The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-09-16
ais rev. ] P. 1ytton,a Letter.


situation OF tho Islands. But The
Friend for September having follow
ell the Advertiser in attributing to
Bishop Willis the inspiration OF Mr.
Lytton's lstter to the West Plains
journal, ia spite of Mr.. Lytton's
assurance to the contrary, few
words seem to be called for.
The Rev, James p. Lytton is a
clergyman of high standing in the
Episcopal Church OF the United
States, who being keen observer
of men and things wrote for the
benefit of his former parishioners in
West Plains, Mo-, a concise and
temperate review of recent Hawai-
ian history. AS plain uuvarnished
tale OF the overthrow OF the Queen
in 1898, the article was so true that
the Government organ thought it
necessary to take some steps to
counteract the influence it might
havo on public opinion in the States.
So an article was run off in the Ad-
vertiser's favorite style be littling
Mr. Lyttou, as having furnished to
tho West Plains Journal not the re-
suit of an independent investigation,
but opinions CLEANED at second hand
from the Bishop. In these tactics
the Advertiser is followed by the
Friend, which even goes further,
and attributes the article itself to
the Bishop, prefscing quotation
therefrom With these words: Gas
Bishop Willis says through Mr..
Lytton.''
Now when gentleman OF high
repute writes over his own signature
it is surely the height OF discourtesy
in the absence OF any proof, to give
to another The credit of his writings,
and practically charge the writer
putting his signature to letter OF
which he was not the author.
1t therefore becomes necessary for
the Bishop to disclaim all title to
the literary laurels which the Adver-
tiser and Friend agree to bestow on
him, by attributing to him either
the inspiration or the authorship OF
a letter which has won golden opin-
ions for the writer. Not only had
Bishop Willis no knowledge that
the letter in question had been writ
ten until it came back to this coun-
try in typo, but he was not aware
that Mr.. Lytton was so accurately
posted ia Hawaiian history, 1t may
not be generally known that this is
not Mr.. Lytton's first visit to Homo
lulu. 1t was in the summer OF 1895,
when he paid visit to the volcano,
that he arrived at the conclusions
which are expressed in the columns
OF the West Plains Journal.
In one respect those conclusions
do not coincide with the Bishops
views. Mr. Lytton writes OF the
restoration Of monarchy as hopeless.
I he Bishop doesn't think so. 1t
is his belief that neither tranquility
at home, nor respect abroad, nor
commercial prosperity will be re-
stored until the Monarchy is rein.
stated The Friend says "the Mon
archy is dead aud rotten" How
can this be when the electorate has
shruDk to mere handful Of people,
because the mass OF the electors will
not take the oath of abjuration OF
Monarchy which is the condition of
the frauchise2 That being the case,
the NJ narchy must be very much
alive ia the hearts OF the people.
The fact is the Monarchy did no,
die on January II, 1893. 1t was
hurried alive, Minister Stevens pro.
tectiug the sexton and grave diggers
with U. S. bayonets, And so a re-
surrection is not an impossibility.
If the Editor ever turns for recrea-
ton to the Odes Of Horace he may
fad food for thought in a memora.
BILE line put into the mouth Of Han
nibal, rejecting on the futility ol
his efforts to crush the power OF
Rome LIB. ~, 4; 65):-"Merses