Daily Kennebec journal., 1893-06-01

which the mob Was gathering. Il WAS too
late for the American and English ministers
even to attempt to reason with the mad
dened, misguided woman, who had already
launched the revolution which could not be
arrested, though her couardly ministers of
the lottery gang became alarmed and drew
back. She scorned their eow wardice and
pushed on to her doom. SATURDAY night
told every intelligent man in Honolulu that
the Hawaiian monarchy Was forever at an
end-tllat the responsible persons Of the
islands. the property holders and the friends
of Law and order, must thereafter take
charge of public affairs. The great mass
meeting of January l6th-worthy of the
best American towns, of the best American
days, was held. 1t was made up of the best
and chief men Of the Countrywide owners
of property. the professional and educated
citizens, merchants, bankers, clerks, me
chanics, teachers, clergymen. This assem-
blage was unit in opinion and
purpose. 1t WAS stirred by COM
mon sentiment, the love OF country and the
desire for public order and public security.
II took its measures wisely and prudently.
Its committee of public safety asked US to
land the men of the Boston, lest riot and in
cendiarism might burst out in the night, for
no reliable police force longer existed, and
whatever there was of this force, was now
in the control of the usurpers and the lot
terry gimblers, who had initiated the revolu-
ton. Under the diplomatic and naval rules,
which were and are imperative, the United
States minister and naval commander would
have ,hamefully ignored their duty had
81 L., IA al, xf Vh f.r
the security of American life and property
and the maintenance of public order, even
had the committee of public safety not re-
quested US to do so. As American represen-
tatives, five thousand miles from our gov
ernment, we could not have escaped our re-
sponsibilities, even had we desired to
do so. Fortunately the commander of
the Boston and those under his com
mand had no desire to shirk their duty.
They appreciated the obligations of Amer
lean patriotism and the honor of the Amer
lean navy. The allurements of a semi
barbaric court ard palace had not blinded
their eyes to the condition of things in Hon
olulu. On shore in perfect order, they
stepped not an inch from the line of duty.
They never lifted finger in aid of the fal-
len monarchy or the rising provisional gov
The former sought its aid, but
neither party had the least assistance OF
force by Captain Wiltse and those under
his command. All assertions to the con-
trary. by whOmsOever uttered, are auda-
cious falsehoods without semblance of
truth. The conduct of the United States
officers and men in their seventy-fve days
On shore in Honolulu is to the credit of
their intelligence, their patriotism and
their self-control-sn honor to the
A merican navy. Without the loss of
a single life. this remarkable revo-
luton in the Hawaiian islands was
They have today the best
government those islands ever had. That
government is now much stronger than ON
the days when it sprang into life. 1t is
supported by all the best citizens, and by
seven-.ighths of the property of the couu-
try Both the provisional government and
those supporting it strongly desire Hawall
to become a part of the Great Republic.
Their American sympathies are loyal to the
core. Those who fought at Bunker Hill.
and wrote their names in large letters in
independence Hall, were not more thor
oughlv American than those who have sent
their commissioners to Washington to ne
gotiate the terms of annexation. Men of
our blood, familiar with our history,
united to us by common interest, hope
full Of Americas great future, they ask
that the American flag, the American
and the American laws
may shelter and protect them.
the expenditure of single
American life, or dollar of Amer
lean gold, they offer the rich prize,
this splendid possession of the Pacific,
to the American government, in trust for
the American people. Never was such u
prize before offered as gift to great ma
ton. Rome annexed many distant countries
by force of arms--often at an enormous
cost of blood and treasure, both of the con-
quered and the conquerors. Alexander ad-
ded to his dominions by vast campaigns of
and ruin. Great Britain, for u
has been constantly augmenting
her territory in India, in Egypt, and in other
quarters of the globe, by the strength Of her
arms. often at great cost of blood. Her
diplomacy and her treasury have placed her
in the possession of Hongkong of Malta, and
of Cyprus without ever taking the vote or
any form Of consent Of the people of those
valuable islands, and the domain she has
forcibly gained in the Pacific is vast IN ex-
tent. But these beautiful islands of the
North Pacific for seventy years have been
carefully watched by American state
men and nursed by Ameri-
can patriotism. American benevo-
lence and love of Christian civilization have
poured into them million and half Of
dollars as their religious and humane offer
ing. American merchants and American
government bounty have fostered theiI
prosperity by the expenditure of maLy mil
lions. By contiguity of interests, of water
and the necessary laws Of inter-communi
cation, they belong to the American system
of states. For strategical and commercia
purposes they are more valuable to the
United States than are Cyprus, Malta and
Bermuda to Great Britain. So Adams ant
Webster, Clayton and Marcy, saw many
years ago. SO Seward and Blaine clearl,
perceived at more recent dates. So Bay
ard and Cleveland must have understooe
when they issued their instructions, july
18th, 1887, to Minister Merrill and the ia
val commander, holding them responsible,
for public order, American life and prop
erty and American performance r.
Honolulu. Clearly, President Harrison
and the foreign relations committee ot
the United States Senate saw the grea
value of Hawaii when they gave their sigma
lures to the treaty of annexation. On those
islands is established an American colony
with a solid basis of American civilization
the creation of the sterling men and womer
who, many years ago. left their homes un
der the powerful inspiration of Christian
f.I hAa Yhop xlay ,fa.,
by men of industry and of commerce
These persons took with them American
ideas and American sentiments. In non,
of our American states is there more ear
nest, more loyal American people. The,
look to the flag which their fathers reared
and consecra;cd to American liberty anc
good government for protection. Tbey
stretch out pleading hand to this might,
nation of freemen not to abandon them il
the days Of their imperative need. Th,
American people hear their cry for sym
patty and support. Shall they plead IL
vain? What wouli the leading nations o
Europe do in like circumstances? Woult
England, France. Germany or Spain aban
don their people, their colonies, mel
of their own blood in like s,res
of need? Those nations woul,
scorn any such abandonment o
thoHe of their own kith and kin to the pitt
less chances of relentless fate. Some o
the brightest pages in the history Of Euro
pean nations are those that record thei
heroic defence Of their colonies abroad
Did Greece or Rome, pagan though the,
were. desert their country men in othe
lanil.t The Greeian and Roman citize,
and soldier would have looked ~ifh ineffa
bic scorn on such proposal. Humanity
patriotism and craftsmanship demand iha
the Hax allan islands should be at once an
forever placed under the American flag. BE
side the vast importance Of the America,
II Il .-s 4,