Evening star., 1895-03-09

ish genuine attachment to the native
monarchy; their support of 1t is honest
ana nearly. Much and special allowance Is
certainly to be made for them in rising -
restore it.
wilcox, although half white, is hardly
entitled to this consideration. He has beer,
on all sides, and is without principle, or
honest attachment anywhere NoWlein ia
low in moral status, and, although CHIEF
leader OF the fnsurrection, has purchased
mercy by turning states evidence Gulick
ftickaro and Seward. who are chief con-
splrators, do not appear entitled to any
such consideration as is suggested above
Gulick was certainly animated by no pa.
trfotism or public spirit, or personal at
tacnment to native monarchy. Seward was
IN 1t purely as speculation, willing to
Dreak us all up In order to get some profit
able position. Rickard may have felt a
strong fankeephobia, but no patriotic sem
tlment or animating sense Of justice. The
question of allowance for political conyfc-
tons is complicated one, and each indf.
vidua! case will doubtless receive special
consideration. At the same time 1t is plain
that men cannot because of their politicaI
convictions. be allowed with impunity to
make war upon free and just government
ana attempt Its overthrow by violence and
slaughter. 1t must also be borne In mind
that their undertaking involved as a neces-
sary result the condign punishment of all
the members of the government of the re-
be completely crushed and annihiIated or
the restored monarchy would not be safe
for moment. The republic is now dealing
with prisoners who are not mere senti-
mental opponents. They are its most dead
ly enemies, animated by the desire and pur-
pose to destroy President Dole and ali his
supporters 1t is all very well to talk
about political" offenders. We are grap-
pling with a body of bitter and deadly foes.
Encouragement From America.
There is. however, another element in the
case which works both for and against
leniency to these prisoners. That is the
fact that they have been acting under
powerful encouragement from the Presi-
dent Of the United States. who indorsed
and maintained the cause of the ex-uueen
more than year ago as that of right and
justice. He has since made no conceal
ment OF his continued conviction thereof.
There Is no doubt here that the queen and
her adherents understood and believed that
the withdrawal of naval force was for the
purpose OF encouraging and facilitating
such an uprising as was attempted. With
the Presidents Endorsement and encour.
agement In their cause. why should not
these insurgents feel that cause to be q
just and noble one? And must not that
belief work strongly in mitigation of their
guilt?
On the other hand. such misguidance
would seem to make their offense more
dangerous and its correction a more i'm.
perative duty. What is to be done? Mr..
Willis can hardly do less In the rebels be-
half than to plead for leniency toward
.,
having been the Presidents original in
strument in declaring Mrs. Dominis' right
to be restored. Only fifteen months ago
the minister was assuring the queen that
she ought to be restored, that she had
been unjustly deposed. He also demanded
that she should be restored. Now her ad-
herents have taken him at his word. and
to the best of their ability have tried to
carry out the convictions which he i'm
pressed upon them. How can Mr.. Willis
now do less than extenuate their offense
and ask for leniency to them as political
prisoners? .s.-.4e
Exile as an Alternative.
A considerable number of persons have
been permitted to make a free choice be.
tween leaving the country and standing
trial for misprislon of treason. Most Of
them have elected to take their departure.
majority of them leave on the Australia
today. We shall wait with interest for the
representations which. probably some Of
them will make of their experience of the
heavy hand Of the Dole government" It
would seem as IL the shrewdest policy for
these gentlemen would be to work for an
nexation. which would almost necessarily
involve general amnesty to them ALL
Of Of the I'm
have received them by telegraph. Gulick
and Seward get long terms of imprison-
ment and heavy fines in place of the death
penalty appointed by the military commits
sion.
The sentence of the ex-queen has not
yet been published. 1t is well understood
that the military commission imposed the
highest penalty of misprision in her case,
five years Imprisonment and 5000 fine
1 am assured that a special and modified
form of Imprisonment will be adopted in
her case, but i am unable to say what It
will be. Possibly she will be imprisoned
for time in her present quarters in the
executive building
In the actual execution of sentences like
those now fixed the probability seems
strong that remission or amnesty may
bring changes at no very remote period.
KAMEHAMEHA