The sun., 1893-11-14

Mr.. stevens and the Hawaiian Question.
The Hon. JOHN L. STEVENS OF Maine. who
was President HARRIsoN's Minister to the
Sandwich Islands, replied in our columns
| yesterday to the bitter attack made upon
| him by Mr.. GRESHAM In his now notorious
report to President CLEVELAND respecting
the Hawaiian situation. Our readers have
thus had full opportunity OF perusing
what he has to say in his own defence
and In defence OF tho Hawaiian republic:
| and we are sure that every one who is not
| prejudiced against him by the personal and
partisan assault made by the Secretary OF
State. will admit that the defence is ample
and conclusive. It is proper also that we
should add that Mr.. STEVENS Is a man OF
| the highest character: and when he AYERS
| that anything is so he is entitled to as COM
plete credence as could be given to Mr..
GRESHAM or Mr.. CLEVELAND. or to any other
American citizen.
"All that American piety, American be-
nevolence. American schools. and American
patriotism have accomplished In Hawaii In
the past seventy years." says Mr.. STEVENS,
els now centralized In the Provisional Gov
ernment, and stands In Its support; 1t is a
Government honestly and ably admins
tered, and the best Government that Ha-
wall ever had" To the question who made
the revolution which brought this Provi-
sional Government into existence, Mr..
STEVENS devotes particular attention.
Queen LILIUoKALANI." he says. inaugu-
rated the revolution by attempting to de-
stroy the Constitution by revolutionary
means." Her purpose was to overthrow the
rights which the white settlers OF Hawaii
had acquired. and to subject them to des-
potism Of her own. administered in tho
interest OF the ignorant and degraded
Knnaka natives. Against this attempted
revolution. led by llcentious and disrepu-
table woman. the citizens Of Honolulu "as-
sembled In great mass meeting and con-
summated their efforts for law and order
by the establishment OF Provisional Gov
ernment. which was promptly acknowl-
edged by all the foreign representatives
who were familiar with the circumstances
OF it's creation
This new Government, thus established
and recognized. was not assailed by the
Queen or by her followers. While the citizens
we're attending their mass meeting. select
ing their committees OF public safety. and
preparing to organize q Government. as
openly as public meetings are held In any
American city. the disorganized and power
less followers OF the fallen Queen and her
paramour made no attempt to save her
from the deposition which her rash
and corrupt conspiracy against the Consti
tuition so Justly merited. 1T was united
and irresistible movement" says Mr.
STEVENS. of the same men. with now in
,hnr hat tI<,I n
potic powers of King KALAKAUA in 1887.
and crushed the WILCOX revolt Of 1889.
They gathered at the Armory with their
rifles in hand. which were increased by
other arms openly carried in carriage with
only three men in charge. The only Gov
ernment that existed or could exist under
those circumstances. was the Provisional
Government. Whoever denies this. has no
other basis for denial than perjured affi-
davits. hundreds Of which are obtainable in
the slums OF Honolulu at two dollars EACH"
The Hawaiian monarchy had been extin-
guished for several days. and the Provi-
sional Government had been in full and un-
disputed control Of the city and country for
fully two days. when Mr.. STEVENS recog-
nized It, his example being followed by the
representatives Of other foreign powers.
The marines and sailors Of the United
States man-of-war Boston had nothing to
do with commencing or completing this
revolution. They bore no part in the
revolution which began with the conspira-
cy OF Queen LIIIUoKALANI and was ended
with the full establishment Of the Provision
al Government. They were landed after all
those transactions were over. not to take
sides on behalf Of either the Queen or the
revolving citizens. but "as precautionary
safeguard to American life and property"
This 10 the history OF this memorable
affair as narrated by the best informed and
most trustworthy observer. the Minister Of
the United States. gentleman. as we
have said. OF the highest and most un-
impeachable character. who was present
and witnessed everything from beginning
to end. And now another American Presi-
dent, led by we know not what senti-
ment. or what unrevealed consideration,
proposes to turn back the hands upon the
dial. to reverse all that has been done and
to restore the corrupt and shameless Queen
who has destroyed her throne by revo-
lutionary conspiracy! Can this undertak-
ing be approved by the American peo-
pie? By no means. Nor will it be ap-
proved even if the drama should be
brought to an unexpected conclusion by
a new treaty OF annexation bearing the
signature Of the restored Queen. and pay
ing her roundly in American cash as
compensation for the cession. Such
dfnouement does not seem impossible in
view of the theatrical accessories with
which Mr.. GRESHAM and Mr.. CLEVELAND
have so far succeeded in envelopng the
subject; but these two gentlemen will find
that even then their deed will not receive
forgiveness.