Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1894 — WILLIS’ DEMAND ON DOLE. [ARTICLE]

WILLIS’ DEMAND ON DOLE.

Formal Statement of President Cleveland's Attitude Toward Hawaii. The Canadian Pacific steamer Warrimoo arrived, bringing Honolulu advices. Most intense excitement prevailed throughout Honolulu until the arrival cf the revenue cutter Corwin. After that Minister Willis made his demand upon President Dole to surrender the Government to the Queen. The Provisional Government promptly refused and Minister Willis took no slope to enforce a compliance with his order. The excitement then rapidly subsided, and for a week before the sailing of the Warrimoo there had been perfect tranquillity. The demand of Minister Willis upon tho Provisional Government to step down and out was couched jn tho following words: Mr. President and gentlemen, the President of the United States has very much regretted the delay In the consideration of the Hawaiian question, but it U unavoidable. Ho muoh of It as baa occurred since my arrival has been due to oertaln conditions precedent, compliance with which was required before f was authorized to confer with you. The President also regrets, as moat assuredly do I. that any aecrecy should havo surrounded the Interchange of views between our two governments. I may say this, however, that tho secre y t hus far observed ha< been In the Interest and for the safety of all your people. 1 need hardly promise that the President's action upon the Hawaiian question lias been under the dictates of honor and duty. It Is now and has been from the boginning absolutely free from prejudice and resentment, and entirely conaliseut with long-estab-lished friendship and treaty ties, whloh have so closely bound together our respective governments. The President deemed It bis uutv to withdraw from the Souate the treaty of annexation, whloh had been signed bv the Secretary of State and agenta of your government, and to dispatch a trusty representative to Hawaii to Impartially Investigate the causes of your revolution and to ascertain and report the true situation in those Islam s. This Information was Deeded the better to enable the President to discharge a delloatc aud Important duty. Upon the facts embodied in Mr. Hlount’s report the Ptosl ent has arrived at certain conclusions and determined upon a oertaln course of action, which It becomes my duty to acquaint you with. The provisional government was not established by the Hawaiian people nor with their aonaent or acquiescence, nor has It since existed with their oonsent. The Queen refused to surrender her powers to the provisional government until oonvlnoed that the minister of the United Htates had recognized It as tho de facto authority, and would support and defend It with the military forces of the United Htates, and that resistance would provoke a bloody oouHUt with that force. Hue was advised and assured by her mlntatora and leadors of the movement for tho overthrow of her government that If she surrendered under protest her case would afterward he fairly considered by the President of the United Htates. The Queen finally Slelded to the armed forues of the United taths then quartered at Honolulu, relying on the good faith and honor of the President, when Informed of what occurred, to undo the action of the Minister and reinstate her. The President has, therefore, determined that he will not send hack to the Henute for Its action thereon tho treaty whloh lie withdrew from that hpdy for further consideration March l> last. In view of these conclusions I was Instructed by the President of the United Htates to tako advantage of an early opportunity to Inform the Queen of this deter nutation aud of his views as to the responsibility of our Government. The President, however, felt that we, by our original Interference, had Incurred a responsibility to .he whole Hawaiian community, and that It would not be just to put one party at the meroy of the other. I was, thorefore, Instructed at the same time to Inform her that the President expected that she would pursue a magnanimous oourae by granting full amnesty to all who participated in the movement against her, Including persons who are or who have been ofholally or otherwise conneoted with the provisional government, depriving them of uo right or privilege which they enjoyed before the revolution last January, and that all obligations created by the provisional government In the course of administration should be assumed. In obedlenoe to the command of the Preeldent I have secured the Uneen’s agreement to this course, and 1 cow deliver a writing, algnod by her and duly attosted, a copy of which I will leave wltn you. It bocoracs my further duty to advise you, sir, the exeonttre of the provisional government, and your ministers, of the President's determination of the question, which your aotlon and that of the queen devolved upon him, and that you are expected to promptly relinquish to her her constitutional authority. And now, Mr. President and gentlemen of the provisional government, with a deep ana solemn sense of the gravity of the situation and with the .earnest hope that your answer will be Inspired by that high patriotism which forgets all self-interest, in the name and by the authority of the United Htates of Amorloa. I submit to you the question: Are you willing to abide bv the decision of the President? I will leave this with you. Mr. President, as your stenographer may not have got every word, and it may help him. I will also leave the certltled copy that I referred to, the agreement of the Queen. Upon the conclusion of Mr. Willis’ remarks, President Dole on behalf of the provisional government made a brief statement refusing to surrender any portion of the power represented by him and his associates and declining the offer of the Queen, and the conference was at an end. The exoitoment in Honolulu, which was at fever heat before the meeting, quickly subsided as tho news* became known, and since Doc. ID perfect tranquillity has prevailed throughout the islands.