The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-17
sr,ciol correpondtnce A,,ociatsd Prts.

sucial Correspondence ASsOciatsd Prs
IIoNoLULu, March 9.--If the friends OF
annexation were elated on the receipt OF
news brought by the steamships China
and Honolulu on the Goth and 22d OF
February, they were correspondingly
depressed when the Belgic put into
Honolulu unexpectedly March and it
was found that the treaty consummated
by Secretary Foster and tho Hawaiian
commissioners had not reached vote
in the United States senate. With the
exception OF Minister Stevens and few
other Americans, no ono had expected
treaty to be arranged so speedily. In
tact, it was known that certain OF the
commissioners had arranged their busi-
ness affairs here with view to being
absent at least six month, and the fact
that SO important measure had been
prepared within few days led to the
belief that the people OF the United
States appreciated the situation here
and were desirous of applying the rem
edial agencies of difficulties under
which the provisional government has
been laboring.
The disappointment OF the American
party in the islands was n source OF
much qualification to the royalists, and
assertions were boldly mNdo that the
treaty would never pass the senate; that
annexation was an impossibittty, and
the new Congress- would carry out tho
policy OF the opposition to the acqulr'
ing OF foreign territory and would re-
cognize the autonomy at least to the ex.
tent OF agreeing to tho accession OF
KaiuIani, heir apparent, supported pos
sibly by an American proteCtorate.
Minister Stevens, when seen by the
Associated Press correspondent, eX-
pressed himself as perfectly satisfied
with the contents OF Secretary Fosters
letter.
MIR. Stevens said: "While l have
been accused OF precipitating reyolu-
ton, the fact remains, and will be
vouched Tor by many here, that did
not desire the responsibilities that
would devolve upon me in the event OF
change Of the government OF Hawaii,
and when the Jones ministry was ap-
pointed, and went with the Boston to
Hllo, was relieved, for l thought the
government was safe in good hands.
We returned, however, to find the best
ministry, in some respects, that the is
lands had ever had ousted from Office
and different set in their places. The
revolution followed, and can say that,
in taking the course which | did, was
simply following the policy specifically
laid down under Secretary Bayard for
Just such a contingency, and which, rs
history shows, has been the logical pol
icy of the United States"
Minister Stevens said that the letters
which he had sent TO Washington bear
ing on the affairs in the islands were
not written with view to publication,
but he saw from newspapers that they
had been given out, together with the
other official documents. These letters.
he said, expressed his views, aShough
they might be open TO the criticism OF
the opposition here.
"You may rest assured" said Mr..
Stevens, that the United States does
not intend to deprive the Hawaiians OF
their rights to these lands, but in draw
ing up this treaty 1t was necessary to
remove all objections that might be
raised at home by those who have
studied the land question. OF course
no question is raised as to the ability Of
the provisional government to dispose
OF these lands with justneSs and fair
ness"
Regarding the labor question, which
is one OF the most important problems
which will require solution under an
nexation, Minister Stevens said there
was no provision in the treaty for get
ting rid OF the Chinese and Japanese
laborers now here, nor for prohibiting
future Japanese immigration. Tho bet
tor class OF labor, both Japanese and
Portuguese, can be obtained without re-
sorting to the contract system, the em.
ployer dealing, directly with employed.
This is the view taken also by Minister
Jones OF the finance department, who
differs, however, from Mr.. Stevens in
that he believes that the sugar industry
must not be curtailed and that cheap
and foreign labor is necessity.
The Hawaiian Patriotic League for
wardUd by steamer Alameda the follow
ing telegram TO President Cleveland:
HpNoluIu, March 8, 1898.
President Cleveland, Warrington, Greetings:
Tho Hawaiian Patriotic League, a
union Of all native associations hope for
iugticn md TINT mn Investigation will