Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-05
AT THE CAPITOL
The Alleged News From Hawaii
Generally Discredited.
FTRUE. ACTION WILL Be TAKEN ATONCE
Senator Frye Tells Why He Thinks
the Rumor Absurd
SOMETHING OF A SENSATION.

The dispatches from Honolulu announcing
that Mr. Willis had demanded that the pro-
visionai government surrender their au-
thority to the queen has caused considera-
BILE of sensation at the Capitol, the friends
OF the administration. especially those Of
the foreign affairs committee Of the House,
expressing doubts as to its truth, but the
general opinion is that If it is true 1t will
change the face Of things in Congress and
that there will be immediate action on the
matter. Apparently II Mr.. Willis has re-
quested the provisional government to step
down ard out the administration has been
taken by surprise. The understanding Of
those men In Congress who have been act
ing for the administration is that the In
structions sent by the Corwin, which ar
rived in Honolulu on the nth, were for MIR
Willis to take no further action pending the
consideration OF the question by Congress
Upon this Information they are inclined to
doubt the statement in the dispatch. These
instructions. however were based upon the
refusal OF the queen to grant amnesty or
TO ascend the throne without the support of
the United States to maintain her.
III the Queen Has Changed Her Mind.
If therefore the queen has changed her
mind and decided to accept the offer Of Mr.
Cleveland to the conditions imposed 1t is
entirely within the scope of possibility that
MIR. Willis would act upon his original in
struction. regarding the later instructions as
applying only to the condition existing
while the queen was obdurate. There ap-
pears to be no reason to question that Con-
gress will very promptly call the admins
tration to account If 1t proves to be true
that MIR. Willis has proceeded to carry out
his original instructions. 1t is only upon
the representation made that nothing had
and nothing could come of Mr.. Cleveland's
ministration has been able, thus far, to
avoid adverse action by Congress.
Members Of Congress generally, however.
shook their heads and questioned the truth
be mere rurnprs. picked up by some ship
captain, that had grown in volume as they
came further from Hawaii.
Senator Frye's Opinion.
Senator Frye said to a Star reporter: TT
Is too absurd to be true. 1t is beyond COM
prehension how a minister of the United
States. with the intelligence with which
Mr.. Willis Is supposed to be endowed.
should demand abdication Of the provisional
governmentnas the dispatches say, in the
name Of the government Of the United
States l cannot believe that Mr.. Wits,
with his acquaintance with American his
tory, should for an instant assume that he
Is acting in behalf of the government of
the United States when the Congress,
which Is so important a part of the gov
eminent, has not only refused consent to
the restoration of the queen, but has taken
action distinctly in opposition to that prop
osition.
Il can conceive of no such possibility az the
peaceful surrender Of the provisional govern
ment. The idea that the queen should prom
Use amnesty TO two or three thousand
Anglo-saxons, armed With winchesters and
step down and out for her is too absurd tn
oe believed for moment. Mr.. Willis is a
man Of Intelligence and do not think that
ne. with the knowledge Of the sentiment
here that by this time he must have could
have made such an egregious blunder."
This sentiment is the prevailing one and
there are few who express any belief in
the assertion that Minister Willis has taken
the step which Is reported in the dispatches
A'Declaration of War.
Mr. Boutelle was prepared to say some
thing today in the House had the oppor-
tunity presented itself upon the news re-
ported from Honolulu ten days after the ar
rival Of the Corwin, to the effect that Min
lister Willis had requested the provisional
government to surrender Office, as the
United States government had decided in
favor Of the restoration of the queen.
lHdt Iact supports my contention at the
time the Presidents message was sent to
Congress, said Mr.. Boutelle, that no.
where did II contain the slightest fntima-
tion that his intention to restore the queen
had been abandoned. His plans had received
a check. he did, indeed say, but 1t was be-
cause the queen had refused to agree to the
plans proposed. Now. 1t seems they are
agreeable to her.and the provisional govern.
ment is so informed. The dispatches say:
No force is to be used What is the need
of any more force? Willis assertion that
my government has decided to restore the
queen is sufficient. 1t is a declaration of
war If ever there was one" And then Mr.
Boutelle retired to the hall of the House to
see how the vote on the order Of debate on
the tariff bill was progressing.