Evening star., 1895-03-09
Now at the Mercy Of Filibusters or
Asiatic Invaders.
LOOKING TO ENGLAND OR AMERICA
Some Misrepresentation Regard
ing Recent Events.
MR.. DOLE AND HIS CABINET
Correspondence of The Evening Star.

| Correspondence of The Evening Star.
| HONOLULU, February q. 1895.
1t was something of a surprise to our
community to read in the dispatch of Min
lister Willis, which the President sent to
the Senate. that Gulick, Seward and Walk
er had been condemned to death. No such
| sentences had been published here, and II
was very well understood that the govern
ment had decided nothing upon the subject.
| although it was believed that, as a matter
| of course, the military commission could
not have failed to. pronounce sentence of
death upon them pro forma. This, how
ever. was subject to the revision of the
| commander-in-chief, President Dole, who
| would be guided by the advice of his coun-
ellis. There has been a preponderance of
belief that the executive would feel able to
be lenient, although many of our wisest
men have doubted whether it would be
safe not to execute some of the leading
| offenders.
| 1t proves on inquiry, that Mr.. Willis had
been officially informed of the sentences
| passed by the military commission. He
could hardly have failed to be aware that
| these were not the final sentences decided
| upon by the government. Had Senators
been aware of this fact, perhaps some of
the expressions used by them would have
| been modified accordingly. We have, per-
haps, more cause to be displeased with an
other statement in the same dispatch Of
| Minister Willis: There is bitter feeling
here, and threats of mob violence, which
! the arrival of the Philadelphia yesterday
| may prevent" The following editorial
statement IN the Hawaiian Star of the 18th
correctly expresses the facts as they ex-
| listed:
This is not correct statement of the
| local condition at that time. In fact, no
| such status as indicated in the sentence
quoted existed at any period. While the
| attempt to overthrow the government was
actively resented, there was no bitter feel
| ing of the sort that would impel to acts
| of vengeance. AS to the arrival of the
| Philadelphia averting mob violence. or
| putting end to threats of summary
| movement. the Star asserts that such was
| not The case. 1t is beyond dispute that
| when the warship came into port the gov
| ernment was practically master of the
| situation. Its forces were united as a band
| of martyrs. There was no thought of any
| action except strict obedience to orders,
| maintenance of discipline and the conduct
of operations against the enemy in accord
ance with the rules of civilized warfare.
| Positively and absolutely, there were no
| signs OF any other happenings. The very
| first suggestion of mob violence comes in
| the sentence quoted from Mr. Willis dis
Patch"
The State of Public Feeling.
| At the date of Mr.. Willis dispatch the
| feelings of the community were still much
heated with their recent great peril and
| their severe exertions in the restoration
of public security. There very gem
erai and earnest demand for the condign
| ard speedy punishment of the chief con-
| spirators, whoever they were. No doubt
| this reached the ears Of Mr.. Willis. AS
| always at such times of public excitement,
| many Incorporate expressions were used.
| But there was nothing whatever portending
'.mob violence" or irregular action of any
| sort. The attitude of the very large and
! intelligent body of the supporters of the
.sr,t,I
| ont all this trouble, that of obedience to
orders and confidence in the constituted
authorities. 1t is much to be regretted that
| Mr. Willis should SO seriously have mis-
| understood what was passing around him.
and so misinterpreted the aroused and
| highly-strung feelings of our citizens as
| portending anything like disorder or law
| less action. There are few cities any
where possessing so strong and influential
| body of citizens of high character as
| those of Honolulu.
The Men in Command.
It seems fitting here to remark upon the
high personal character of our men in au-
| thority 1t is exceptionally rare that any
community is presided over by a set of
public officers so well adapted to command
| public confidence. This results from the
| fact that they were spontaneously selected
| by the unanimous choice of the committee
| of public safety in that hour of great social
and political peril two years ago. The peo-
| pie then laid aside all partisanship and
| paltry prejudices, such as anti-misSionary
| sentiment and picked out their most able
| and trustworthy men to take the posts of
| perplexity and danger Tine only subse-
Quent changes in the cabinet have been
| the substitution in the department of
| finance of S. NJ. Daman for p. c. Jones,
| who retired on account of ill health, and
| the addition of F. NJ Hatch in the foreign
Office which the president had conducted
| for over a year. President Dole and his
colleagues hold the confidence of the sup
pcrters of the republic in the highest de-
gree. There is no tendency to distrust
| them. They are known and read by all
| as among our very best and ablest men,
| Whatever cry for change may arise when
| public security opens the door for the pet
| ty scrambleS of low politics, in this period
| of peril these men are thoroughly trusted,
| and none but royalists desire a change
| Mr.. Dole is a typical chief magistrate.
He is calm, well-balanced, minded
| and high-minded He possesses superior
general culture and Judgment matured
| by long legal and judicial experience. He
| is essentially deliberate and inclined to
moderation, yet loving activity and enter
p,.se. OF the greatest kindness and benev-
olence of disposition and warmly sympa-
| thetic nature, approachable and magnetic,
| he inclines in the strongest degree to Glenn
| eLcy rather than severity. The American
public may feel assured that he will con-
| sent to no severity against the criminal
enemies of the government which is not
clearly necessary for the public safety.
Extent of the Rebellion.
Misrepresentation which is highly dan
gercus to us is that of characterizing the
late insurrection as a mere riot" which
it was in no sense whatever. 1t had no
characteristics of a riot, unless its weak
ness was such. 1t was a carefully organ
lied military movement, which failed to
assume very formidable proportions, be-
cause the rebels got to fighting before the
hour agreed upon, and before their numer-
a-fi.. in ,itx
ready to cooperate. Had Wilcox let the
police alone at Beotelmann's, and kept
|. quiet until the morning hour appointed,
and then entered the town and delivered
his attack, with Nowlein, upon the govern
ment buildings at daybreak, they would
have been joined by several hundred 9TH
ers, and the streets would have run with
the blood of both parties. No doubt the
superior organization, discipline and cour-
age of the whites would have prevailed
but not without great loss of life, as we'll
as destruction of property. We were ex-
tremely fortunate in having escaped a
great disaster. We shall prove ourselves