Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-12
THE SAGE OF HAWAII.
A Talk With Hon. Jchn L. Stevens 1t His
Augusta Home.

In res pOnse to our ring white haired,
benevolent looking and somewhat bent and
spare old man opened the door. This was
John l.. Stevens, the arch-conspirator of
the mugwumpian imagination, or John
L." as he is famiiiarly known among
Augusta people. The mein of the man be-
spoke the student he is reputed to be the
man of one idea, for the time being. That
idea is Cow Hawai- as it was easy to see
Don't you fad the cold weather severe
change from the islands Mr.. Stevens?"
Il don't go out in it much; stay where it
is warm replied the ex-ministar. And
indeed he apparently does stay"where it is
warm for around the sides of the study,
in which we sat, run steam pipes, and open
ing off the room is large addition nearly
all of glass which converges the suns rays
with telling effect. The temperature of the
room must have been at least ten degrees
higher than it ever is at Honolulu.
During quite an extended conversation on
Hawaii and the present relations of the
Islands to this country Mr.. Stevens spoke
most temporarily ard without luminosity of
President Gle and and hi, advisers. His
severe criticism was almost exclusively for
the monarchist, in the islands, and for this
he gave ample reason. Their party is
largely made up, he says, of 4 nondescript
Sc of adventurers, many of whom have
lie It their respective countries for their coun-
tries good and who prefer the monarchy be-
cause of the oppor .unities it offe 3 for getting
an ea.y living out of the world.
Of the character of President Dole, Vice
President Hatch, Chief Justice Judd Nil i.ter
Thurston and others of the pro, i.ional
government, Mr.. Stevens snasks most highly
Me- Hatch was educated at Bowdoin it seems,
while Mr.. Dole is well known as man of
Maine extraction. Many of the leaders of the
revolution were born in Hawaii, OF lers are
the second generation in Hawaii and all have
their homes there and their money invested
there. They have built schools and other
Institutions there. and to tell these men they
are not Hawaiisns is ri iiculous. By the
same test tens of Thousands of voters i 4 this
country are not Americans. Claus Spreck-
les, Ethe German Jew sugar king is the
fallen monarchy q principal supporter. His
reasons are not far to find. Under the old
regime and duty on refined sugar, with
his California refinery. he has monopoly
of the Pacific coast sugar trade, worth mill
ion year. Under annexation Spreckles is
naturally fearful that the duty on refined
might erect refinery at Honolulu. Then
ie is much easier to handle q corrupt court
than it would be to purchase the favor of q
body of self-respectipg men like the provis-
ionsl government.
President Clevelard'J commissioner
Bloun' weLt to Hawaii with his mind made
up to make out case against the revolution.
In pursuance of this duty he went near n,
one bnt royalists and made no fort to obtsin
any evi lence on the other ride. Nordhoff,
the New York Herald correspondent, went
cut on the same steamer with ex.Consul
Gs neral H. NJ. Sewall to whom he took
violent dislike. Norihoff wrote his first
letter to the Herald before they arrived at
Honolulu. Nordhoffs son is 10 Spreckles'
employ, wi i n fact would seem to throw q
side light on the apimus of Ii, attitude.
All the best citizens among the British are
with the Americans on the question of an
nsxation. and 80 are the Germans. They re
cognizs that an horest and stable govern
ment i, what the islands most need. The
Portuguese, who have come in thousands
from Madeira ar d the Azores, also are large
| ly 10 favor of annexation. The best # lends
of the islands believe they should be freed
from their absolute dependence on sugar ~ =