The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-02-18

illustrating the spirit In which. tbs
Hawaiian Government and its repre-
sentatives were continuously treated,
and bearing In mind that during ali
of this time the Hawaiian question -
was almost constantly before Congress,
and that the Administration support
ers in and out Of Congress Were con-
tinuously keeping up q systematic
abuse and detraction of all connected
with the Dole Government, Ii is easier
to understand what did, and why I
did the act now stated by Mr.. Cleve-
land to constitute abundant
reason for my recall
Ridicules an Insurrectfon.
Immediately after news OF the in
surrection reached the States the cue
of the administration was to minimize
its Importance. IL was characterized
as "a little riot' aud ridiculed a. "a
tempest 10 teapot" So sedulously
was this view presented that il appear
ed as though il might become general
ly adopted.
Knowing, as / did, the real serious
ness of the situation, and fearing that
my Government might feel it neces-
ssry TO impose extreme penalties up
on some of the leaders, as deterrent
example for the future, saw that il
the American public became impress
ed that the resurrection was an in
significant affair any severity of
punishment would cause Is reaction of
feeling against US. / accordingly took
pains to give to the press the fullest
information concerning the facts. This
had a perfect right TO do as the mat
ter was purely domestic. The state
ment made in the press that the
ground of the request for my recall
was because of my giving to the press
information contained in official dis
patches was without foundation.
All material in the legation aud in
formation possessed by myself con-
corning Hawaii which could b- pro.
perly furnished was at all tim. free
to all who chose TO ask for it, and vas
as available to those opposed to US AS
to our friends, but no dispatches seut
TO me for communication To the Stale
Department were ever given to the
press. Knowing the representative
ness of the administration I at all
times refrained from expressing any
refused invitations To go to dinliers or
other assemblages of political char
acter.
How the Press Got Important News.
On February II, 1895, representa-
tive OF one OF the press associations,
who had frequently called. came in as
| was reading the mail received that
morning from Hawai-, and made =
remark to the effect that the trouble
in Hawaii was "only a little fracasp
aud did not amount TO much. / re-
piled that he was mi-takeD; that it
was through no lack of intent on the
part of the 10y 7lisls thai the results
were not worse, and that there was
still most intense feeling over the
matter in Honolulu, ns ne could see
by the letters / had just received. [
tbereupon read to him from several
private letters, not with intent that he
should publish what was read 10 him,
but to .disabuse bis mind of false
impression. There was nothing said
about publication. There Was no
intention on my part that the refer
ences in the letters to the American
should he published,
aud they were not published; but the
press representative
treasured up such references and COM
them, either directly or
Indirectly, to Mr.. Gresham Iunder-
stand that IL has been denied that this
was the avenue of his Information. /
know that 1t was, for the letters TO me
were shown to no one else but the
newspaper man In question. In
speaking to me in relation to the mat
Ter later, Mr.. Gresham said, in ex-
PLANTATION of his possession of the
references: "Some of our newspaper
IrleDds have abused your confidence"
When Mr.. Gresham spoke to me con-
,erniDg the subject [ gave, in sub
stance, the foregoing explanation,
aging in connection therewith that
my self to be at liberty to
give out for publication facts Concern
Ing Hawaii, but that there had been
no Intention to give out for publ ca
ION any matter referring to the Adj
Grave Charge Against Gresham.
In his letter requesting my recall
Mr.. Gresham garbled and suppressed
my explanation, stating only that
claimed that the references in qnes-
ton were news which had a right
to give out.
l had committed no Intentional
breach OF diplomatic etiquette; but
knowing the spirit which animated
the administration toward everything
and desiring to prevent
friction, il possible. I rendered an
apology that the matter had come
through the legation, even inadver-
tently, and even though 1t had not
been published. Mr.. Gresham i'm
mediately requested an apology in
stating as reason that this
wassa personal matter between my
self and the President, and that be
ought to know exactly what Isaid.
The matter had been presented to me
Informally, and / saw no reason for
treating it otherwise on my part,
as did not know to what
Use it might be put in my absence
md without explanation, aud l &C
;ordingly declined TO make the writ
en apology requested.
That Is the whole story.
L submit that IL, in defending my
country and my Government against
he continuous attempts OF Mr.. Cleve-