New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-30


the demand Of the right of suffrage of the Jap
anese residents, and there was Known TO be much
ferment. IL not an organized movement. among
some of the Japanese in thef same direction.
I had positively learned that the japanese
Commissioner had sent, by the steamer Claudne.
which left Honolulu with the Hawaiian Wash
ington Commissioners. January 10. cable
dispatch to his Government at Toxic request
ing that a powerful ironclad be Immediately
sent to Honolulu. though 1t was known that a
smaller Japanese warship was about to arrive
there from San Francisco. do not intend to
criticise the Japanese Commissioner for think
ing he needed another japanese warship at
Honolulu at that time. lie was entitled to his
own opinions. and was bound only by the In
structions of his own Government. 1t certainly
was not strange that in the peculiar circum-
stances of the Hawaiian situation there should
be anxiety among the Americans and the MEM
bers of the Provisional Government as to what
might grow out Of this agitation about japanese
suffrage and certain Japanese ambitions as TO
the future control Of the islands.
"Sir Edwin Arnold's elaborate letter in The
London Telegraph. of January "a. had arrived
there. Arnold's Japanese residence and sympa-
thies were believed to have some relation TO
much that had been said in Toxic by certain
European antagonists Of American interests and
aims, and it was we'll known that individuals,
both in Japan and Hawaii had enriched them
selves in the supply of japanese contract labor
These persons were known to be bitterly averse
to the passage Of the islands under the Ameri-
can flag. in the just fear that in such event
their contract labor profits would no more swell
their bank accounts. The fallen Queens I'M
scrupulous and oily attorney was known TO be
one who had shared in this kind of gain. and
was still the agent of this ring of SPECTATORS
IT was feared by the supporters Of the Provi-
sional Government that the fallen Queen, the
lottery ring and palace gang would not hesitate
to promise to grant to the japanese the right OF
suffrage in the islands. provided they would
aid in restoring Liliuokalani to the throne.
Among the nearly 10000 japanese on the islands
there were said to be many who had served IN
the Japanese Army at home
1.-The sudden appearance of the japanese iron
clad in Honolulu Harbor could not fail to create
anxiety and misunderstanding. 1t was in these
peculiar circumstances that felt 1t my impera-
tive duty to have repeated interviews with my
Japanese colleague He did not attempt to con-
ccal from me his wish that the suffrage right
should be granted to the Japanese residents.
He was frank and earnest on the subject
was equally frank in informing him that had
no authority to speak on that subject but IN
the then existing circumstances and In the
maintenance of our superior rights and inter-
ests in Hawaii / expressed to him the opinion
that the United States would resist any en-
croachment on the soil sovereignty Of Hawaii.
and that would maintain this position until
otherwise instructed by my Government. These
friendly interviews, in which the long existing
friendship and mutual interests of our respective
countries were fully gone over. gave pacfying
x,olIt toto hoy
not at once put an end to public anxiety as
to the suffrage agitation and as to what use
the fallen Queens supporters might make of
it, Every step of my action was duly reported
TO the Department of State. prior TO Blount
having any knowledge on the subject. His
claim to have put an end to Hawaiian anxiety
about rumored japanese encroachment is as
purely assumptive az his expression to me at
my house that to him the Harrison Admins
tration was indebted for the strong Democratic
support which was given 1t in the threatened
war with Chill. and that Senator Morgan, now
chairman of the Senate Committee of Foreign
Affairs could not aid much in the same direc-
ton and is not level-headed man.
THEY DID NOT ASK FOR PROTECTION.
"In Mr.. Blount's report. as given to the press.
/ find the following language: The two lead
ing members Of the committee. Messrs. Thurs
ton and Smith. growing uneasy to the safety
of their persons went to Minister Stevens to
know II he would protect them in the event
of their arrest by the authorities. to which he
gave his assent.
1T is enough to say that there is not a SEM
blance of truth In this assertion of Blount made
by him without his ever having limited It to me
or made any inquiry of me on the subject. He
thus gives the signature OF his Enforcement to
a charge which never even heard of until
found 1t in Blount's printed report.
He says the response to the call Of the
Committee OF Safety to land the men Of the
Boston does not appear in the files OF the I.e-
CATION The meaning Of this nsinuation is OBJ
vious. Enough to say. there never was any
such document / received the invitation Of
the Committee Of Safety for what 1t was worth.
as received other information on the same
subject. should have requested Captain
wiltse to have landed his force. had not the
Committee OF Safety requested It. The criti-
cal circumstances existing. the fear OF in
cendiarisrn, tumult and robbery. and the dan
ger OF alarming panic in the night. more than
justified our carrying out the standing instruc-
tons of the State and Navy Departments OF
July, 1887 which held the United States Minister |
and Naval Commander responsible for the pro- |
lection of American life and property. and
for the preservation of public order The |
facts and the logic Of the situation clearly in |
dicated our duty.
ut Is well to state here that this landing |
Of American forces in Honolulu had repeatedly |
taken place In a period running over many
years. This happened in 1874. in 1887. in 1889.
and was on the eve Of being done on several |
other occasions. Several times prior TO the
events Of January last / had been notified by
the representatives Of the Queen TO be In rcadi-
ness to receive a request to land naval
force. Repeatedly had naval commanders
during my official residence In Honolulu got
everything In readiness to land on informa-
ton as to signs of danger which they and their
officers had gathered by being in close touch
With the then existing state OF things
"The elements and forces OF Hawaii In play
In 1857 1850 and In 1879 were and ara essen.