The record-union., 1894-02-16

est pleasure TO receive assurance to this
effect; but / submit that under the cir
cumstanees. and in the absence of such
assurances, they are capable of another
construction, to sufficient extent at
least to warrant the question which |
nave asked you in my communication of
December 9th.
"You finally ask my careful consider
atom of the following statement con-
tanned in my letter:
"'Your action has unfortunately
aroused the passions of all parties and
made it probable that disturbances may
be created at any moment, and say that
animation you y will feel at liberty to
affix your my official signature to such
an extraordinary deciaration.'
I'm reply beg to state that | have re-
sided in this country for nearly tifty-six
years, and had intimate personal knowl-
edge of the conditions prevailing during
the riot of 1874. and the revolutions OF
1887, 1889 and 1898, and with all delibera-
ton | state of my own knowledge that
a time when the country has been sub
lected to such strain and excitement as
during the eight days following the ar
rival of the Corwin.
1.-THE business OF the entire community
was practically suspended, and its time
and energy devoted to an exciting and
abiding consideration of the political
situation. and to military preparation to
meet unknown contingencies, which state
of things has since been fortunately al
layed by advices from America furnished
in reports of the Presidents special Ha-
waiian message to Congress and his in
structions to your EXcellency, informa-
ton which made satisfactory and favor
able response to the inquiry of my letter
to you OF December 9th.
81 also state with equal deliberation
that such condition was produced and
maintained by reason of your action and
declaration and the actions and declara-
tions of your Government and the cir
cumstances and uncertainties attendant
thereupon, as detailed in my letter of De-
cember 22d and herein.
II make the statement in no spirit of
unfriendlinesS to you or your Govern
ment, but as an historical fact which, if
not already known to you, should in the
interests of both countries be made
known to you.
I'm conclusion, beg to refer to the
statement in your communication of j an
uary lst, wherein you state that it is a
source of sincere and profound regret
that my letter brings for the first time
the official information that the warill
preparations described by you were
caused by and intended for the diplomatic
and military representatives OF the United
States.'
''In reply would say that such regret
on your part at receiving such informa-
ton cannot exceed the sincerity and pro-
toundness of my own regret that such a
condition should exist.
"Such regret on my part is only
equaled by inability to understand how
it has come about that Government and
community which is to-day more
closely connected with the United States
by ties Of commerce, friendship and
blood than any other lying beyond the
borders; which values your friendship
above that of all other nations; which
fully admits and appreciates the many
and deep obligations which 1t is under to
your Government and people; which has
done you and your country no wrong,
has been forced into position where in
defense Of their very right to exist they
nave been obliged to take up arms to
meet the possible hostility of that country
whose flag they revere and whose princi-
pies of liberty they love.
Il cannot but believe that it has arisen
through misunderstanding of facts on
the part of your Government and a mu-
tual misrepresentation of motives and in
tentions which may, l sincerely hope, at
an early day be cleared away"
Z Minister Willis replied to this letter on
the Sd, in an extremely friendly manner
seeking to show that the preparations
tax en- on board the ships were solely to
prevent disorder
On the arrival of the China on the 5th.
it was rumored that Willis had received
instructions to demand the withdrawal of
Dole's charge. But there was no sign
that such was the case up to the time the
Alameda left.