Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-30
HON. JOHN L. STEVENS.
Continued from Sd page. /

the domestic affairs of Hawaii, in ac-
cordance with the policy and practice
of this government, yet obstruction 10
| the channels Of legttimate commerce m
der existing Tar must not be uii"iced.
| and ADtericaH citizens in Ha,raii must be
| protectfd in their persons ard property by
| the representatives Of their couatrys TAR
| and po,rer amt no internal disc0rd must
| be suffered 10 intpair them
These were the latest instructions to the
| United States Minister at Honolulu, on file
| at the Legation, for guidance in case of cir
cumstances precisely like these which arose
when the Hawaiian monarchy fell in jan
| uary last 1t was the language of this dis
patch which Captain WiItse of the Boston
had for his instruction.
The essential objects to be accomplished
by raising the flag were gained during the
seventy five days its bright starry folds
were before the people of Hawaii. The
| Provisional Government had secured the
necessary time to organize an efficient police
and military force, to substitute reliable
officials in place of the unreliable and to
consolidate the new government, with the
approval of the best and responsible men of
| all the islands. That country now has the
best government it has ever had, admins
tered by men of intelligence, education, and
character, and as thoroughly American in
sympathy and interest as we have at the
head of any of our American States and
Territories That government and those
back of it-all the responsible and the best
citizens of the islands-ask for the anncxa-
ton of Hawaii as a Territory of the United
States This is desired because it is be-
lieved to be best for the native as well as
the foreign born population of the islands.
The Hawai- monarchy has been especial
ly injurious to the welfare of the native
Hawaiians. The government and those
supporting it desire annexation because they
justly regard present Hawaii in reality
an American colony closely identified
with American interests and governed BY
American ideas, American laws, and
American judicial rules and decisions. In
reporting the treaty of annexation in Janu-
airy last the Senate committee of Foreign At
fairs acted as American statesmen in dealing
with facts, events and interests as they
found them. They came to the same con-
clusion as did the Democratic Administra-
ton of 1854, when Secretary VIM. L.
Marcy, authorized Commissioner Gregg to
negotiate a treaty of annexation, which
that commissioner did negotiate, though he
exceeded his instructions as TO the provis-
| ions of the treaty.
The treaty of 1854 failed through diyid-
ed counsels at Honolulu and the probable
duphcity of the Hawaiian Minister of
Foreign Affairs-a willy Scotchman who had
no love for American Institutions. VIM.
L. Marcy was bold and able man, and
his view of the value of Hawaii to the
United States was fully shared by VIM. H.
Seward, who had remarkable foresight as
to the vast future of American commerce
in the Pacific, and looked forward to the
| annexation of Hawaii as necessary and in
evitable, and would have urged it during
his occupancy of the State department, had
he found the Honolulu authorities ready
for it.
Marcy, the able Democratic leader of
his time, cool, sagaeious statesman, in a
dispatch to the United States Minister
Mason at Paris, December l6,-1s53,
speaking OF the Hawaiian Islands said -
both English AMI France are apprised
OF our determination not to allow them to
be owned by or to fall under the protection
OF either OF these powers or of any other
European nation. 1t seems to be lnevita-
bic that they must come under the control
OF this Government.
Luther Severance, an able, safe and sa-
gacIous man, whom the people of Maine
many years knew so ~eii' whom lIanlel
NJ