The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-11
Professional RevOlutiOnists the
Bane of Hawaii
TOO LENIENT TO TRAITORS
Minister Thnrston Talks of the Island
Troubles.
The Policy Of the Government Is Not One of
Revenge, and Punishment Will Be Melted
Out Only to the Guilty.

Washington, Feb 10.-L. A. Thurston
the Hawaiian Minister, being asked
whether he had any information concern
ing the alleged sentencing to death of
some of the leaders of the late Hawaiian
nsurrection and whether, in his opinion,
such sentences, if given, would be car
ried out, made the following statement:
81 have received no direct communica-
ton concerning the sentences nor do |
know precisely what action will be taken
but from my intimate acquaintance with
all the Hawaiian authorities and their
characteristics and methods, I can state
positively all trials will be open and fair;
that the accused will be allowed the as
sistance of counsel of their choosing who
will be allowed the fullest right of cross
examination and of defense; that there
will be no convictions which are not
based upon the clearest evidence.
''If there is any particular policy in
which the Hawaiian government has
erred in the past two years it has been in
having been too lenient in dealing with
those who have continuously schemed to
overthrow it; first by strategic diplo-
macy, and then by force.
From its inception the government
has exhibited leniency toward its ene-
mics that is unparalleled in history.
This extreme leniency has been feature
of the administration of President Dole,
which has caused criticism from many of
his. strongest supporters.
II will state few facts in substantial
ton, of what 1 say: The penalty for trea-
ha 1a+i 10 ho art1 NV
of the monarchy, was death and confsca-
ton of all property. On the Goth of
January, 1893, three days after its crea-
ton, the provisional government pas sed
an act providing an alternative penalty
for treason of fine and imprisonment
and otherwise mitigating the harshness of
the former law.
"Was there ever before known a gov
ernment, scarce seated in power, in the
midst of enemies, involved in all the
multitudinous plans of reconstruction of
the entire system of government,
devoting it's first moments to mitigating
the penalties which might be visited upon
its enemies if they undertook to overthrow
it?
again, although the revolution of
1894 was caused by the attempt of the
Queen to abrogate the constitution and
dsfranchise nearly every person connect
ed with the new government, she has
since been treated with the utmostconsider-
alton by the government. She has
occupied her comforta BILE residence
in Honolulu, within block of the execu-
tive building, in peace and without m OIL
estation, while she has publicly
and privately plotted for the overthrow
of the government, and finally made an
arsenal, in which were discovered forty
rifles, two dynamite bombs, pistols
swords and ammunition in quantities.
Again, although Liliuokalani has made
no claims for compensation, the anneXa-
ton commission, in the interest of har-
mony and to avoid even the appearance
of harshness, secured the insertion in the
proposed annexation treaty of clause
giving her an annual pension of $50, O00
and, until she began to openly work for
the overthrow of the, government, the
salary which she had received as Queen
continued to be paid to her by the pro-
visional government; and until Princess
Kaiulani came to Washington to work for
restoration she also continued to receive
allowance.
1.-THE ex-Queen has twice applied to
the government for protection against
supporters of the government whom she
feared might do her harm, one of the
times being when she was in the act of
negotiating with Mr.. Willis for her resto-
ration and the overthrow of the provis-
ional government. Upon both occasions
q squad of police was detailed to guard
her from harm for as long period as she
desired them. Her only response to all
this treatment has been the beheading
proposition made to Minister Willis and
continuous plotting to overthrow the
government, eliminating in last month
insurrection.
The Royalsts have been allowed and
have repeatedly availed themselves of the
privilege to associate unmolested in the
public square in front of the executive
building at Honolulu, and unrestrictedly
to pass such resolutions as they chose
condemning the government, protesting
against annexation, against the constitu-
ton and the republic and declaring in
favor of the restoration of monarchy.
lone of the serious features of the stu
alton in Hawaii is that number of lead
ing insurrectionists are what NAV be
called professional revolutionists. The
rank and file are ignorant dupes Wilcox,
the military leader in the last insurrec-
tion, is mentioned as one OF the
leaders. Wilcox's doings on the islands
in the past decade, in which he is put
down as u turncoat ready at any minute
to support the side which best suited his
purse, is cited as one of such a class.
This is fair sample of the material of
which the leaders and organizers of the
late instruction are composed Most of
them are foreigners. Their class and
Z character is that kind which furnished
the Commune in Paris and the anarchist
riots in Chicago.
What is the government of Hawaii to
do? is the government to condone every
pffense that can be committed against
government and capturing insurrection-
lists III tnc act Of shooting down its cti-
zens, allow them to again go free to re-
pea. the operation at tho first convenient
orm,.:anity
amid hostile environment, amid op-