Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Gilbert Conwall Wiltse

Gilbert Conwall Wiltse was born in New York on November 29, 1838. He was appointed to the Naval Academy from New York, and graduated on September 20, 1855. He became a midshipman on June 9, 1859, and was ordered to the frigate, Congress, the flagship of Admiral JS Sands, cruising on the Brazilian Station from 1859 to 1861. He was made Lieutenant on Aug. 31, 1861 and participated in naval war operations during the Civil War.

He was promoted to Captain on Jan. 20, 1887; he was assigned to the command of the USS Boston in 1891, and was in command of the Boston when the Hawaiian revolution occurred. At the request of United States Minister Stevens, he landed a detachment of marines. Following that, Captain Wiltse returned to New York City and died at his home, on April 26, 1893.

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

John Leavitt Stevens

John Leavitt Stevens, journalist, author and diplomat, was born in Mount Vernon, Maine, August 1, 1820. In 1870, Stevens accepted the position of United States Minister to Uruguay and Paraguay under President Grant. In June, 1889, Stevens was appointed Minister to the Hawaiian Islands, his title soon after being changed to Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary.

Stevens supported annexation by the US and in December 1893, he wrote ‘A Plea for Annexation’ in The North American Review where he concluded, “To say that we do not need the Hawaiian Islands as a security to our immense future interests is but the babble of children or of incompetent men.” President Cleveland, following his inauguration, withdrew and question of annexation. Stevens resigned and returned home. He died February 8, 1895 at his home in Augusta Maine.

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Timing

“Scorning the opinions and advice of all the best men of the Islands, both of her own race and the whites, she finally united her political fortunes with the opium ring and those who were leagued to carry through the Legislature a sweeping lottery charter of the Louisiana type … This was Saturday, January 14, 1893. From that hour the Hawaiian monarchy was dead …” Stevens, The North American Review, December 1893)

However, a recent revelation (part of the Provisional Government Papers at the Hawaiian Mission Houses Archives and Historic Site) notes a January 17, 1893 ‘Private’ correspondence between Stevens and Dole that suggests that the US de facto recognition of the Provisional Government had been prepared prior to the takeover of the Government Buildings. That note from Stevens to Dole states: “I would advise not to make known of my recognition of the de facto Provisional Government until said Government is in possession of the Police Station.” (Stevens, January 17, 1893)

by Peter T Young 2 Comments

If the Newlands Resolutions is Not Valid – What does Hawaii Revert to?

“On January 16, 1893, the Committee of Safety wrote a letter to John L Stevens, American Minister, that stated: “… we appeal to you and the United States forces at your command for assistance.” To avoid bloodshed, the Queen yielded her throne on January 17, 1893. On January 18, 1893, the Imperial German Consulate, Austro-Hungarian Consulate, Consul for Italy, Russian acting consul, Vice-Consul for Spain, Consulate of The Netherlands, Royal Danish Consulate, Consulate of Belgium, Consul for Mexico, Consulate of Chile, Office of the Peruvian Consulate, Consul-General and Charge d’Affaires of Portugal, Consulate and Commissariat of France and Chinese Commercial Agency wrote letters acknowledging (de facto) the Provisional Government.

The Provisional Government convened a constitutional convention, approved a new constitution and the Republic of Hawaiʻi was established on July 4, 1894. Shortly after (from August 1894 through January 1895,) a number of letters of formal diplomatic recognition (de jure) of the Republic of Hawai‘i were conveyed to the Republic of Hawai‘i President Sanford Dole. These included formal letters from Austria/Hungary, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Chile, China, France, Germany/Prussia, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain , Switzerland and the United States. (These were countries that had prior agreements and treaties with the Hawaiian Monarchy.) Hawai‘i was later annexed to the US through the Newlands Resolution. Even with repeated judicial acknowledgement of Newlands Resolution, some have suggested the Newlands Resolution was not done properly. As such, they suggest the monarchy remains. So, a point to ponder, if the Newlands resolution is not valid – what does Hawai‘i revert to?