The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-06

Minister Willis told me he was sur
prised to meet so many broad-minded
| law-abiding and thoroughly intelligent
people in Hawaii. Willis is religiously
| inclined, and to a considerable extent
associated with the missionary ele-
ments in the island and came in con-
tact with the ablest men in Honolulu.
all of whom are strongly opposed to the
restoration of monarchy and especially
the queen, on account of her supposed
unchaste conduct. This class of citi-
zens were careful to see that Willis
was correctly informed of certain facts
that Blount did not choose to consider
after the steamer Alameda sailed for
San Francisco, and up to the time the
| Klickitat departed, a spirit of uneasi-
ness prevailed lest Willis was trying to
| throw the friends of the provisional
government off their guard and permit
the royalists to gain possession of the
| government buildings. While | was
visiting Commander Barker, of the
| Philadelphia, on Nov. 18th, an officer
came aboard from the Adams and
asked if a short leave was to be per-
| mitted Barker replied mo- and that
| the crews should be held in readiness
to land at moments notice Willis
told me just before l sailed that the
United States ought to take decisive
and immediate action, as the present
policy was running business interests
on the islands
The Honolulu Commercial Advertiser.
OF November IS, two days after Willis
sent out a, statement to the public.
relative to his instructions from Wash
lngton, and his determination to await
adVIceS before attempting to execute
the orders, came out in a strong edi-
torial and said: United States Minister
Willis was no doubt accurately re-
ported the other day, when he de-
clared that until he heard from Wash
ington no change will take place in the
present situation nor will anv be al
lowed: ANY attempt made by any per
son or persons to make trouble would
be promptly checked and punished
Were representative of any other
power near the Hawaiian government
to make such a declaration, there is no
doubt not only this government but
that of the United States would resent
II in a most energetic manner as an
unlawful interference with the internal
affairs of this Independent nation. We
90 not question the propriety of Mr..
Willis declaration; we simply point
out that the government of the United
States holds itself charged with the
special duty of maintaining public order
and security in Hawaii, to this extent
at least, that America has already ex-
ercised partial protectorate over this
country
The paper further says:
''Ex-Minister Stevens was merely
performing and obeying the standing
order of the state department given by
Secretary Bayard in 1890 to the Amer
lean minister in Honolulu, and caused
to be given to the naval forces there
whenever it was necessary for the
maintenance of public order Stevens
has been abused by the present Amer
lean administration for obeying Pres
ident Cleveland explicit orders. If
Minister Stevens is to be blamed for
his interposing last January, then much
more is Minister Willis to be censured
for threatening to punish disturbers of
the peace, which Stevens never did,