Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-25

was manifestly impossible for me to then
reply to charges without knowing what
they were. Upon returning to Honolulu in
April. 1895, 1 ascertained that no charges
or request for my recall had been received.
Mr.. Gresham's letter, having miscarried to
Japan, did not reach Honolulu until April
80.
II Immediately made a full reply to my
own government; but, at their request,
withheld publication until my successor was
appointed. Before that occurred Mr.. Gresh-
am died, and it seemed inopportune to pub
lish controversial statement in which he
was involved. After that the matter soon
became ancient history, and. although it
left me in the unfortunate position of tacit-
ly admitting the truth of the charges, l
should have continued to keep silence had
not President Cleveland gone out of his
way to reasurrect the matter and drag
it into his message to Congress by stating
therein that MIR. Thurston having given
abundant reason for asking for his recall,
that course was pursued
Gist of the Charge.
whether there was abundant reason
for such course, involves the story of the
relations Of Hawaii and myself with Mr.
Cleveland and Mr.. Gresham for two years
Many details bearing directly upon the is
sue cannot give without making the state
ment too long. 1 will. therefore, only refer
to a few incidents that indicate what Mr.
Cleveland's and Mr. Gresham's ideal of
OlplOLudllC usage anu courtesy WaS-an IDEAL
which they consistently lived up to.
THE gist of the only charge made against
me in the letter requesting my recall is, in
substance, that 1 furnished to the Ameri-
can press for publication matter which
contained comments and criticism upon the
policy pursued by Mr.. Cleveland and Mr..
Gresham toward Hawaii.
Before stating exactly what did in this
respect, and why did it, it is necessary to
an understanding OF the situation to state
the facts leading up thereto, which began
with the first week of Mr.. Cleveland's in
auguration.
"At that time Hawaii was represented In
Washington by minister and five commits
sioners, all duly accredited and accepted,
who had formally negotiated and signed an
annexation treaty. action which was
pending before the Senate, while the rela-
tions between the two governments were,
as they always had teen. most friendly and
cordial
Immediately after the Presidents in
auguration information reached the Ha-
waiian representatives that he intended to
withdraw the treaty. Inquiry at the State
Department was met with curt refusal to
confirm or deny the report, and the first
and only news of the withdrawal by Mr.
Cleveland of the treaty reached the Ha-
waiians through the newspapers.
THUS was initiated the unique and ex-
traordinary policy of secreting from the &C
credited and recognized diplomatic repre-
sentatives Of a friendly government mat
tiers vitality affecting them and their coun-
try, and of allowing them to learn of the
intentions Of the government to which thew
were accredited solely through the press
1.-THE immediate and continued endeavors
by the Hawaiian representatives to ascer-
tain the Intentions Of the President were
met by frigid silence at the State Depart
ment, and the positive refusal to either
state what course the President would pur-
sue or to allow the Hawaiian commission
ers to make any statements or explana-
lions. Mr.. Gresham's repeated reply was:
When desire any information from you
will let you know Meanwhile the queens
agents were accorded full and confidential
audiences, and received assurances that the
President would do nothing until he had
made an investigation.
Bad Faith Charged.
From This time on the royalists were
kept fully informed of every intended move
contemplated by the President, Mr.. Blount
or Mr.. Willis concerning Hawaii, while the
Hawaiian government and its representa-
tives were kept In ignorance thereof.
THE intention to make an investigation
was soon announced in the press, but Mr..
Gresham refused to affirm or deny it to the
Hawaiian commissioners. Then the papers
| announced that Mr.. Blount had been ap-
| pointed and had started for San Francisco,
| whence he was to go to Hawaii on special
steamer. Still Mr.. Gresham refused to ad-
NIT or deny anything, or to grant our re-
quest to be allowed to send a telegram by
| the special steamer to the government in
| Hawaii. 1t was not until months after that
he would even admit to US that Mr.. Blount
had gone to Hawaii. although Mr.. Cleve-
land finally claimed that the investiga ton
| was basis for arbitration between Liliuo-
kalani and the Dole government. and that
| his decision to restore the queen was that
Of an arbitrator we were bound to accept
| Arrived at Honolulu. Mr.. Blount rigidly
adhered to the policy Of his superiors. The
| first and only information which the Ha.
| waiian government received concerning Mr.
| Blount's instructions was Cleaned from the
| columns Of a royalist paper in which they
were published in full over Mr.. Blount's
| signature, under the heading Of An Ad.
| dress to the Hawaiian People
| THE manner in which Mr.. Blount con.
structed the report is familiar history. The
secret and ex parte examination of Wit.
nesses; the compiling of affidavits hostile
to the republic. without cross-examinatior
| or verification Of the reliability Of the at
| fiants; the ignoring of nearly all Of the
| leading participators in the overthrow Of
| the monarchy and of the causes leading uI
| thereto; all these characteristics of the re-
port have been made familiar to the public