The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-11-29

AUGUSTA, Me-, Nov. I2.-In sign
ed leader in the Kennebec Journal
the Hon. John l.. Stevens, late United
states Minister at Hawaii, makes the
Following reply to Secretary Gres-
hams report:
According to authentic reports from
Washington, public crime Of start
ling import is about TO be committed
IN the name and under the authority
of the American Governments pub
lie crime OF less proportions, but i'm it's
moral type similar to the sitting of
national life and the reform aspira-
tions of Poland and Hungary a few
years ago by the imperial despOts, and
10 the crushing out of the newly
formed republic of Rome by the
"surped powers of Louis Napoleon.
american piety, American
--sce;--American schools and
--erfcan patriotism have accom-
pfished i'm Hawaii i'm the past Sc yenty
years is now centralized in the Pro-
visional Government and stands in
its support. 1t is a government hon
estly and ably administered, and the
best government that Hawaii ever
had.
al know not the influence which in
duced Secretary Gresham to become
an active agent in attempting such
grave offense against American civili-
zation, justice and law. His intense
hostility TO ex-President Harrison and
to the illustrious eX-Secretary of
State, who passed to his grave in
January last, is well known. 1t was
that which caused him to betray and
desert the great political party whose
honors he had shared and brought
him TO his present attitude toward his
former associates and their work.
$50 far as his recent manifesto on
Hawaiian affairs casts reflection upon
my official action L care little, except
to the degree that his cruel and I'M
truthful words strike at the noble
band of men and women who have
for ten months stood so resolutely and
unitedly in defense of American CIV
iliZatiOn.
"The remarks made by me before
the Chamber of Commerce in San
Francisco on June /, and before the
citizens of Augusta on June 90, repub-
lished in the Kennebec Journal of to-
day are answers to most of the shame
fully unjust imputations on my
official action under circumstances
requiring my deepest anxiety to
faithfully serve my country and the
cause of humanity.
"Perhaps nothing better shows the
character of the Secretary's assault
than what he says abOnt the hall
which the men of the Boston occu-
pied a few days, and until better
quarters could be procured. After L
had made my request to Capt. Wiltse
to land his men, as precautionary
safeguard to American life and prop
erty, he and his officers informed me
that their men must have shelter for
the night.
"Without special information in
that regard, / had supposed that the
ships marines had tents of their own
for their customary use in case OF
emergency on shore. L at once wrote
a note and sent it by messenger to
secure large hall that was supposed
to be available, but the man in charge
of the hall was several miles away.
al had not known of the existence
of the Arion Hall until that evening,
when a messenger with my note was
sent to the supposed agent OF the
Arion Hall, who was a royalist.
"He returned me a courteous an
swer, saying he would be pleased to
let the hall for the specified purpose,
but he had ceased to be the agent, In
forming me who had charge of the
hall. This required third note and
a third effort of q messenger, which
proved successful.
$50 much time had been thus con-
sumed that the Boston's marines and
sailors were obliged to stand weary
hours in the street before they were
able to go to their night quarters.
GAIL of them would have been
lodged at the Legation and Consulate,
but for want of room, where as many
rs possible were received, these locall-
ties being several streets and squares
from the Palace and Government
Building. For the occupation OF
Arion Hall by the men of the Boston,
the Committee of Public Safety ana
the supporters of the Provisional Gov
eminent had no more responsibility
than Secretary Gresham himself.
tsSecretary Gresham assumes that
blends of annexation made the
,-xolution and that the Provisional
Government, when acknowledged by
the United States Minister, existed
only on paper: .,,
the revolution by attempting to des-
troy the Constitution by revolution
ary means. From Saturday afternoon,
January II, to January 16, there was
no Government in Honolulu except
in the united and self-possessed attl-
tude OF citizens, who assembled in
great mass meeting on January Is,
and consummated their efforts for law
and order by the establishment of the
Provisional Government on the 18th,
which was promptly acknowledged
by all the foreign representatives who
were familiar with the circumstances
of its creation.
SIT was fifty hours after Liliuoka:
Iani and her favorites had destroyed
her throne by revolutionary out
break when the men of the Boston
landed. In the exciting hours pre-
ceding and following her fall her
representatives as we'll as those who
formed the provisional Government
had equal access to the Legation.
To all proper inquiries my answer
was that the United States Marines
could not take sides, but whatever de
facto government might exist would
have to be recognized. When I did
recognize it, late in the afternoon of
the nth, the provisional Government
was complete master of the situation,
had full control of the city and the
Government archives, the police sta
ton being surrounded and at the