The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-21
BOB ON HIMSELF
What He Tells S. attic
People.
How Wilcox Had Honolulu at HIS
Mercy in the Revolution
OF 1895.

The following article. surmounted |
by cut of Bob Wilcox in full Italian |
uniform appears in recent num- |
Der of the Seattle Times:
Hon. Robert w Wilcox, one of the |
most prominent figures in the political
history of Hawaii, arrived in this city
by last evenings train from San Fran
cisco and is quartered at the Occident-
al Hotel A stalwart rOyalist and adj
herent of the Queen and the Hawaiian
people, Mr.. Wilcox expended his time,
fortune and energies in resistance OF
the conditions brought about by the
overthrow CT Queen Liliuokalani. He
was the instigator and leader OF the
revolution of 1895 which so nearly re-
suited in the restoration of the Queen,
but failed at the crucial hour, because
of the over-discretion of equally patrl-
otto but less courageous allies.
Before the enemy were fully awake
10 the uprising, Wilcox, with large
following of natives and Americans
command Diamond Head, Tantalus
and Punchbowl Hill and practically
| held Honolulu at his mercy. 1hough
we'll garrisoned, these points had TO De
| abandoned through failure OF ammunl-
| ton and provision, and though aggres-
| sive tothe last round OF ammpnhloh,
! the Wilcox party were defeated ana
! compelled to surrender.
| Tried by what was termed the mill
! tary commission of Hawaii, Mr.. VIII
cox was sentenced 10 death. Suisse
euently this sentence was commuteu
! by President Dole to thirty-five years
nd ial n n
| of $4,000. From the last named penal
ty he was offered indemnity condition
ed upon his subscribing to an oath or
ALLEGIANCE. which he declined to do.
On January LIST, 1896, he was uncon-
! ditionally pardoned, and has since
bided a time which now seems close
at hand.
DR.. Wilcox is a full-blooded Hawaii
an. He was educated in Italy, where,
together with Mr. Robert Boyd of Ho-
| nolulu. he was sent by his Government
during the reign of King Kalakaua, to
complete a thorough military and en-
gineering course. He speaks English
French and Italian fiuently, and is al
engaging conversationalist. The grace
full mannerisms and characteristic
gentleness of his race are modestll
conspicuous with Mr.. Wilcox, Wnc
combines with them an air of culture
and refinement that makes him an en-
tertaining speaker.
Mr.. Wilcox married Princess kaOhe
lelani who is, with but one possible
exception. the only living direct des
= cendant of the Kamehamehas, and al
heir to the crown lands of Hawaii
! which involve something over a mil
, lion acres.
Questioned by representative o
? The Times. Mr.. Wilcox admitted tina
, his visit at this time bears a politica
3 significance He is en- route to Wash
J, ington, d. c., where the question o
crown lands" and other importan
legislation to affect Hawaii and tn
? Hawaiians will come before the pres
= ent session of Congress, and comes VI
= Seattle to join Mr.. Edgar CayplesS
!, who is principal counsel for the Prln
cess in the matter of crown lands, an
J is also commissioned, Jointly with MI
Wilcox, to represent the hawaiian ma
= tives in the presentation and urgln
= of certain memorials.
: THE people OF Hawaii, the nativ
3 Hawaiians," Mr.. Wilcox says, "hav
never had proper representation a
Washington; they have never bee
> consulted with regard to the govern
= ment which Congress now proposes I
= provide for them. 1t is true that tn
3, ! present Cabinet of the Hawaiian Gov
3 eminent have sent representatives re
presenting nobody but themselves an
: their confreres, who constitute tn
= still-existing oligarchy and their prln
Z cipal mission, as We understand 1t,
. TO endeavor to legislate into continue
3 service the present official regim
3 which is distasteful to the masses, bot
: of natives and Americans.
= Those representatives, or at lea
= some of them, are paid out OF publ
"a funds, made available for that purpo
nv the Cabinet, and without authori
from Washington The native Hawai-
. ans have wishes in the premises, wis
es that lie closer to the heart than
possible with these emissaries chose
from among me enemies OF the
queen, yet they, these gentlemen VINO
mission is to insinuate themselves u
on Congress as his representatly
have never taken the trouble to invl
an EXPRESSION of choice from the RI
waiian. We have confidence in t
American people, confidence and tru
in their Justice, and have higher b
lief than hope that they will not WI
TO wrong us; and it is to the end tn
Congress and the American people m
better understand the situation tn
we shall labor"
Mr.. Wilcox and Mr.. Caypless W
leave for Washington in few Ga.
and it is possible that they may ha
surprises for some people interest
in the outcome of the present compl
Hawaiian question.