Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-11-10

\ 8 lt
merce. and the protection of our vas
interests on the Pacific coast. de
mand that these islands shall b
owned and controlled by this country
Our statesman early made it know
to foreign powers that any attempt II
their part to interfere with thes'
islands would be regarded as an ac
of unfriendliness to the United States
We have always contemplated the
eventual control of these islands by
the United States, and our statesmen
have never been blind to their great
value. This was the view of Adams
Clayton, Webster, Marcy, Seward
Blaine and Harrison. In selecting
I Hon. John l.. Stevens. one of the
ablest diplomats this country has ever
known. for the position of minister to
the Hawaiian islands, Mr.. Blaine told
him that he regarded this as one OF
the most important posts in the SER
ti\S. uCiC 10 IlD uOuDt luai tiC 81 cat
secretary of state even then fore
saw the probability that the American
Anglo-Saxon capacity for popular
government, would control their po-
litical affairs in the near future, and
would, naturally. desire their annexa-
ton to the United States That he
fully believed that the best interests
of this country would be served by
such move there is no doubt. The
opportunity came, and President Har-
rison, appreciating the interests of his
country, was prompt to seize it. A
treaty of annexation was made and was
before the Senate when the Cleveland
administration assumed control of the
government. About the first act of
that administration was the with
drawal of this treaty. Then followed
the mission of Paramount Blount, one
of the most consummate Mnkheads
who ever attained any degree of
prominence in American affairs. The
story of how he was led about by the
nose by the English sympathizers in
Honolulu, and how completely he
played into their hands. is now mat
toriously partisan, its misstatements
We're so numerous and SO palpable,
that it excited the derisive contempt
of the whole country. and was con-
demned even by Democratic Con-
gress. Then came the mission of Will
lis with cordial words of friendship
and good will for the provisional gov
ernment of Hawaii to which he was
accredited. and private instructions to
enter into secret negotiations with the
barbarian queen for her restoration
to the throne! The very remembrance
of this infamous policy of treachery
and deceit is one that may we'll cause
the heart of every patriotic American
to throb with Indignation and bring
to his cheek a blush of shame But
the Cleveland administration soon
came TO grief. In accordance with his
Instructions Minister Willis called
upon the dusky queen. and unfolded
restore her throne" upon condition
that she would deal leniently with the
able and cultured American gentlemen
who We're in control of the government
but this the obdurate Lilioukalani re-
fused to agree to. She was anxious
for gore. and declared, with consider
able vehemence. that nothing but the
''beheading" of President Dole and his
associates would make her feel quite
like herself again. 1t is to the credit
of Mr.. Willis that he faithfully report
ed this amazing interview to the state
department. The administration
would have been better pleased if he
had been less jealous in the discharge
ol HIS uutleS. his report was Nefl-
table white elephant to the admins
tration. Both the President and Sec
retary Gresham. who began to realize
that his narrow hatred and jealousy
of ex-President Harrison had carried
him to extreme lengths--would gladly
have suppressed it if they had dared,
and, as matter of fact it required
second peremptory call from the Sen
ate to bring it forth. Its publication
created a sensation in the country. 1t
revealed in it's most hideous aspects,
the true inwardness of Clevelands
policy of infamy." The administra-
ton made haste to drop the whole
matter, and, it is said that, to this
day. the mere mention of the word
Hawaii in the presence of Grover
Cleveland is equivalent to prodding
bear with hot poker. or waving
red flag at a bull.
1t remains for the Mckinley admin
istration to complete the work so
well begun by the Harrison admins
tration. The Hawaiian islands should