Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-09-17


General Mt Honolulu, was an intrcpid old
soldier, who had served with great valor in
the Bolivian struggle for Independence He
was deau Of the diplomatic corps at the
Hawaiian Court. But Inc was not favor.
lite at the Palace, nor on cordial terms with
the Ministry, on account Of his overbearinp
manners; (9) and among the people he was
very much dsliked for the same reason.
He so strongly hated democracy MS n gov.
erning principle that he lost no opportunity
TO manifest his contempt Of government
20 founded and he therefore bore no good.
will toward Americans, notwithstanding
that he always treated Commissioner Gregg
with the utmost courtesy ard consideration.
The French Government was represented
by NJ. Perrin, Consul. General. lie was
man of mediocre ability, with more of the
politician than the diplomatist, and very lit
tic Of the Statesman TO recommend him,
and he was unfortunate in his temper. He
did not stand well with the King in a social
way ind the ministry were not generally
disposed to cultivate intimate personal re.
lations with him on account of his peculiar
Temperament and manners. At best, there
was not much in common between General
Miller and NJ. Perrin; but Ms England and
Frnuco were then allied against Russia, in
the war Of the Crimes, the two were brought
into closer relations, and upon the upper
most local subject then ngitating the Gov.
eminent to which they were accredited
the treaty with the United States for an.
nexntion--tbcy were in thorough harmony
IN vehement nntagonism to the scheme.
But in spite Of all opposition the nego.
tlatlons for the treaty progressed favor
ably. In the Privy Council old Lot Pakee
fought 1t Mt every turn, but unnecessarily
aud without actual effect. Other chiefs
and MOBILES favored it. Nehaleken, the finest
OF the native orators, and Hawai-, GO)
the Cincinnatus Of his race, alike members
of the Legislature from their respective dis
tricts, both battled for it with much force.
The DRIFT OF the treaty, which had been
carefully revised on each side, was agreed
upon. By II the United States was to nav
the sum Of five millions of dollars, the pay.
mont to be made i'll the form of annuities,
mp to the sum Of 100000 per annum, or
the yearly interest of the grand total, Mt
tho rate OF six per cent. per annum; with
proviso that ms life ceased the annuites
terminated, except alone in the case of the
King and Prince Alexander. The schedule
provided for the King $4,000 per year, to
fall to Alexander on Kamehameha's death
to Queen Kalnma, $4,000 per year during
her lifetime; to Prince Alexander $4,000.
to cease on the death of the King, and the
payment theroupon to himself of the $780,
600 annuity; to Lot, $4,000; to Princess
Nictorin, $4,000; to Pakee, $1,000; and
SO on down the list of chiefs, until the last
and lowest was reached, the annuities
descending to $500 per year for the lowest
class. The King was to make over to the
United States all the crown lands and pos
sessions, and public property of every kind
and description; among which was the
harbor OF Pearl River, already selected by
Captain Doruin Of the United States sloop.
of.war POrtsb,Outh as the most eligible
place for naval station and dry.dock, or
maynard, about six miles to the west.
ward of Honolulu.
Among the few special grants made by
the King, which were to be acknowledged
and perpetuated by tho United States, was
that which had been secured by royal char
ter already to the Hawaiian Steam Nayi.
CATION Company, or to Garrett w. Ryck-
man and his associates-the water-front of
Honolulu from tho city to- the sea, embrace
ing the whole line of coral reef through
which the inlsts and outlets of the harbor
coursed and extended. 1t was grant
then OF immense value, and likely to be-
come worth millions of dollars in the event
OF American occupation of the islands, as
1t was virtually the ownership of the har.
Dor of Honolulu, the chief commercial and
shipping port of the entire group. M
Th., Of 4
tho total of five millions, in any event,
while the relief to the total amount of the
annuitants was to fall to the United States.
A computation of the bills of mortality
among the native chiefs, many of whom
were prone to dissolute habits, gave reck.
oning of a little more than three millions
rs the aggregate cost of the islands to the
United States.
Very naturally, the Princess Victoria
was not in favor of the scheme. Prince
Lot did not wish it contaminated, but he
deferred to his brother Alexander, willing
to be governed entirely by him in the mat
ter. The old King favored it-wanted it !;
but he would not sign the treaty unless
Prince Alexander consented to it. Alex.
ander wavered. He was in great need Of
money, and heavily in debt. He was ad.
dio'ed to exhaustng excuses of body and
purse. He kept corps of fifty dancing.
girls, and their wild orgies were tho scan.
dai Of the islands. His constant COM
panion and evil spirit was young man
named Nelson, of good family in New
York, who possessed great influence over
HIM, and participated with him in the hula
hulas and luaus, or baechanal and nymph-
can satGrnalia. Nelson hoped when
Alexander should be King to obtain high
place IN the government, OF to DO the
power behind the throne. He therefore
labored TO set the Prince against annexa.
tion.
There was another potent influence which
prevailed with him somewhat from IA bet.
ter and totally opposite direction. 1t was
an influence ct subtle nature, which appeal.
ed to hi pride and ambition. For Years
the King had planned aud prepared for the
marriage Of Alexander TO Miss Emma
Rock, the daughter Of an English physi.
clan, long a resident of the islands, who
was the Kings family physician. DIR.
Rock had married tho daug hier of a great
native chief, who had taken for husband
one of the most noted white men that had
n