Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-11
0UEENLIL UNMASKED
Her True Character Exposed by
Documents Now First Published.
GROVER GAVEHER THE COLD SHOULDER
How the Plan to Choke the Ha-
waiian Republic Failed.
ENGLAND REPUDIATED HER

Mrs. Lydia Domins, sometime Queen of
Hawaii, is no longer serious factor in the
consideration of the affairs of the Hawaiian
Islands, the United States having taken
possession of that territory under an act of
annexation which leaves no room for fur
ther question as to the. sovereignty. But
Mrs. Dominis is at present seeking to es-
tablish claim for indemnity for the seiz-
ure of the crown lands of Hawaii by this
government as part of the public domain
which had passed to the republic after the
overthrow of the monarchy, so that she is
still, to a certain extent, figure in the
case, though her prominence is not SO great
as though there were any serious lIkeli-
hood that this government Will grant her
claims.
Under the circumstances, therefore,
becomes interesting to throw whatever
light may be secured upon the history of
tins woman, particularly as affecting her
truStworthinesS. Nothing more clearly re-
Veals the true character of an individual
than the manner of treating tried ana true
friends. The Star has received copies of a
pamphlet just published in Honolulu which
clearly prove that Mrs. Dominis in the
course of her recently published book ''Ha-
Wals Story by HaWaus I, Ieen," ueliber-
ately sought to dIscredit at least one 'of
ing the days when she was seeking a res
toration to the throne.
Completing the Record.
The greater interest attaches to this
pamphlet because it gives an accurate ac-
count of a transaction which has thus far
been only imperfectly understood. 1t re-
produces correspondence which has until
now never been published, and is therefore
important as connecting link in this
record.
Judge H. A Widemann of Honolulu. to
whom the correspondence refers has passed
a long lifetime in Hawaii, has the very
hlSheSt standing in the community and en-
Joys the respect of both his friends and
these politically opposed to him. He has
always been an ardent friend of the mon
archy and strove for its retention and its
restoration. He devoted much time and
energy to the interests of the ex-queen
after her dethronement, and received in
return for his services in this unfortunate
cause only contemptuous and sighting allu-
slons in her book, already mentioned, ac-
companied by positive misstatements of
fact. 1t is felt in Honolulu that if there
is any man living-perhaps excepting ex-
President Cleveland-who deserves the graf
itude of Mrs. Dominis it is Judge Wide
mann. The correspondence, which in it's
printed form is accompanied by affidavits
of authenticity, fully explains its own ma
ture, and is as follows:
Judge Widcmann's Letter.
"HONOLULU, July 10, 1898.
May it please Your Majesty
In your Lately published book 'Hawaif's
Story by Hawairs Queen you say on
page 25s.-
That 1t was decided that Hon. Sam
Parker, Mr.. John a. Cummins, Judge Wide
mann with Major w. T. Seward as secre-
tary, should visit the capital of the United
States and represent those in Hawaii,
whether native or foreign, opposed to the
Missionary party, that so the Government
OF the majority might get a hearing in the
Councils of that great nation to which
alone | yielded my authority
The instructions Your Majesty gave us
are dated July 10, 1894, and are in your
own handwriting and contain nothing of
the above. To refresh your memory, 1
enclose copy of these Instructions.
On page 259 you are pleased further to
say:
What was the result of this commits
sion? That is impossible for me to say
Ihey went and they returned. They
Drought me no papers giving an official
account of their proceedings or actions
Whlle on the mission. Each had some bit
OF information to communicate verbally
About the only definite remark which re-
ours to me now is, that Secretary Gresham
mad informed them that Mr. Cleveland
was suffering from a slight Illness and
would be unable TO see them for three or
lour DAYS, at which intelligence they be-
came discouraged, and left WASHINGTON
Ihey had absolutely nothing to show to me
Tor thelr time and the expenditure of my
money"
The Commissioners in Washington.
Upon our arrival in Washington l at
once called on the Secretary of State to in
form him that we had arrived, and asked
Tor an interview with the President. Mr.
Gresham asked me TO address him in writ
ing, stating the purpose of our mission. l
dld adureSS him, and enclose CODY of nv
note TO him. After waiting some time Mr
Gresham informed US mat the President
would receive us at ) pm. on August 10,
1871. At 80 pm. that Gay MI. Gresham
President and stating tnat che President was
taken i'll. We left W ashington that evening
having accomplished aIl we were instructed
10 do, MI CIeVeIand'S letter giving posi-
tive and unmistakable answer to the oues-
tion we asked him. Immediately upon our
return to Honolulu L reported to you the
above and handed you Mr.. Cieveland's let
ter
Again TO refresh your memory 1 enclose
copy of Mr.. Cleveiands letter.
More Misrepresentation.
'On page 80 you are pleased still further
to say:
"A month after word was sent to me
that the merchants of Honolulu who were
in sympathy with the monarchy, had de-
clded to send Judge Widemann on a for
elSn mission in our interests, at which 1
was pleased, and acquiesced in the choice
He was gone about three months, and
again returned with only a verbal state
ment to the effect that, while on his way
TO England, he had heard that that nation
was sending message of recognition to
the Republic of Hawaii. He continued on
his journey as far as Germany where he
reported that the minister to whom he
meant to present the statement of our side
OF the case was absent from the country
on a tour of business or pleasure. So
Judge Widemann returned without any ia
vorable results
L was not then and am not now aware
that the merchants of Honolulu had any
thing to do with this mission of mine Ger
tain 1T Is left on the 18th or 10Th of Sep
tenlber to go to Erauce E,nclaud