The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-03-28

was done. and the men snoruy AFTER returneu 70
PuuIoa and Honolulu.
Mr.. James |. Dowsett happening soon after to
vi-it his country seat near by Puuloa, heard the
natives expatiating on the unexpected visit of the
seamen, and how some of the women were fright
ened ut the sight of man-of-war's-men and took
to the water; but he heard of no injury or dam
age done. The next day, meeting the Governor,
he asked him TO say TO Capt. Reynolds, who was
staying at his house, that when his officers or men
wanted to visit his place at Pearl River, lie should
be very happy to be there and entertain them, but
thar he did not wish them to 20 down and brighten
his natives.
Ii IL possible that Ragsdalc, who was staying
Ut Puuloa at tie time, may have written UP n
glowing and fowery statement of the case to his
friend the Minister of the Interior ut all events,
owing To some exaggerated story, an i~nyestiga-
ton was made. and Il report prepared, which is
understood to have been delivered TO General
Smith, to give to Admiral Thatcher or the author
titles at Washington. Ii this report and evidence
were based on the statements and afidayits Of
Ragsdale and others brought forward by him, it's
value may be judged from the fact that he is now
unfortunately an inmate of the Insane Asylum.
Whatever the report was, it was an eIpdTie inyes-
tigatiOn, got up with the sole purpose of injuring
tie Lad0tranHa, and without Attending to Capt.
Reynolds an opportunity to furnish the statements
OF his officers and men.
Tie above, - Ear ns we can learn, appears to
be the sum and substance Of what has led the
Ministers 10 set aside the highest law of the land,
violate its treaty with the American Government
and people, and offer as n weak apology for 50
doing, that the American navy regulations require
u commander 10 prevent his men from going
ashore (f requested To d. so), where no treaty
distinctly provides otherwise, or where sickness
ashore or other heal circumstances may render it
inadvisable To give them liberty.
In this case there does not appear To have been
any formal complaint OF misconduct ON the part
OF tie seamen, nor the slightest ground for the
Issuance Of the above order. On the contrary,
Capt. Reynolds has been very strict with his men
during the thirteen months ne has been here.
checking every exhibition of lawlessness and
although the crew Is what NAV be called n
jolly set of tars, yet our authorities cannot point
out an instance where "A crew has been in port
the same length Of time and conducted itself with
more uniform decOrum. In marked contrast is the
conduct of the Clio, during the stay OF that ship
in port IN 1865. Had the LaokaIcanna'S men
been allowed the same liberties, and the same in
subordination prevailed, the town would have
been burned down long before this.
The real cause of the instance of this extraor-
binary order must be looked for outside of the
alleged g misconduct at Puuloa.'' Not the slight
est grounds exist for it there, and it may well be
asked if tie real cause is not to be traced to the
hostility Of the present Ministry to the L.acka-
'cGnnd and every one connected with the vessel,
and To Americans and American interests at the
Islands? Any ministry that will allow public
harangues against the officers of n war vessel be-
longing to a friendly power, as was seen and
heard here ON election day, cinnot be rery friendly
TO that government and people. 1t is currently
reported that Capt. Bridges, of the ChonhieLer,
remarked that if any of Her Majesty's officers and
vessels had been treated Us tie L0ckauanna's
have been, the Hawaiian Government would have
heard of it very shortly from headquarters.
The truth i, the Hawaiian Ministry have not
treated Capt. Reynolds nor his officers with even
decent respect, but ON the contrary, have taken
every opportunity to show them dIsrespect. The
LaekGranna was ordered here by her Government
ON special service, and she is the representative
of the majesty and power of the United States,
and any incivility shown To Capt. Reynolds is an
inciyility to his Government, which every Amer
lean has n right to be indignant at. There has
been no cause for the Ministerial attitude Of hos
tility. The LGckGlranna Wa ordered here n; the
request of the late X. C.. Wyllie and Judge
made during the late war, when
American war vessels seldom visited us. Prom
inent Americans also solicited the stationing here /
Of "A war vessel, because it was believed that
Bishop Staley's mission had more of a political
than religious design. And such is still believed
TO have been the plan of the prime nsOrers in it.
But tie death Of the late King, his Prime Minis
Ter and one Of his chief counscllors, and more than
Ill, the close OF the American rebellion, entirely
changed the political aspect, and has dispelled all
fears in regard to it. The request, however, had
been made, and the LGeka,ednHa came ON
bcr mission. Events have shown that her service
beIe has been to the credit and honor of the
American Government.
Tie Ministers have thus had no grounds for
heir treatment OF Capt. Reynolds during his
'tay, much lcss for the insulting order sent to
lilo. No reference il made in the Gazette to the
rider that no official courtesics be extended TO the
hip or officers, which private letters from that
state had been received, and we are led to
nfcr that but a portion of the correspondence,
,Hicial or unofficial, has been published. This
,hase Of the ease wears n more serious aspect
ven than the other.
View it in whatever light we may, the apology
'fercd is n most unsatisfactory one, and it seems
: If an attempt had been made, under n dishon-
aable pretext. TO insult the commanding officer
& a war ship Of n friendly power, from whom at
hi- very moment we are soliciting n gracious act.
{ affords another illustration of the u~nftness Of
ur Ministers for the trust they hold and the
rayer of every good Hawaiian will be that their
Iaces may lie speedily vacated and filed by others