Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-21
PRESS COM M ENTS.
Dishonoring the Flag.
Boston Journal

The full story of President Cleveland's
shameful attempt to overthrow the young
Hawaiian republic and reinstate corrupt
monarchy has never vet been told. Per
haps 1t never will be, but a statement
which Mr.. W. r. Castle, the new Hawaiian
minister, made to the Journal in the
course of his interview yesterday is an
Illuminating contribution to the history
| of that extraordinary episode.
According to Mr. Castles description,
not content with formally demanding
through Minister Willis that President
Dole surrender his authority to Queen
Liiiuokalani, = the Cleveland administra-
zion actually caused display Of armed
force to be made with view to frighten-
ing the members of the provisional gov
eminent. This is an amazing accusation,
bnt Mr.. Castle was an eye witness of the
affair His evidence is absolutely indis-
putable. 1e
When Minister Willis arrived and sub
mitted the letter in which President
Cleveland ordered President Dole to reln-
quish the Office to which he had been
chosen and restore Liliuukalani and her
absurd gang of polyglot Adventures to
power in Honolulu, there was very nat
urally great excitement. The American
cruiser Philadelphia lay in the harbor.
Would her crew be used to enforce Presi-
dent Cleveland's dictum? That was the
first thought of the American supporters
Of the provisional government They
were determined that the old monarchy,
with its barbariSm and Righteousness
should not be restored if they could pre-
vent it. They were prepared to fight, if
need be, rather than submit to the domi-
nance of that pagan horde Their lives,
the lives of their wives and children, their
homes and property were all imperiled.
Off their city lay great man of war,
the starry flag of their native country
waving over it. They had been accus.
toned to look to that flag for protection
and to ship which bore it as IL friend
But Grover Cleveland's mandate had
made this one their enemy. From the
shore Mr.. Castle and bis companions
could see long hines of sailors girt with
cartridge belts and bristling with cut
lasses and rifles, mustered on the Phiadel-
phia's decks They could hear the notes
of the bugle, the officers commands. the
preparations for landing. But they, too,
were Americans; they did not finch.
They did not know that that warlike
demonstration was only feint to over
awe them. They were ready to defend
themselves, if need be- even though at
tackled by their own fellow countrymen.
The firm front of President Dole's volun
teers convinced Willis and his accom-
plices that intimidation was impossible.
The spirit of Concord and Lexington
lived in those Hawaiians of Yankee blood.
The clustering array of marines and blue
Jackets was dismissed Grover Cleveland's
attempt to re-establish pagan dynasty
on the ruins of the PARKWAY Pacific re-
public was q failure
But what a scene that was! On the one
side merchants, teachers, planters, mis-
sionaries, sprung from our sturdy New
England race, who had built up BY wears
of toll prosperous and peaceful New
England community in those western
seas, on the other a motley crowd of ical-
Gus British sdventurers native beach
combers and cheap rufliians and vags-
bonds from every land beneath the sun.
who hated the Yankees and their rigid
laws and longed for a return Of the loose
and vicious days of the old monarchy.
And behind this rabble, encouraging its
clamor and supporting its cause against
President Dole and his fellow Americans
were the authority of the President of tn.
United States and the guns of the Ameri-
can flagship! No such spectacle had ever
been witnessed on this broad planet b, .
fore. 1t is to be devoutly hoped that the
Stars and Stripes will never again be
stained by such an ineffable dishonor.
It's American Doctrine.
ban gor Commercial
The Washington Post recalls resolution
offered by the Hon. William NJ. Springer
aud passed by the House in 1878 declaring
against any departure from the time hop