The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-06-14
THE STORY OF HAWAII,
John L, Stevens Speaks on Annex
alton.

Der OF Commerce yesterday WIN ItSdIu
to the Annexation question. There
was a very full attendance Of the mem
bers and the speech was listened to
with the closest attention. Frequently
it WAS interrupted by applause.
President Fond introduced Mr..
Stevens, who began by saying that he i
appeared as IN American and That he
believed he WAS speaking to Americans.
His address in the main was as fol-
lows
"CirCums.anC, render 1t necessary Tor
me to say a few words relsllve To- what
has recently transpred IN Hawaiian
affairs and in respect to the interests
which the United 5! ties has in the Ha
waiian problem In September, 1880,
l first saw the Hawaiian IsUands-those
beautiful emeralds in the n nth Pacific
sen. | had MT been long in Hon lulu
when | perceived how thoroughly an
American city it is, how strong is Amer
lean sympathy and how predomina-
ting are American interests IN al the
islands of the Hawaiian group. More
than one year of careful study of the
existing complex facts | found ncCes-
sary to a correct understanding Of the
moral, commercial and political state
of the islands. Though | had much
previous experience and observation
among the natl ms Of three continents,
| found condition of things in Hon
olulu unlike that bad ever known at
any other national capital. | found an
intelligent body Of citizens, of Euro
pean and American origin, sharing the
good will of many native Hawalans,
supporting semi-barbarlC monarchy
resting on no solid or normal f0undi-
ton, dead in everything but its vices,
coarsely luxurious in its tastes and
wishes, Constantly sending out impure
exhalations, and spreading social and
political decentralization throughout the
islands This semi-hetthen and grossly
spurious government meChanis -, cal ed
the Hawaiian monarchy, was being
chiefly supported by the taxes and
federation of those who could have no
sincere loyalty to it, and who knew
that it returned to the islands nothing
for the money 1t annually squandered
on worse than useless expenditures.
That such a barbariC and absurd
counterfeit in the name of government
and law was SO long endured is strlk
ing proof of the self control and for
bearance of the responsible citizens Of
Hawaii Suffice it to say that such an
abomination in the name of govern
ment, or for any other pretense or pur
pose, would not be allowed to exist
sixty days in any of our American
cities. Only very exceptional Crcum
stances caused the responsible citizens
and principal taxpayers Of the islands
SO long to maintain this dead and
worse than useless monarchy.
"The biennial Legislature assembled
in May, 1892. That body very soon
asserted its constitutional prerogatve
in voting out a Ministry that had con
scented to the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the
Queen and her immoral favorite at the
palace, who exercised diCtatorial powers
and rioted in official police corruption.
Instead of appointing officers possess
ing the confidence of the legislative
majority and of the business men Of
the Islands, she continued to select
those of her own type Of character,
those whom she knew would retain her
illicit palace favorite in power Three
successive Ministers f this description
were voted out by the Legislature, with
the warm approval of all of the best
men of the Islands. At last the Queen
appeared to yield to the pressure of pub
lie opinion and consented to the APP
pointment Of four responsible men
three of them persons of wealth, and
all men Of good financial standing, who
took the official places with reluctance,
all four of them sharing the public con-
idenCe. Known as the Wilcox Zones
Ministry, it was believed that they
would safely carry the country through
the following eighteen months, to the
election and assemblage Ct the next
Legislature. Fully sharing this belief
the United States Minister and nava
commander left Honolulu January
18th in the United States cruiser Boston
for Hlo and the volcano, the dista c.
Of nearly 800 miles. 1t was the frs
time for many months | had feltit safe
for the United States Minister anC
naval commander to be away from tn,
Hawaiian capitnl. We were absent ter
days.
"When we arrived in the harbor o
Honolulu on our return from Hilo il
the forenoon of January 18th, Their,
came to US the startling news that tn,
Queen and the ring of white adventur
ers who surrounded her had by intrigue
and bribery carried the lottery ant
opium bills through the Legislature
had forced out the Wilcox and Jone
ministry and appointed in their place
four of her palace retainers, two {
whom the Legislature and the respons
ible public had recently and repeated
rejected, headed by the man who ha,
carried the lottery and opium bill
through the Legislature
"Whle the Boston was coming int
the harbor of Honolulu, on the fore
MON 0f January IAtb the n1Gb r