The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-14
EPISODE OF THE FOURTH.
An Attack on the AdminiStra-
ton Is Warmly Re-
Sented.
MADE THE SPEAKER DEsIST,
ProrogatIon OF the Chairman Exer.
CiSed to Check a Political
Speech.

HONOLULU, Hawaii, July 5.-A pain
full alteration interrupted the exercises
at Independence Park in celebration of the
Fourth, and the anniversary of the birth
of the Hawaiian republic. The parties
were American Minister Willis and the
distinguished lecturer, Joseph Cook. LID.
Mr.. Willis was officially presiding on the
occasion. He called Cook to order in the
middle of his address. The sympathies of
the audience were manifestly with the
Minister.
The occasloning circumstances were that
Mr.. Willis had distinctly stipulated
month ago as an indispensable condition
of his presiding, that the celebration must
be exclusively American, and no Hawaiian
politics must be introduced. His official
position forbade him participating in such
mixed celebration as many proposed on
account of the same day being the birth
day of the republic of Hawaii This was
conceded to be reasonable and fully agreed
to and sought to be carried out. DIR. Cook,
subsequently arriving kindly consented
to add an address on that occasion if time
permitted before the departure of the
steamer on which he was going to New
Zealand.
Possibly from ignorance of the Iimita-
tions agreed on, he chose for his topic
the present conditions of the republic of
Hawaii. He especially commended the
absence of caste or race distinction in
Hawaiian politics. He strongly repro
bated these elements in Southern politics,
and employed the tone of Northern superb
ority to the South, which obviously must
have been extremely offensive to South
ern Democrat like Mr.. Willis. He insisted
on the necessity of New England princi-
pies dominating Hawaii. He urged all
citizens to register and vote, expressing re-
gret that many were deferred from doing
so by apprehending unfavorable conse-
quences from the hostility of the Wash
ington administration.
The Minister had endured in silence nm
to this point. The unfavorable allusion to
the administration which he represented
brought him instantly to his feet. He ad-
ministered severe reprimand to DR.. Cook
in a strong tone, declaring the whole ad-
dress out of place, and that he could not
be allowed TO conclude it. That this was
exclusively an American celebration of
the day, and not an open political discus
sion. He said it was uniting for Dr. Cook
to urge his exclusive Boston opinions upon
a cosmopolitan community like that of
Honolulu.
The Minister'S remarks were repeatedly
and vigorously applauded by the audience.
DR.. Cook demanded that he be told what
he had said that was improper. The Min
lister replied that the whole address was
improper on that occasion, although else.
where he might have listened to it with
satisfaction. DR.. Cook rejoined that Min
lister Willis had disparaged Boston, which
had rendered some service in the war for
independence. Mr.. Willis replied that he
held Boston in the highest esteem. DR..
Cook then said with emphasis that he was
not accustomed to being put into strait
jacket, nor to being gagged.
The speaker then proceeded for only a
few minutes, dealing mainly in general
tiles. lie was obliged to hasten away to
reach the steamer which was then leaving
the wharf. Noapplause followed DR.. Cook
as lie left the hall.
General opinion justifes the action of
Minister Willis. The daily papers are a
unit on his side. Had he made no protest
he might have been liable to official GEN.
sure. Possibly less vehemence and more
courtesy of manner might have been pre-
ferable in calling the speaker to order, but
the Minister had undergone very irritat-
ing ordeal, and probably the speaker would
have failed to be reached by any tone Of
moderation, being a person of great ag-
gressiveness.
Fourth of July being the anniversary of
the proclamation of the republic, Presi-
dent Dole, on the afternoon of that day,
by advice of the Council of State, gave
release, subject to remand by order Of the
President, to forty-five of the late insur-
gents.
Four other prisoners, sentenced for
various crimes, were given full pardons
for meritorious conduct.