The Portland daily press., 1893-06-30

Inc true story OF the Change of Govern
ment In the Islands and the Part Taken
in it by Mr.. Stevens-Augusta
tention and Then Everybody Shook
Hands With the Speaker.
AUGUSTA, June 29.-The Augusta
Opera House was crowded this evening
by one of the largest and most intelli-
gent audiences ever assembled in this
city. The occasion was the public re-
ception rendered the Hon. John l.. Stew
ems, late United States minister at the
Hawaiian Islands. Upon the stage were
large number of the most prominent
citizens of Augusta. Lendall Titcomb,
Esq, of the law fin of S. G L. Titcomb,
for many years the attorney of Mr.. Stew
ems, ably presided over the meeting. In
opening he paid an eloquent tribute to
the career of Mr.. Stevens as an editor,
a legislator, a diplomatist and citizen
In behalf of the large audience present,
representing the best citizens of Angus
ia, he cordially welcomed Mr.. Stevens
home again after the years that had
elapsed since he left the city to assume
the responsible duties of United States
minister at Hawaii. 1t was great
pleasure to him to present to the meeting
Hon. John l.. Stevens.
AS Mr.. Stevens came to the front of
the stage he was given an ovation, being
received with round after round of en-
thusiastic applause. When it had sub
sided, Mr. Stevens, in few eloquent
words, thanked his fellow citizens for
their cordial welcome home. He then
passed TO the discussion of Hawaiian
affairs. His address was delivered in a
dignified and earnest manner. The
speaker evidently felt fully all that he
said. At many points in his eloquent
remarks he was loudly applauded. Mr..
Stevens spoke about an hour. At the
close of his address he was again given
an ovation. The audience formed in
stage to take Mr.. Stevens by the hand
and personally express their welcome
home and their appreciation of his offic-
ial services at Hawaii. The meeting will
rank as one of the most successful ever
held in this city. The following is the
full text of Mr.. Stevenss remarks:
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Circumstances outside my control, and
no wish of mine, make it proper for me
to have something to say about Hawaiian
affairs. Returning to my old home after
nearly four years absence in distant
country, whose condition and events
deeply interest you, feel assured that
my old acquaintances and friends, whom
have known many years, will believe
that will speak only the plain truth,
and that no personal vanity, but duty
to my country and to the people whom T
have just left, induce me to try to throw
some additional light on the Hawaiian
question. l trust you will receive my
assurance that l cannot and will not
speak from the standpoint of party. The
kind of public service which 1 have Just
left, and in which have spent thirteen
years Of my life, does not admit of parti-
zan aims. When the diplomatic servant
leaves his own country for service abroad
he goes under the flag of the nation and
not with the badge OF a party. AS he
sails thousands of miles away, distance
and patriotism very soon unite to cause
him to think only Of the great American
family whose interests the minister is
bound to watch and defend against for
eign rivalries and intrigues.
| am, then, claiming no special merit
when | say, that as an American repre-
sentative abroad have maintained it as
cardinal principle of my service to rec
ognize no home or domestic politics in
my official action Looking through the
telescope of distance have been able to
see only common flag floating proudly
over the united American nation.
Touching Hawaiian affairs at this time
/ deem it especially fitting to stand in
this attitude of an American only. II
fully recognize, and am glad to recog-
nize, that in the seventy years of Ameri-
can relations to the Hawaiian Islands,
the great parties OF this country have oc-
American front to our foreign rival and
an equal determination to protect the
American and native Hawaiian interests
in those islands. We have said, in effect,
if not in words, to other nations, you may
if you will, take possession of many is
lands in the Pacific, subdue and improve
them at your will, but in these islands
standing atsour gates and fronting our
coasts, American rights and interests
are before all foreign claimants, the ma
tives shall be protected and civilized, and
American interests defended. This
broad American claim to priority and
has been equally maintained
under the Wings by Daniel Webster and
John M. Clayton as Secretaries of State;
under the Democrats by President
Pierce and Vim. l.. Marcy, and by Presi-
dent Cleveland and Secretary Thomas F.
Bayard, and under the Republican ad-
by William II. Seward.
Hamilton Fish and James G.. Blaine.
Assuming the responsibilities of the
Minister of the United States at Homo
lulu, in the light of these facts my duty
was plain. The records of the Legation
for more than half century indicated
what my country had the right to expect
of me, and that if 1 permitted American
interests to suffer by my neglect or want
of courage, would be held responsible. |
In no way interfering with the internal |
political affairs of the Island, cultivating
the best possible relations with the then
existing authorities, L carefully set my
self to thorough Investigation of the |
moral, political and commercial state of |
affairs. This required many months, for |
it was proper for me to obtain thorough |
in quiet, unobtrusive way.
The result of my observation was duly |
and con secutively communicated only to |
the Washington department of state. |
bearing upon, OF liable to af- |
tho ipto c+cl of I,ic ox,y,,