The Portland daily press., 1894-02-07
shown with brilliancy unprecedented
here. The day closed with very enthu-

shown with brilliancy unprecedented
here, The day closed with very enthu'
siastic mass meeting. The Executive
building swarmed with visitors to the
reception. No uniforms were seen except
were decked out with the weeks wash
ing and the men were kept aboard.
Some of the officers did not stint thelI
denunciation of Munster Willis.
Minister Willis was the only foreign
representative who made any reply to
the notices sent them of the reception;
To avoid the discourtesy of refusal
they treated the notices as mere notlfica-
tions, not invitations, and needing no re-
ply. 1t is learned that they were under
general instructions to avoid anything
offensive to the Queen, whom President
Cleveland had announced his intention
of restoring 10 have in any way partlcl-
pated in celebration of her dethrone-
ment would have been an offensive act
to her. Most of the consuls are in
sympathy with the provisional govern
ment, but were compelled officially to
follow the lead of Minister Willis.
The Advertiser voiced the view taken
of Minister Willis's course by the govern
ment. in part as follows: "The truth is
that Mr.. Willis found himself in a
dilemma. The entire its sovereignty and
independence of the Hawaiian government
having been recognized by the United
States. the American warships should
have fired a salute; on the other hand the
U nited States having demanded the sur
render of the government the salute
should not haved been fired. AS we are
at peace with the United States. Minister
Willis should have bowed and smiled at
the Executive building, but as we are at
war he should have barred his front gate
and gazed with defiance. Who shall re-
solve these contradictions? If Minister
Willis has not found any way out OF
the difficulty consistant with the usages
of diplomacy, the ordinary requirements
of courtesy, the dignity and power of the
great nation which he represents, the
fault is not his but his masters. 1t
would be absurd to suppose that Mr..
Willis denies the right Of this govern
ment to observe such holidays as it may
choose. 1t would be monstrous to
imagine that he or his government resent
the celebration OF a day which marks
above all other days the regard which
this government and it's supporters bear
to the United States.
"In the meantime, in spite of the
neglect of the United States Minister
Plenipotentiary, the provisional govern
ment still lives and pursues it's calm way
unmoved. 1t has not only survived a
year of trial, within and without. but it
has grown stronger, wiser and better,
and it stands today secure in it's strength,
in the brightness of its hopes, leading
away from despotism and pointing for.
ward to American freedom
The mass meeting was attended by a
crowd of several thousand people, at
tracted by the illuminations and fire
works. Two hundred incandescent lights
illuminated the square. Unlike the
defiant tone of the meeting of Novem-
ber 30, the speeches were hopeful and
congratulatory, and the audience
listened with the greatest en- thusiasm for
an hour and quarter.
The Bulletin kept its press going on
this holiday as usual, and scored the
government for its military expense of
$3.50, 900. "In one year their revolution, it
said, has blocked capital from entering
the country and bIighted ali the favor
able conditions that existed for a fair
years business. The first anniversary.
moreover, finds the party of the provis-
ional government torn by dissensions,
nienaced by its own INbbles and dis
tracted by score of conflicting issues
and cross purposes. Well may it be
asked, what are they celebrating? At
the same time. let them celebrate to their
hearts content, even while the sulphur
of their fireworks fills the air, the smoke
of tine approaching mail steamer may be
writing their doom on the sky"