The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-10-24

promised that the whole matter would
be investigated by some official of high
character, who would go into the case
thoroughly on the spot Mr.. Thwing
being under appointment to start Oc-
tober 1 on a supremely important task
in my opinion the most important be-
fore the world just now, to prepare the
way for a conference OF a dozen nations
at Shanghai on the opium question,
that will affect for good or i'll, directly,
one-third of the human race in China,
and, indirectly all the rest of us, with
the closely related task of preventing
the threatened substitution of American
beer and cigarettes, the Reform Bureau
feels that Mr.. Thwing could be spared
from the smaller duties in Hawaii now
that he had prepared abundant affi-
davits and laid out the case, and that
other Christian men, good citizens,
could see that the official interviewer
was fully supplied with the facts and
that no wrong influences were brought
to bear or to suppress the truth in the
case; and so a cablegram was sent to
Mr.. Thwing to start for China on the
18th, the indications being that no in
terviewer could reach Hawaii before
the 9th, which would postpone Mr..
Thwing's start till some November
date, if he remained for the investiga-
ton, and so wreck altogether the pro-
jected tour of China in connection with
the larger enterprise.
| am sending this letter also to the
President of the w. c. T. U. and the
Civic Federation and also to several
pastors, in the hope that a committee
has been formed, or will be formed,
that will see that the Chinese Witness
es referred to in the affidavits, are not
intimidated and that the official who
comes to Hawaii is not hoodwinked,
as was Mr.. Garfield of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, who being
charged to look into this matter, mere
ly inquired of few officials, favorable
to Mr.. Breckons, and brought back no
first hand information in regard to
the truth of these serious charges. 1t
is evident that there is quite a group
of officials who have in some way been
influenced to take the side of Mr.. Brec-
kons, as bad men in public life are
often able to secure defenders.
It has been quite a struggle in my
mind, as no doubt it has been in Mr.
Thwing's, to choose between these
great opportunities in reform, but
surely every large minded man will see
that the interests of OO,OO0,OOO of peo-
pie III China are the larger duty and
those who know howaeriousarethe
possibilities of harm rather than help
, coming from tie Shanghai conference
unless some strong Christian lobbyist
is there to bring Christian public senti-
ment of the world to bear, will approve
our decision, and in the case of those
to whom l write we hope that care
will be taken that no loss shall come
| to the cause of justice in the absence
Of one who proved the leader in thu
fight hitherto.
Yours for better world" here ant
now,
WILBUR F. CRAFT.
Mr.. Thwing also received the fol
lowing letter of October 10th from
DR.. Crafts, who was then in Boston:
Your cablegram, saying that yor
must wait in Honolulu for the Brec
kons Investigation, reached me here
yesterday 1t is sorry disappoint
| ment to you, as to us also, that yol
must be kept from your great mission
! by this matter. / suppose you fell
that no one else could hold up the
| prosecution side, as every effort viii
| no doubt be made to break down you
Chinese witnesses and to get Influential
defenders for Breckons. l telegrapheC
| last night to Bonaparte, 'Thwing il
waiting at great sacrifice for the in
vestigation. 1t is expected that he (thC
| investigator will take boat leaving
| San Francisco October goth. Disastrous
to wait later l am also writing di
rectly to Senator Warren of Wyoming
that he may know the facts. This de
lay will prevent your going south t
Canton, as you will not now be able t.
reach China before December list. Yov
should then stay near Shanghai, or you
may be able to go to Picking, before tn,
conference, and see Yuan Shihkai.
enclose a letter from the Chinese Min
lister Hon. WI Ting Fang in re you
| trip. Fraternally,
WILBUR F. CRAFTS"
A letter was also received from Sec
rotary Garfield saying that the Brec
kons matter was being carefully con
sidered.