Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-11-22
WILLIS HOLDS OFF.
He Makes No Attempt to Overthrow the
Provisional Hawaiian Government.

y
the steamer China were sent. Perhaps
the most significant was one Of the re-
marks of Minister Willis when he pre-
scented his credentials on the eth inst.
together with the reply of President
Dole. Mr.. Willis remarks were as fol-
lows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: Mr., Blount, the late en-
voy extraordinary of the United States to
your government, having resigned his office
while absent from his post, | have the honor
now to present his letter of recall and to ex-
press for him his sincere regret that he
is IN person unable to make known
his continued good wishes on be-
half of your people and his
grateful appreciation Of the many courte-
sizes, both personal and official, of which
while here he was the honored recipient. |
desire at the same time to place in your
hands a letter acCrediting me as his success
or. In doing this | All directed by the
President to give renewed assurance of the
friendship, interest and hearty good will
which our government entertainS for yOu
and tor the people of this island realm.
Invoking that spirit of peace friendship
and hospitality which has ever been the
shield and sword of this country, | now,
upon behalf Of the United States of Amer
lea, tender to your people the right hand
of good will which | trust may be as lasting
as | know it to be sincere, expressing the
hope that every year will promote and per-
petuate that good will, to the honor, happi-
ness and prosperity of both governments.
President Dole then made reply as
follows:
Mr. MINISTER: 1t is with much satisfac-
ton that receive the credentials you bring
from His EXcellency, the President of the
United States of America, accrediting you as
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
tertiary to represent that country at the
capital of the Hawaiian Islands Your as
Surances of continued friendship of your
government for me and the Hawaiian peo-
pie add to the qualification which
long experience of the generous considera-
ton of the United States for this country
has fostered. Permit me to assure you that
we heartily reel procate the expressions of
interest and good will which you on behalf
of the American people have conveyed to
us. Aside from our geOgra phical proximity
and the consequent prepOnderatiHg COM
mercIal interests which center here, the
present advanced civilization and chris
ianiZation of your people, together
with your enlightened codes of law,
stand to-day benefcent monuments Of
American zeal, courage and intelligence.
1t is not surprising therefore, that the
United States were the first to recognize the
independence Of the Hawaiian Islands and
TO welcome them into the great family of
free, equal and sovereign nations; nor is it
surprising that this historic tie has been
strengthened from year to year by the i'm
pOrtant mutual reel prOcities and agreement
alike honorable and advantageous to both
governments. Partly from proximity, part
~ from the leading influence of American
citizens in the work of inaugurating Chris
tan civilization and industrial enterprises
IN these islands, but still more from the
repeated acts Of friendly assistance we have
received from your government the past
half century, we have become accustomed
to regard the United States as friend and
ally and have learned to look first to her for
help in our emergencies. [ regret the ina
biity Of your predecessor, Mr.. BlOunt to
personally present his letter Of recall
and TO afford me the opportunity
of the agreeable official and social relations
that existed between him and our govern
ment and people during his residence here
We congratulate ourselves Mr.. Minister,
that the government Of the United States is
to be represented here by one who, we are
assured, is familiar with the questions aris-
ing with the relations between the two gov
ernm"nts and with whom we look for the
maintenance OF pleasant official intercourse.
Yesterday morning Minister Willis
sent the government word that he would
officially present Admiral Irwin at the
executive building at 100 O'Clock
to-day. In conversation with the
of the Associated
Press, Minister Willis said there
was no political significance at
tached to the arrival of Admiral Irwin
as far as he knew. When he left Wash
ington nothing was known of the
change, and as matter Of fact the Ad
miral had arrived here under sealed
orders in cipher. From what Capt.
Barker, of the Philadelphia, had said
to him shortly after the Admiral arrived
by the China, he was inclined to be-
lieve that Admiral Skerrett had been
recalled in similar manner.
In speaking Of his mission here, Mr..
Willis has upon a late occasion declared
that his instructions would not be known
until they were officially handed to the
provisional government. II will say
this much," continued the minister,
that there is absolutely no foun
dation for the various rumors
afOat since my arrival as to what [ am
to do or not to do. There
are but two or three men, even in Wash
ington, who know what my instructions
are. l must positively decline, at pres
cnt, to state whether [ carry an ulti
matum or a new treaty or what"
The provisional government claims to
be as much IN the dark as everybody
else, though 1t has leaked out within the
last few hours from a very reliable
source that the new minister will nego-
tate a new treaty with the provisional
government which will place the
islands virtually under the protection
of the United States. 1t is understood
that when completed, this treaty will be
at once submitted to the United States
Senate with President CIeveland's mes
sage. In the meantime the United
States will see that matters re-
main in statu quo here both |
and externally. Evidence
of the determination on the part of |
the United States was seen during the
night of Nov. 8, when for some reason
unknown to the provisional govern
ment, boats Of the Philadelphia were
dropped into the water and were sup
piled with loaded Gatling guns and |
small arms. Details of men were kept |
under orders all night and the boats |
were not taken aboard until A. NJ. of |
the 10th inst.