall see whether the
new government has the backbone it's
friends claim for it. II it firmly de-
cines to abdcate and insists upon its
right to govern, the minister will prob
ably proceed to use the naval force to
reinstate Liliuokalani. We do not be-
lieve that the provisional government
will resist the United States forces with
arms, but it will quietly proceed to
remove the seat of government to some
point in the interior of the island of
Oahu, gather around it the army it has
organized, and await events.
Minister Willis, having carried out
his instructions and reinststed the
queen, the American forces will retire.
Who can doubt that rs soon as the
marines and sailors are withdrawn from
her support the provisional government
will sweep down on her and resume
supreme control OF /, affairs? 1t is
hardly to be presumed that Willis's in
structions extend to the maintenance OF
the restored queens government by
force of arms for an indefinite time.
They are doubtless limited to the res
toration of the status quo ante belIun,. or
rather before her deposition. Ii. how
ever, Mr.. Cleveland has ordered his
envoy to keep the queen permanently
ha
take action in the matter, and the sem
timent of the country will be heard
from. What that sentiment will be no
ONO can doubt. The people of the
United States have not 90 far forgotten
their traditions as to look with favor on
a policy which contsmplates the uoing
of it's power and influence to maintain
monarchy which cannot maintain itself,
and which ia repugnant to the men who
represent the intelligence. wealth and
best elements OF the islands.
If this imbroglio should terminate, as
we believe it will, in the re-deposition
of the queen, what farce will all this
fuss and feathers about her restoration
present. The revolution was an accom-
plished fact. That it would have sue
ceeded whether Minister Stevens had
made a display of United States force
in the streets of Honolulu or not, is the
belief OF some OF the most acute observ-
ers on the spot. But what right has the
United States administration to assume
that the revolution would have been q
failure if the sailors of the Boston had
not come ashore? A battle is always
in doubt until it is fought, and the
revolutlonists are entitled to the
benefit OF that doubt. The man who
thinks that the queens forces could
have successfully COPIED with the revo-
lutionists, composed, as they were, of
the best fighting material in the islands,
mostly Americans, knows nothing about
the relative value of the native troops
and the foreign element in Honolulu in
such contingency. Perhaps the land
ing OF marines and sailors from the Bos-
ton prevented bloodshed; but without
their presence the queens Kanaka
troops would have been scattered like
chaff at the first demonstration by the
revolutionists. Therefore we may sum
up the whole business by saying that
the revolutionists alone are made to suf-
fer by the wrong act of the American
minister; and in pretending to right
that wrong act, the administration, un-
less it maintains by force the restored
queen ON the throne, reduces the whole
affair to an absurdity.
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THE FIRST-STREET CUT.