People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1893 — HIS HEARTY APPROVAL. [ARTICLE]

HIS HEARTY APPROVAL.

The Preildeat Sustains Gresham’s Action Regarding Hawaii. Washington, Nov. 14. —In an interview with James Hyde Pratt, of Albany, N. Y., a kinsman and friend, President Cleveland stated that he had absolute faith in the accuracy of all conclusions drawn by Secretary Gresham with reference to the Hawaiian affair, and that Minister Stevens and Capt Wilse had committed an act of usurpation and done a wrong' to a helpless power which it was the duty of the United States government to undo. Certain democrats here incline to the belief that it is probable Minister Willis’ course will be to advise the provisional government that it is the desire of the United States that the question as to which government U preferred by the people of the islands—that of Queen Liliuokalani or that of President Dole—shall be submitted to the vote of all those residents of the islands who have a right to vote under the constitution of 1887. Whether or not, pending this appeal to the people, Admiral Irwin and Minister Willis have received direct instructions to reinstate the constitutional sovereign will probably not be authoritatively made known until the next Honolulu mail steamer arrives in San Francisco.

Some lively times may be expected in the United States before the whole master is settled, aud it is not improbable that it will develop into a political issue of possible gigantic proportions. There are as many opinions concerning the decision as there are men to express them—each takes a different view of the matter. Senator Morgan displays considerable feeling in his opposition to the anti-annexation sentiment Congressman Hitt does not believe in the interference by the American government in favor of a monarchy. Secretary Gresham said Saturday that he had “never made a mistake in his life by supporting what he believed to be right and opposing what he thought to be wrong.” He characterized the attempt of the Harrison administration to acquire the country as a fraudulent act and upon the same pretext some conspiraators may with the same consistency attempt to depose President Cleveland and establish another form of government The secretary admitted that he would no doubt be severely criticised at first for his action, “but,” said he, “when the country has had time to weigh it carefully and look at it calmly all fair-minded people will be compelled to admit the correctness of my position.” He continued: “It is not the policy of this government now to encroach upon the rights of other governments, nor has it ever been. Neither is the policy of this government to be molested by other governments without protest The American people always stand for what they believe to be right and honest To dethrone the queen was a dishonest act, and, on the part of this government—loving liberty and independence as It does—there was nothing left to be done but to act honorably and restore her queen to her former place, wrongfully taken from her by the cowardly provisisional government crowd.” One novel and totally unexpected result —or rather possible result —of the reinstallation of the queen is suggested by a person possessed of diplomatic lore. It was, in substance, that this action will be an absolute acknowledgment that the queen was dispossessed by the United States, and, therefore, that she will have a sound claim against the United States for compensation for the pecuniary loss she has sustained through her temporary exclusion from the exercise of her functions and her emoluments. Augusta, Me., Nov. 14. —In a signed leader in the Kennebec Journal Hon. J. L. Stevens, late United States minister to Hawaii, makes the following reply to Secretary Gresham’s report:

“All that American piety. American benevo- ! lence, American schools and American patriot- | ism have accomplished in Hawaii in the last ; seventy years are now centralized in the pro- i visional government and stand in its support, j It is a government honestly and abl” ad- ’ ministered, and the best government ; that Hawaii ever had. I know I not the influences which induced Secretary Gresham to become an active agent in attempting such a great offense against American civilization, justice and law. His Intense hostility to ex-President Harrison and to the illustrious ex-secretary of state, who passed to his grave in January last, is well known. It was that which caused him to betray and desert the great political party whose honors he had shared and branght him to his present attitude toward his former associates and their work. So far as his recent manifesto on Hawaiian affairs casts reflection upon my official action I cars little except to the degree that his cruel and untruthful words strike at the noble band of men and women who have for ten months steed so devotedly and unitedly in defense of American civilisation.” Mr. Stevens then makes specific denials of statements in the Blount-Gres-ham report touching the landing of the marines of the Boston, and adds: “Queen Liliuolmlani inaugurated the revolution by attempting to destroy the legislature by revolutionary-means. Faom Saturday afternoon, January 14, to January 16 there was no government in, Honolulu, except in the united and self-jsosscssed attitude of citizens, who assembled in a gxeat mass-meeting en January 16 and consummated their tllorts for law and order by the establishment of the provisional government on the 17th, which was promptly acknowledged by all the fo-eign representatives. When I did recognize it, late- in the afternoon of the 17th > the provisiaaal government was complete master of tho situation and had full cor*trol of the city and of the government archives. The-romtniAtee on public safety and the provisional gvterment constituted the only Hawaiian government'de facto existing for twentyfours homtsnrevious tossy recognition, the raonarchial government having completely collapsed several days before.”