The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-14
STEVENS LATEST SPEECH.
THE EX-MINISTER TALKS ON
HAWAI-
A Strong and Cogent Argument in
Favor of the Annexation of
This Group.


June 29th. 1t was organized by sew.
eral hundred leading citizens, who
called upon Mr. Stevens to address
them upon Hawaiian affairs. The ex-
Minister spoke as follows
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle.
Msn-Clrcumstances outside Of NV
control, and no wish Of mine, make il
proper for me 10 have something to
say about Hawaiian affairs. Returning
to my old home after nearly four years
absence in a distant country, whose
cond ton and events deeply interest.
you, | feel assured that my I'D &C
quaintances and friends, whom ! have
known many years, will believe that
will speak only the plain truth, and that
no personal vanity but a duty to my
country and to the people whom have
just left, induce me to try to throw
some additional light on the Hawaiian
question, | trust you will receive my
assurances that | cannot and will not
speak from the standpoint of party
The kind Of public service which
have just left, and in which | have
spent thirteen years of my life, does
not admit OF partisan prejudices and
partisan aims When the diplomatic
servant leaves his own country tor
service abroad, he goes under the flag
lot the nation and not with the badge
OF a party As he sails thousands of
miles away, distance aud patriotism
very soon unite to cause HIM to think
only of the great American family
whose interests the minister is bound to
watch and defend against foreign rival
ries and intrigues.
! am, then, claiming no special
merit when | say that as an American
representative abroad have maintained
it as a cardinal principle OF my service
to recognize no home or domestic pol.
itics in my official action. Looking
through the telescope of distance, /
have been able to see only a common
flag floating proudly over the united
American nation.
Touching Hawaiian affairs at this
time | deem it especially fitting to
stand in this attitude 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 coun-
try have occupied common ground and
shown an American front to our foreign
rivals and an equal determination to
protect the American and native Ha-
walan interests in those Islands We
have said, in effect, if not in words, to
other nations, you may, if you will,
take possession of many islands in the
Pacific, subdue and improve them at
your will, but in these is ands standing
at our gates and fronting our coasts,
American rights and interests are be-
fore all claimants, the natives shall be
protected and civilized, and American
interests defended This broad Amer
lean claim to priority and superiority
has been equally maintained under the
Wings by Daniel Webster and John NJ.
Clayton as Secretaries of State under
the Democrats by President Pierce and
VIM. L Marcy, and by President
Cleveland and Secretary Thomas F.
Bayard, and under the Republican ad
ministrations by William H. Seward,
Hamilton. Fish and James G. Blaine,
Assuming the responsibilities Of the
Minister of the United States at Hon
olulu, in the light of these facts my
duty was plain, The records of the
Legation for more than half a century
indicated what my country had the
right to expect OF me, and that if per.
mltted American interests to suffer by
my neglect or want of courage, would
be held responsible. In no way in
terfering with the internal political
affairs of the Islands, cultivating the
best possible relations with the then
existing authorities, | carefully set my
self to thorough investigation of the
moral, political and commercial state
of affairs. This required many months,
for 1t was proper for me to obtain
thorough information in a quiet un-
obtrusve way. The result of my
observation was duly and consecutivey
communicated only to the Washington
department Of state. Everything bear
ing upon, or liable to affect the interests
of his own county, taking place in the
country to which he is accredited, the
minister is bound TO communicate to
to his government, even some things
which may be unsavory or seem puerle.
The records Of the Legation and my
investigation, during more than the
first two years of my residence on the
Islands, clearly indicated that a great
change had been going on in the past
fifteen years. To this change had
largely contributed, among other
causes, the extinction of the old Kane.
hameha race of kings, the election of
the Kalukaua family to the throne in
1874 and the prosperity and great
pr fits of sugar raising under the rec-
procity treaty with the United States,
The large increase Of G Jvernmtn
revenues, the low and irresponsible
character of the two last sovereigns,
resulted in astounding palace abuses,
and the appointment to official places