The sun., 1895-02-10
John l.. Stevens and Anthony Hig-
gins.

There died in Augusta, Me-, on Friday
man to whom Americans in America and
Americans in Hawaii owe in common an
immense debt Of gratitude. In the SYM
pathy and legitimate Gid which JOHN l..
STEVENS, as Minister of the United States
at Honolulu, extended to the revolutionists
who overthrow the semi -barbarous mon
archy Of LILTUoKALANI, ne expressed the
sentiment that is at the bottom of the heart
Of this whole nation. The country should
be proud of him and proud Of what he did
The last two years of Mr. STEvENs's life
must have been saddened to some extent by
the brutal abuse poured upon him by the
entire un-American press, but his name
will be bright in history.
After Mr. STEVENS had been superseded by
the unauthorized BLoUNT and the duly ac-
credited WILLIS, and had returned to this
country, and months after The Sun had
chosen and pursued its course with re-
spect to the Hawaiian question and the
Policy OF lnfamy, we received from him a
letter, his first communication to us on the
subject, which it seems proper to print now
"AuoUsrA Me-. July 2s 1903.
ITO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: hope Il viii
not seem presumng II express TO you my sincere ap-
probation OF the ability, thoroughness and wise pa.
triotsm with which you the American side of
the Hawaiian question Personally have the strong.
est reasons forexpressng TO YOU gratitude which
shall cherish long this life lasts for the complete
ness OF your Vndicaton otmy course Honolulu But
motives and objects OF your OF the subject
rise Tar above any special regard for persons and par.
ties. SO far as am competent TO Judge, you have
considered every essential fact In the problem and
have met successfully every objection TO anne
With signal lucldity, fairness, and force.
How any Intelligent American, who has carefully
considered the relation OF the North Pacific to the
vast future American interest In that grand ocean do
man can be indifferent into whose control shall pass
the Hawaiian Islands, to you as to me is profoundly
astonishing. statesmankhp. humanity and civIliEa.
ton demand that those Islands shall once and for.
ever become Territory OF the United States
The reasons OF the hostility Of CLAUS sPRRcKEIs 10
annexation should be thoroughly exposed, There
have been many Infamous things touching American
political history. IL would be dlficut 20 rnd any.
thing more base than the efforts of this coarse unscr
pnlous' rich man, who has not a drop OF American
blood In his veins, and who nothing for Ameri.
can national interests to prevent Hawaii from passing
under the American nag and American laws
His determination to hold secure his refined sugar
monopoly In the Pacific states aud 10 push back tho
Islands under the rule OF the Hawaiian monarchy
that he can have a Government which he can DON'T
nate In his own interests especially as to the crown
I-Sua ana the kind OF population that shall come 20
RE islands-ths unscrupuOus aud wicked design, so
cruelty unjust to the true American sons who have
made the Islands in their laws. interests and best
aims so entirely American, hope you win continue to
expose with unsparing ndelIty. NoSt truly yours.
"JoHS L. STEVENS"
STEVENS did not live quite long enough to
see Hawaii part of the American Union,
but he lived long enough to witness the first
great step toward that inevitable result;
namely, the establishment OF the Govern
nent of the true American sons in Hawaii be-
yond the power Of overthrow by sPREcKELs,