The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-21

Purport or the Despatch which Was with
held by the President.

held by the Pre- -iden,.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 20.-The witness before
the Senate committee Investigating Hawaiian
affairs TODAY was ex-Minister Stevens. who
is charged with having coercod the Hawhii-
ans and contributed toward the osta blishment
OF the Provisional Government by the use Of
the United States forces. The committee was
somewhat late getting to work. Mr.. Stevens.
who came to the Capitol with Senator Frye.
being present long before a quorum OF the
subcommittee made its appearance.
Mr.. Stevens's side OF this International con-
troversy hns been stated 80 fully in the press
and through addresses made by him self that
the public Is more or less familiar with it. Tho
only thing necessary to be done was for Mr..
Stevens to put under oath the matters Of
which tho committee had been advised I'M
officially. and to enter into those things which
could not be discussed In public This latter
phase OF Mr.. Stevens's testimony was BY far
the most important. and every precaution was
taken BY the committee to prevent any inkling
OF 1t from going beyond the committee room.
There has been much speculation since the
Presidents message was sent to Congress as
TO the contents OF the message from Mr..
Stevens to tho State Department which was
withheld by the President on the ground OF
public policy. 1t is understood that this letter
was one of those confidential commun ications
from diplomatic agents to thei- respective
Governments touching upon the SOL cal led In
trigues OF other Governments. Mr.. Stevens
to-day gave the committee what he supposed
TO be the letter referred to. and IL can be said
in a general way. that II related to the attitude
OF the English Minister in connection with
affairs at the Hawaiian Islands and his rela-
tions with the court OF the deposed Queen. 1t
is understood that the English Minister was
PERHAPS as near to the Queen as any
TO exercise great influence over her His son.
Mr.. Wodehouse Is the husband OF the half
sister OF Irlncess hRlulaui. who is the heir
apparent TO the throne in the event that the
depused Queen should Us restored. With this
British subject !elated to the royal family and
enjoying the power and influence that such
MIR. stevens said. what the effect would be
upon American Interests. and how they would
be subordtna!sd TO everything that was British.
The British Minister had lived on the island
for years, his family had intermarried to some
extent, and naturally he would be opposed to
any scneme that looked to the overthrow OF
the Queen or annexation to tho United atates.
i was said by Mr. stevens thg. the British
Minister. Mr.. WGdehOuse. was favorable 10 The
deposition OF the Queen. aud that he enter
tatnet an opinion OF her that was in keeping
KaiGlani should succeed her. The met6ods
used in disseminating this idea among the
people, and tho part played by the British MIN
lister. Is said TO have been an Interesting fea-
Mr., stevens also went into the subject OF the
personal character OF the Queen and those
mOny to the effect that all the reports limited
a. were more than true. and that the condition
Snsasonism to the IDEAS Of Eoraity tSat s sSr
mend themselves TO modern civilization. lie
also gave In detail the events happening long
prior TO the revolution. and furnished the COM
mittes with data and statistics pertaining to
the commercial wealth of the Islands, their
information concerning the literacy and con-
ditlon OF the people so lar as II might relate TO
tho subject OF seli-govsrnment
In response to a query put to him BY a mem
Der OF the committee. Mr.. stevens said that he
had never In his experience as a Minister ex;
erclsed an authority equal TO that exercised
by Mr. Blou1t in the matter Of commanding
the naval ollteeT on duty az nort where he
MED the authority oil the Navy Department or
any other official to place sueh authority ia
ment. and said that in his experience he had
always made IeIuest of such naval officer.
under tho general orders OF the Navy Depart
ment: AZ WAS the duty Of such officers to pro-
but the manner Of doing SO was left to their
In discussing the acts performed by him.
done was in the direct line marked out bY
Secretary Marcy in 1854 and by Secretary
Bayard in hi, Instructions 10 Minister Merrill
Ia 1881. lie had landed the troops simply Tor
tho purpose ct protecting American life and
property and no brought out the point that the
deposed Queen herself did not byheT acts. take
a contrary view OF the case. This part OF Mr.
hteyens's testimony touched on new RFounI
and was OF importance. lie said that fwenIy
two hours alter tho marines had been landed
and the queen had Teen deposed. she sent 10
marines TO he used IN her uehalt a request
which showed, NJ. stevens sad that the
marines a. Intended u he lnimtcai 10 her.
While on th- subject Of the landing Of the |
troops Mr. Stevens referred to the statement hi
Commissioner ElOunts report that his reply TO |
the request OF the Committee "a safety 10 land I
truOps could not he found on lie and said the !
intimatlOn " Mr ElOunt was obvious, There !
wa nothing Ia his intmatIou. however. for |
committee. Mr.. stevens said he should have !
ask ed apt. Niltss to land tho troops anyhow,
hai not the Committee asked him. The conii- |
tons We're critical nj the circumstances JUS |
tiled MIN in carrying out the standing instTuc-
tons 81 1857. such landing OF the tToOpH. he I
SAID. hal been made in lNt4 1851. aud 1881. |
ald wa on the eve Of being doEe on several Z
other ureAsicus-
Replying 10 Dir. Blounts assertion that be
had promised 10 assist the Com mittes u Safety /
h. L. IHH.a~ e a 49,