Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-07-06
Ex-MlNIsTER STEVENS.

He Explains His Connection with the
Hawaiian Revolution-A Communication
From The Queen-He Raised the Amer
lean Flag ~ Symbol OF Our Superior
Right to Protect the Hawaiian Govern
ment-Salutary Eject.
AUGUSTA, Me-, June S0.-Hon. John
L. Stevens, late United States minister
to the Hawaiian islands, In an address
last night. said, in part:
am claiming no special merit when say. -
an American represen tative abroad. have
maintained il as acardfnal principle OF my serv-
ice to recognize no home or domestic poiiticS
In my Official action Looking through the
telescope OF distance I have been able to see
only q common flag floating over the American
nation.
Touching Hawaiian affairs at this time.
deem it especially fitting to stand in this afta-
tude of an American only. fully recognize
and am glad to recognize, that In the seventy
years Of American relations to the Hawaiian
islands. the great parties OF this country have
occupied common ground and shown nrm
American front to our foreign rivals and an
equal determination to protect American ana
native Hawaiian interests in those Islands.
The monarchy died by its own revolutionary
hands. suicide OF blindness and fncompe-
tency. The manner in which the Hawaiian
monarchy came to its end, and the cfrcum--
stances which caused the landing Of the United
States naval fores ut Honolulu January To-
have already been stated In my address at San
Francisco As q matter of curiosity, bearing
on this point, which may interest you some
what Will read communication addressed
to me by the queen. signed by herself and by
the four ministers who had been closely fden-
titled with her in her revolutionary proceed
ings:
THE QUEENS COMMUNICATION
1.-THE assurance conveyed by q royal proc
lamation by myself and ministers yesterday
have been received by my native subjects. and
by them ratified At q massmeeting which re-
suited In q different spirit by the meeting. rep
resenting the foreign population and interests
in my kingdom. 1t Is now my desire to give
your excellency, as the diplomatic representa-
tive Of the United States Of America at my
court. the solemn assurance that the existing
constitution will be upheld and maintained by
me and my ministers; no changes Will be MADE
except by methods therein provided. desire
to express to your excellency the assurance Of
the spirit of friendship which has ever existed
between my kingdom and the government Of
the United States of America and which,
trust, will long continue"
Mr.. Stevens continued: This earnest. plead
ing document from the fallen monarch came to-
me more than twenty hours after the Boston's
men had landed
COULD NOT TAKE SIDES.
An hour later the fallen ministers came to
the legation and urged on me the inquiry II L
could not use the United States forces to sus-
tain the queen. My answer was that the
United States sailors were on shore to protect,
American life and property. and could not take
sides in aid of the fallen monarch nor with
those who were then masters of the situation
and were creating anewgovernment.
THE raising OF the United States flag over
the government building took place two weeks.
later, and on that transaction there Is some
Misrepresentation which was proper for me to
correct. You may be assured that it was not
hastily nor thoughtlessly done. It was done
with all the sense OF responsibility that the
Ty,s% q -g-xA- n ~.
command. Capt. Wiltze and the American min
lister were in complete accord in raising the
flag February 81. He knew the situation thor
oughly. The provisional government made
the request that it be done, and these were
the reasons:
Mr.. Stevens detailed the situation Of
affairs on the island at this juncture,
the fears of panic and rioting, etc, al
luded to the rights claimed by our gov
eminent on the island and the proba-
BILE landing of English troops as soon
as war ship from that country ar
rived, all rendering it necessary to-
raise our flag as symbol of our supe-
rior right to protect the Hawaiian gov
eminent. This was done, said Mr..
Stevens, and the salutary effect was
immediate, and remarkable quiet, con-.
fidence and perfect order resulted.
am but too glad to elieve that the present
administration has no thought of giving up thie
vantage ground. to which the bold and vigorous
dispatch Of Secretary Bayard approved by
President Cleveland. to Minister Merrill, July
II, 1887, SO powerfully contributed
The Hawaiian monarchy has been especially
injurious to the welfare Of native Hawaiians-
The government and those supporting 1t de-
sire annexation. Hawaii is in reality an Amer
can colony, closely identified with American
interests and governed by American IDEAS
American laws. American iudicials and de- =
cisions. Now this rich prize Is freely offered
u.s. cannot think 1t possible that our people
IND oi1rS ct yrfll refl,aa 10 IL