The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-20

mas been landed here Tor tnat or any otner
purpose. Under our Constitution, as you
are well aware. Congress alone has the
power to declare war. AS the President
distinctly announced that he would only
| act within the constitutional limits OF execu-
tive power he precluded the idea OF using
force and affirmed his declaration of Nov.
l. delivered through Secretary Gresham.
not to do anything which would cause in
Jury to life or property or any one at the
islands,
IF these visiting citizens who describe
the preparations, drills, etc, aboard Our
naval vessels, had made inquiry OF the Off
GERS In command their approximations would
have been promptly allayed by the infor-
nation that what they saw on that Friday
they could have seen on any third Friday in
routine drill namely. boat drill. fire party.
arm and away requiring the packing of
knapsacks' and other preparations which
Admiral Irwin of the 18th and 18th inst,
which contain the following point:
"FirSt-No different preparations for
landing have ever been made since 1 as
sumed command of this squadron than
those made by my predecessor, Admiral
riot and to protect the lives and property
of Americans and Englishmen.
,sa aSec9 on to the AZ; sdsoppage 3 OF shore re
p~recaution. suspend liberty to the crews
until l could ascertain whether 1t would be
prudent TO permit them to land without dan
ger of collision. After coming ashore and
having satisfied myself on that point, which
L did In less than ar hour, the order was
Third-On the 18th of December, as the
excitement on shore was very great and
as quite a mob had gathered at our usual
landing. 1 gave orders for our officers to
wear their uniforms on shore, which is the
usual precaution taken In foreign countries
In times Of great public excitement. 1t Is
proper to add that 1 had been informed by
Captain Rookie, of the British cruiser Cham
pion, that he had given a similar order.
Fourth The great guns OF the Phil
adelphia and Adams have never been loaded
since their last target practice at sea. The
usual harbor drills have leen kept up, as
required by regulations, the exception be-
ing that our men have not been landed for
the purpose of drill since my assumption
Fifth The reply quoted as made
by the officers OF the Philadelphia that no
one on board knew what orders would be
son that no order had been given
"TheAdmiral says In conclusion: AS you
are aware, / have studiously avoided doing
anything that would have a tendency to
increase the excitement prevailing in Hon
olulu, and / distinctly state that the naval
force under my command is in no way re-
sponsible for the feeling now existing
The only warlike preparations seem to
have been confined to one day.. Dec. l.,
and these. as just shown by Admiral Irwin,
were not subject to any unfriendly con-
struction. In this connection 1T may be
naval forces during the trying circum-
stances succeeding the oath Of last Novem-
Der. The many rumors rs 10 their pur-
pose of landing and attacking your people,
the feeling of resentment naturally result
ing from the honest beiief by a large part
or the community that such was their in
tentlon, the opprobious epithets that were
freely employed brought about such a
dangerous and critical condition that fora
time, as Admiral Irwin states, 1t became
necessary for all our officers going ashore
to wear their service uniforms as a pro
lection against insult and attack. During
able situation the demeanor of both officers
and men were one of forbearance n self
control.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH LII.
Il desire to state that the only communi-
cations OF a political character which /
nave had with the Queen were limited to
three occasions. The sole purpose of these
negotiations was, as you know, to secure
proper guarantees from the Queen as to
the property of all connected with the
overthrow of the monarchy. These having
Deen secured l then, under Instructions OF
tne president of the United States, pre-
se ent ms decisions setting forth the rea-
sOE. theretor and submitting them to your
government for its voluntary action.
,os ~ CaTter was invited by me to the
Is. He knew nothing, until then. of tho
interview of Nov. Il AS a native Ha-
wallan or American parentage, whose char
acter Tor integrity and Intelligence is ack-
noWledged in the community. | considered
rim a proper person. to be present. You
state; II was the almost we'll nigh uni
versal belief In the city that you were
about to attempt to land the naval forces
of the United States to enforce the execu-
non OF the Presidents policy My an
SWer Is that my government, one month
prior to the time referred to, had given
you Information negativing the idea of US
ing force and had authorized the publica-
uon OF such to allay any such
apprehension Furthermore, as frankly
admitted by you in this correspondence.
your government did not itself entertain
this apprehension
Touching the statement in paragraph %.
mat your government was refused per-
mission to forward Hawaiian government
dispatches by the dispatch boat Corwin, it
Is only necessary to remind you that the
naval officers of the United States and the
public generally were denied such priyi-
lege, and that no inference of unfrfendly
feeling should. therefore. have been drawn.
Moreover, at the time your letter was writ
ten you were aware OF the fact that, for
the accommodation of your government,
the Corwin had been delayed over half a
week.
LAS to the requests referred to in para
graph %. OF the British and Japanese con-
sul-general for permission to land troops,
they were, / am Informed, precautionary
measures against possible mob violence.
This permission is still outstanding and is
not now and was not then, in my judgment,
proper evidence of q hostile purpose on the
part OF our government.
I'm reply TO paragraph "a and also that
clause in your letter of the 9th, / have the
honor to state, upon the authority CT a
letter now In my possession, from the dip
lomatic agent of japan, that 1t is a mistake
in supposing that his offer of protection
was confined to prominent American sup
porters of the provisional government or
was based upon the fear of American in
vasion.' Mr.. Fulfil says, in his letter:
Many OF my neighbors. were nervous and
excited. being afraid of some sudden act
Of lawless people, and | deemed ii proper
to say to them that in case of immediate
need (his residence being in a somewhat
distant part Of the city, my consulate was
always at their service as a good friend and
nielghbor.'
MY answer to paragraph % is set forth
~ ,ax, raDIx, 20 oraC,onh 10 which ShOwS
that all the communications with the Queen
were fully, and, l trust, satisfactorily ex-
planned TO your government.
In paragraph 20 you quote from my ad-
dress of Dec. 10 submitting the views of
the President upon the Hawaiian question,
/ respectfully suggest that there is In this
address no intimation as to the use of
force.
Your paragraph q states: Upon the 23d
of December l replied to the foregoing
communication in the negative. Up to the
time OF sending you my communication or
Dec. q no further communication had been
received by me from you and no assurance
had been received that force was not TO be
used, nor what your further instructions
were concerning this government Let me
call your attention to the fact that at the
time your answer was delivered L notined
YOU that | would forward Ii TO Washington,
and nothing would be done by me until fur
Their Instructions. To this your reply was:
That will be very satisfactory to our peo-
pile
nearly two months residence In this city
you and your family have declined the
customary social courtesies usually extend
ed to those occupying your official position,
on the specified ground that it was not