New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-17

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN SECRETAR
GRESHAM'S REPORT
A NATIVE HAWAIIAN WHO WAS PRESENT TELLs
THE STORY OF TIE REVOLUTION.

A NATIVE HAWAIIAN WHO WAS PRESENT TELLS
THE STORY OF TIE REVOLUTION.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The proposition of the CleveIano Au-
nnstration to restore the ex-Queen by iofce
fs very startling to the Hawailans. VINO Kho"
the facts Of the last ten years What s'a' 'ieS
them more than anything eise' however Is
the oueer story which Mr.. Gresham has SOL
emily published accurate finding OF 'he
facts of the late revolution. Every eyewitness
of the real event will believe that Mr.. Gresham
has teen sadly led astray Either there were
q great many facts which Mr. Bount forgot 10
mt in his report or there are great many
things in that report which Mr.. Gresham over
looked Perhaps it would be Interesting 10
the readers of The Tribune to learn what the
facts we're as seen by a Hawaiian and an eye
witness.
No one has any interest In denying that the
renort Of Judge Gresham to the President con-
tains great many facts The facts which IL
does contain however. are not more numerous
than its Interpretations and omissions so
that the picture which 1t presents OF Inc "hoie
transaction is essentially false Inc essence
of Mr. Gresham>s conclusions consists IN the nno-
ing that the revolution was the WORK OIL INC
American Minister and American troops, acting
in conjunction with few American citzehs'
that the Queens Government was in ful ana
peaceful control Of the city at the time ana
that the Provisional Government depended at
its establishment, and has ever since theh oe-
pcnded on the support OF American guns Not
one Of these findings is true. Not one OF them
Is borne out by the facts A brief recapitula-
ton Of the events of the revolution and the
circumstances that led up to it will make this
plain to every candid man.
REVOLUTION LONG FoREsHADowED.
The revolution of last January had been
plainly foreshadowed for years. and no one
could doubt its ultimate inevitabeness or neces-
sity. The policy of the old line Of the Kane
hamehas had been in the main useful ana
patriotic but with the advent Of the Kaakaua
dynasty a complete change came over the
spirit of the monarchy. From the moment OF
Kalakauas accession its policy was reactionary,
reactionary in religion in politics. in industry.
in everything which goes to make up the worth
of our nineteenth century civilization. The
private life Of the monarchs was corrupt and
dissolute. the conduct of public affairs was
extravagant and dishonest. The legitimate In
terests of the country were not only not pro-
tected and encouraged but their very destruc-
ton was threatened. Years ago 1t became only
q question Of time when the superior race would
decline to permit its interests to be fooled
away" by sovereigns whose plain intention was
to go back to barbarism themselves. and take
the country back with them. Public patience
was exhausted In 1887. and in that year a gen.
eral uprising OF the foreign element forced a
frcer constitution from the King That consttu-
ton failed because II did not so far enough,
and since that time not only the beginning OF
the end but the end itself has been in sight.
tl,,
recognized as the only possible future for Hawaii.
The children Of the soil. OF whom / one.
were unwilling to accept this conclusion. for
we had a sentimental regard for the separate
existence Of the State, but facts were stronger
than sentiment and for the last few years every
day had made its converts TO the cause Of an
nexation, until January came and found the
whole white population of the country unit
On that issue. The revolution could not possibly
have been avoided. because 1t demanded,
not by few aliens" Mr. Gresham would
have Americans believe. but by the united
brains. industry. property and pluck Of the
whole community.
Mr. GRESHAMS LACK OF INFORMATION.
The above very brief sketch may serve to
give some idea Of the underlying causes which
made the revolution. Now. what was It's imme-
diate occasion? Mr.. Gresham answers: "a con-
spiracy between the American Minister and
few aliens" The facts confirmed by a thou
sand eye-witncsses. answer: "A revolutionary
attempt by the Queen to overthrow the Con-
stitution. strip the foreigners Of almost all their
political rights and establish system of abb
so!utsm." The attempt threw the town into
q state OF feverish excitement it stirred every
element Of Saxon manhood into indignant re-
sistance. the very memory OF it Pushes the
cheek and quickens the blood-yet Mr.. Gresham
does not think ii worthy to be enumerated as