Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-21
That is, He Thinks he Does; to the
Just Accusations Against Him.
HE WAS NOT ON THE ISLAND
Till the Day Before He Landed the
Boston's Marines-Had Been
OFF on a Cruise With Captain
Wiltse-His Reply to the Presi-
dents Message a Conglomera-
ton of Words Without Argu-
ment of Any Sort.

AUGUSTA, Me-, December 20.-Ex-
Minister Stevens tonight made the FOL
lowing reply to President Cleveland's
message and his criticisms Of Mr.. Stew
ems official conduct:
president ClevelandS recent sPe-
cial message in which he so severely
criticises the course OF the recent Amer
ican minister at Honolulu Is but feeble
repetition Of the statement OF Secretary
Gresham previously published.
81 repeat that neither by force nor
by threat was the fall of the monarchy
precipitated. Only the remarkable
ssli-possession of the respectable and
responsible men OF the islands pre-
vented an outbreak and the overthrow
Oh the monarchy at an earlier day.
left Honolulu In the United States
steamer Boston, January 4, on a trip to
Hilo, 26o miles from Honolulu, the first
time for many months when / deemed
it safe to leave Honolulu. In the ten
days of. our absence from the legation,
had known no more of what had
been transpiring in Honolulu than
though l had been at that
time In Washington. Captain
Wiltse and myself, on the Boston, ar
rived In the harbor of Honolulu in the
forenoon OF January II. was COM
pletely taken by surprise at what the
Queen, the palace associates and the
lottery gang had accomplished In
ten days. The remonstrances OF
the chamber OF commerce, OF
the numerous petitions OF some OF the
best people of the islands, both whites
and natives, and the earnest pleadings
of those who had previously adhered to
the monarchy had been de6antly disre-
garded.
"I found the city in great excitement
and learned that for many days there
had been an obvious desire for the re-
turn o. the Boston and this desire was
strong among the more thoughtful
Of the monarchy as well as
among the great body OF the
responsible citizens. The surging,
irresistible tide Of revolution was then
obvious to all persons not Wilfully
blind. / attempted to get access to the
Queen and to try by friendly advice TO
arrest the revolution. 1t was too late.
The mob OF royal retainers were already
gathering to the Palace to aid the
Queen to carry out her plan OF over
turning the constitutisn. What took
place that afternoon OF January IA,
ended the Hawaiian monarchy forever.
As to the landing OF the Boston
marines January 16, l only did what
had been done in previous Hawaiian
crisis by Commander Woodward on the
request of Minister Merrill, acting
under the Cleveland-Bayard order,
August 1. 1889.
The Presidents statement that the
three points at which our small naval
force was placed was not favorably
chosen for the protection OF American
life and property, is radically an error.
as all know who are familiar with
the map and buildings Of Hon
olulu, the Americans being In all the
various sections of the city. Besides,
the Cleveland-Bayard dispatch OF July
10, 1887, instructs the Minister and
Naval Commander to maintain public
order, to protect American life and
property, and TO preserve public or1er.
Especially to prevent incendiarism dur
ing the night, IL was necessary that the
naval marines should be centrally To-
Gated.
"The representations OF the President
that the Queen aud Wilson had suff-
cient force in the limited area OF the
police station to sustain the monarchy is
notorlously absurd to all honest persons
acquainted with the facts.
"There never was = more preposter-
Gus assumption than this assertion OF
the President, that the Queen, January
II, had ample force to sustain her, and
70 enable her to carry on the govern
ment.
'That the Hawaiian monarchy was
overturned by the United States force
was, and is put forth for the sole pur-
pose of bringing discredit on the pre-
siding administration at Washington,
and on the action Of the Foreign RelG-
tions Committee of the United States
Senate in favor Of annexation.