New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21
QUEEN LIS ABD1CATlON.
GENERAL HARTWELL. WHO DRAFTED IT.
TELLS THE STORY.
OF ITS CONTENTS AND NO MIsREPRSENTA-
To

SHE SIGNED THE PAPER WITH FULL. KNOWLEDGE
OF ITS CONTENTS. AND no MIsREPREsENTA-
TONS WE'RE MADE TO HER
Ipr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNE1
Washington March 20.-Some days ago proc
lamation' was Issued by Julius Palmer. chamoer-
lain ard major domo TO ex-Queen lil'uokaiahi OF
Hawaii. declaring that she never had iegaIly apui-
Gated the throne and that the abdication signed
by her was Irregular given under duress and void
The paper OF abdcation signed by the ex-Cueen
drafted by General Alfred 3. Hartwen OF
Honolulu. who Is In this city. General Hart
we'll when asked this afternoon for a statement
concerning the ex-Queen's abdication. replied:
Il drafted the ex-Queen's abdicaton and jurat
of allegiance to the Republic Of Hawaii and abb
.uration Of the monarchy under the following cir
cumstances: Paul Neuman. her legal adviser. who
came 10 Washington in the winter of 1898 holding
her power Of attorney; Samuel Parker her late
Prime Minister Hawaiian, and Charles WILSON,
the last marshal under the monarchy came to my
office the day of her arrest and told me that she
had intended to abdicate before, but had delayed
for Mr.. Widemann to talk 1t over with her. and
that they wanted to draw the paper. l told
them that II drew 1t there would be no read
ing between tho lines. and asked II she meant
II and approved of their coming 10 me- They said
she did and that was the kind OF document that
wanted. / told them It would not prevent her
knew 1t and that her idea that things would
settle down and there would be no further trouble
II she would resign. and that this was her object
Il looked up such references TO royal abdica-
lions ! could find and drew up the document,
which Neumar Parker and Wilson examined and
approved verbatim Wilson took II 10 Liiuokaani.
who proposed trivial change. which was
made and a second draft was drawn. which VIII
son also submitted to her At her request another
inconsiderable change made and a third draft
prepared. which was submitted TO her and re-
turned to me by Wilson. who informed me that 1t
was exactly she wanted and that he desired
final copy, which made. Tho earlier drafts,
written in n clear. conveyancer's hand by my as
sistant arc in his possession in Honolulu
THE three men wanted me TO be one OF the at
testing witnesses, which | declined to be. but at
tier request was present when the document was
presented by Neuman 10 the ex-Queen who' IN
clear voice and calm and dignlfed manner stated
in the hearing OF all who were present that she
understood the contents Of the document and de-
sired to sign and acknowledge It, which she pro-
ceeded to do before a notary Mr. Stanley VINO was
presen. at the rcques. OF Messrs Neuman Farker
and Wilson. There wers also present upon that
occasion Mr. Widemann. her stanch friend. and
William G. Irwin. a partner or Claus oprecheis anu
an intelligent Hawaiian lawyer. Mr. wilson theh
took the document and asked me 10 accompany him
to President Dole, which / did, He HANDED 'ho
paper to Mr.. Dole. who quietly remarked that 1t
would be placed upon the files.
"Mr Dole and his Cabine. did not know OF tho
abdcation papers until they were finally completed
and executed No misrepresentation was made to
induce Iiiuokaani to take this step. did not see
her until she acknowledged the instrument ana me
gentlemen who about her and talked Win her
upoI the subject and who were her friends would
not ! am confident, have misled her. Inc oocu-
ment was published in the Hawaiian and Engish
ncwspapers | did not hear much about It, al
| though peope said she would have been wise In
taking the step earlier. thereby perhaps preventing
the outbreak which occurred In tho early part or
that same month.
EVERY one knows that the Hawaiian Govern
ment wishes Hawaii to be annexed TO the United
States Whether the National measures unde h, AIS 80
custom In Washington will render II adXisaple TO
defer the Hawaiian 9uesi9n' ara .e re im NOT
present Inc matter to MIR Mckinley now, are ques-
'' ."rbcrn has been a misunderstanding concerning
the causes o: the downfall OF the Hawaiian mon
.eoonni obsnrvation II is preposterous TO suppose
that there conspiracy by Americans N ionE
Wiltse to bring about that result No Americans
there whom l knew. and | think knew a6on Ut al; aII
duce state of affairs which would result IN depos'
ing the sovereign. with view to HItmh h sense
Of dire necessity which caused the estabiishneh, Oh
the Provisional Government OF Hawaii Hawaii: Tho ouo.-
"Hovcyer all that Is ancient history me q ucs-
ton now is whether the United States VIII annex
Hawaii sec il Orentalzed Mhsn the u,i, he
| considered on its merits and as National ana
No, a nartisan measure. The annexation OF Hawaii
is not jinso or imperial poGGy ron 0n yn9 T por
| lion of the United States as Long lslahu u.
Martha's Vineyard II there Is any use IN tns I
clause OF the Constitution authorizing COMPRESS 80
nro,.ide for the common defence there Is no mo- e
rfrectual way Of Illustrating II than ny ahhehins
Hawaii II would cost the United states no.l''' =,
o do this: instead Of Hawaii being an eNptnsc, !,
wonld add to the National revenues IheIe Wo W.
be no more Hourshlng or desirable portion 1 ' r.
i"nitod states than that little group OF ISLANDS
s nonsense to say that the CONSIGNMENT po ip5
inc rs Chinese and Japanese, would DC go IT,,
| hv tho United States with as mucn ease M l. any
| fourth-ratc municipal organization.
JAPANESE OFFICIALS INDIGNANT