Evening star., 1897-02-26
They Do Not Expect Action by Con-
gress This Session.
HISTORY OF TIE COUP D'EfAl
How President CIeve'and's Sympa-
thies Were Enlisted.
MR.. BLOUNT'S INQUIRY
special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.


Our government and public men are all
on the alert for taking any action that
may contribute to the possibility of Sc
curing the boon of annexation during the
expected special session of Congress. We
are not quite sanguine in our hope of SO
early a consummation of our desires. 1t is
evident that Congress will be very fully
occupied with the questions of tariff and
finance Matters that can well be postpon-
ed are liable to be deferred In the interest
Of a brief session. Yet We fancy it not
Unlikely that your statesmen will feel some
cagerness promptly to rectify this one
among other imperious blunders Of Mr..
Cleveland. who SO summarily withdrew
from the Senate our treaty Of annexation
negotiated in February. 1893 He lost no
time In crushing the policies Of the pre-
vicus administration, including what he
regarded as the nefarious Vaccinations of
his rival, Blaine, to annex Hawaii. He
felt sure that Blaine's intimate friend.
Stevens. had vflely compassed the over
throw of our gracious queen at his leaders $
prompting. Now. 1t seems not unlikely
that Mr.. Clevelands successors in power
may perceive fitness in acting with equal
celebrity to undo the indignity he inflicted.
Our government is awake and active to
cooperate with any such disposition. Two
Of our leading public men, l.. A. Thurston
ara Ien. "A. .. hartWeil nave prOceeucQ
to Washington. uncommissioned, but ready
to serve in any way that may arise to pro-
mote the good cause.
We Of Hawaii have deep provocation to
form unfavorable estimates of the merits
Of Mr.. Cleveland. His conduct toward Us
has been atrocious. Yet, for one, 1 am
well satisfied that. while prone to be mis-
led by strong prejudices and animosities
the outgoing President is a man of highly
honest Intentions, as we'll as of eminent
ability and force. In the case of Hawaii
his ear was adroitly gained at the outset
by the fallen queens emissaries, Newman
ana Macfariane who cunningly played up
on his well-known animosity toward Mr.
Blaine. They created at once in the in
coming Presidents mind a sense of Ger
tainty that his rivals man Friday had
played the rogue and employed the United
States naval forces to rob the native peo-
pie OF their queen and country and install
In power gang of usurpers Mr.. Cleye-
land went to Washington inspired by a
noble resolve to right the infamous wrong.
His first official act after getting fairy
seated was to jerk the treaty of annexa-
tion out OF the Senate. and almost his next
to hurry COL Blount out here, post haste
TO rake up proof Of our roguery.
Minister Stevens Conduct.
Mr.. John L. Stevens was for four years
my near neighbor. and enjoyed the privi-
lege of somewhat close ACQUAINTANCE
with him. found him a man Of transpar-
ent sincerity of character His earlier life
had been spent in the ministry of the Uni
versalist vel, Church. and he was deeply devout
ana God-fearing, an honest New England
puritan. With strong intellect and clear
discernment, 1t had become obvious to him
tnat the native regime was approaching a
speedy end. by reason of Its own decrep-
itude and corruption, and that whenever
1t fell 1t was highly expedient for the
SAFETY OF all concerned that the sover-
elgnty should at once pass over to the
Cnited states. who had for seventeen years
been fostering their American colony here
by means of the treaty of reciprocity,
which had made us wealthy, and bound us
to the home land by the broadest CONNER
cial ties. Mr.. Stevens constantly bore these
contingencies in mind and kept Mr.. Blaine
and his successor. Mr.. Foster, apprized of
all changes in the situation, especially dur
ing the very critical days of the long legts-
lative struggles of 1892.
To the actual downfall of the monarchy
Mr.. Stevens contributed by no act what
ever. On the contrary he was frequently
plain and urgent in rendering counsel to
both kalakaua and Liliuokalani to
strengthen their throne by fidelity to lib
eral and constitutional government. Had
his advice been needed, the native mon
archy would still be fourishing; but that
counsel was unwelcome and resented by
them both. especially SO by the queen
When her coup d'etat came on the 14th of
January. 1888, attempting to destroy the
liberal constitution and substitute an auto
q
surprise to Mr.. Stevens, as well as to the
liberal party. The minister had seen a
liberal cabinet in power for a month as the
outcome Of tedious struggle with the
queen. The business Of the legislature was
completed, the session evidently about to
close. and many Of the liberal members
gone home. He had become entirely satfs-
fed that public affairs were safe for two
years more and that his anxious watching
was at an end. He had taken a ten-days'
vacation. going to Hilo on the Boston, and
visiting the volcano. Reaching home on
the noon Of the coup detat, he was ap-
palled to find everything adrift.
Affairs were in utter confusion. The cab
1Eet OF the queens own choice were in con-
appealing to the whites to help
them resist ner mad proceedings. There
isting one being paralyzed by the queens
action. The whites had to take counsel
and create such government as could hold
things together. In such interregnum and
consequent alarm and confusion there was
the greatest danger Of riot. and the city
was in state of fear. One duty of the
American minister was beyond possible
doubt. 1t was established by the prece-
dents in the riot Of 1874, in the revolution
OF 1887 and In the insurrection of 1882 ON
each OF which occasions the forces of the
American warshlps were landed under the
standing naval mva order for the protection Of
der Mr.. Cleveland's Secretary, Bayard in
1889, had added for especial use in Hawaii
as being under American protection, the
words land for the maintenance of public
order"
The Coup d'Etat.
Mr.. Stevens followed those precedents
Seeing a conflict imminent, on the l6th in
conference with Capt. Wiltse of the Boston,
he caused to be landed 80 sailors and
whose officers were under the
orders to remain neutral in any
conflict of government forces, but to help
disorderly riot and preserve prop
erty. Those orders were strictly obeyed. |
After finding quarters after considerable |
search, the American troops kept on the |
streets and out Of sight. No cne then sup
posed that they were on shore for any
other purpose than to be ready to protect |
the city against riot, practice with which !
we had all become familiar on the previous |
occasions above named. When, however,
on the evening OF the following day, the |
queen and her followers found that sur |
render to the new provisional government |
had become unavoidable. they cunningly In |
serted into the letter Of surrender tine state |
ment that the surrender was made to tina
United States forces, although those forces
had made no demand, Ind remained pas-
sive throughout the day. In tine confusion |
and excitement OF the hot1I Mr.. Dole and
his associates attached no Aignificance to
that clause. thinking It . meIe rhetorical |