Evening star., 1896-02-21

for himself some proposed protection of
the forests on the northeast side Of Mauna
kea. These extensive woods have during
the past fifty years been 30 greatly reduced
by the destructive ravages Of the half
wild cattle that the streams have dried I'D
and the rainfall has been reduced. to the
great injury of the plantations. From that
point the president was to rejoin his wife
In Kona, returning to Honolulu early next
week.
The Willis Incident.
An unpleasant difference between this
government and United States Minister
Willis has been elicited by the return, on
January IL. of the anniversary of the over
throw Of tine monarchy, to which event the
republic owes its existence, and which 1t
accordingly observes as a holiday. Accord
Ing to custom on government holidays the
diplomatic representatives Of the different
nations were invited to participate, as they
usually do, by displaying their flags, and IL
one of their national ships be in port, by
saluting.
On receiving the invitation Mr.. Willis con-
ferred with his British. French and Japan
ese colleagues Of the diplomatic corps and.
as Is well ascertained induced them to send
reply that they would not participate in the
holiday, for the reason that their govern
ments had never extended official recogni-
ton to the provisional government, which
was established on the day commemorated.
Mr.. Willis was unable himself to assign a
similar reason for declining. because Presi-
dent Harrison had recognized the pro-
visional government, and President Cleve-
land had accredited to 1t both Mr. Blount
and the present minister. Minister Willis
accordingly replied by acknowledging the
invitation. adding that he would submit the
question to his government. He also with
held from delivery the Invitations sent to
him for Consul Mills and Captain Pigman
of the United States gunboat Bennington.
nf Want holt r1ovy
by the diplomats was painfully felt by the
government. The British commissioner soon
after took pains to intimate In an informal
way that he had misconceived the situation.
although he did not explicitly say SO. Our
foreign minister (COoper) addressed note
to Minister Willis. asking for some specific
reason for his denur in observing the day.
Mr.: Willis has so far avoided direct reply.
This government desires to know whether
Its right to designate holidays is subject or
not to the review of foreign powers.
The true reason Of the attitude of Minister
Willis is sufficiently obvious. He came here
in November. 1888, commissioned by Presi-
dent Cleveland to restore the queen, and
thereby undo and set right the grievous
wrong which the President had pronounced
to have been done by John l.. Stevens and
of january. 1888. The provisional govern
ment had been conceived in sin and brought
forth In iniquity" on that day by the
Hefarious conspiracy of Stevens and Wiltse
ms hou " liidt euect OHicldlly de-
clared on the 10Th of the ensuing December
when he demanded of President Dole his
abdication of office. Now he Is asked to
participate in celebrating as honorable and
beneficent the event which he had de-
nounced as an infquity. Surely he had cause
for hesitation. Mr. Willis has deported him.
self in friendly manner, and done much to
bury the past, but, unhappiiy. the past Is
liable to be unexpectedly revived
IhlS government and its supporters hold
In the highest honor the memory Of the day
when their exemplary courage and patriot
ism overthrew foolish and wayward queen
and established honest and liberal govern
ment They absolutely deny any partici-
patton of the United States naval forces in
that act. The present government of the
republic owes Its existence to the revolution
then effected. They are bound In honor to
observe the day, and propose to do So If
the American minister is by his past record
debarred from participating in the COM
memoratiOn of triumph of liberal fnsti-
tutions over despotism. that is his misfor-
tune.
The Boston.
Two days ago at noon there swept around
Diamond Head and into our harbor our old
friend, the L. S. S. Boston, whose forces
were interested and sympathetic observers
of that glorious revolution. We have a spe-
cial and permanent interest in that shin
Was 1t good omen that just as she came
IN our tedious. murky. southerly weather of
SIX weeks past suddenly gave place to
bright, cold, nOrtherly trades which we
always welcome" May the breath of north
ern liberty and enterprise ever blow freshly
over these tropical islands!
KAMEHAMEHA.