Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-11
Ex-,llNrsrEn DAoGErT.
lie Talks About -RumOrs OF An
nexatfon UnfOuBded.


nexatfon UnfOunded.
From he san Frdactsco MA.
In order to gain some definite solution
of the Wild rumors about Hawaiian an
ueNation which has been circulating
through the city for the past two days an
! llfa representative yesterday called upon
the Hon. Rolliu NJ. Daggett, eX-Minister
4 Resident 10 the Hawaiian islands, who ar
/ rived home by the steamer Mariposa last
Monday. knowing that Mr.. Daggett
/ would not answer direct question as TO
} whether the commission intrusted 30 Kim
/ hy the Hawaiian government had any
I connection VITA the much ncOted subject
/ uf annex tti1u, the reporter int"rroga,ed
/ the cN-Ml ri lister about he present financial
/ condition ~ King kaiakaua's government
/ and its prospects for the future.
well. " responded Mr.. Daggett, "busi-
ness generally throughout the islands IS
/ very much depressed, and the government.
itsnlf Is deeply la debt, but for the first
/ time in man, years the running expenses
I 90 the government have been kept within
/ the revenue received. 70 be sure, the in
/ dehtedness s not icing reduced. but the
/ dpmauds for iuteTestou outstanding bonds
+ are promptly met ana no further indebt-
pdupss is hciGg incurred. Future pros
poets are brighter and more promising
thGn ever before, and, II let alone. the
present government will pull affairs
through 10 successful issue in the not
| far distant future"
"What effect did the recent rise in the
London sugar market have upon island
interestY" asked the reporter.
'Indrectly," was the response, sit was
very good. The increase in prices came
too late for the planters to benefit by it, IA
this years crops had ali been sold only
few weeks previous. The rise, however,
being due to the disastrous failure OF the
beet crop 10 Europe, has given hope to
Hawaiian planters and encouraged them
to try their success once more, as il is
thought that the beet sugar experiment,
having proved so costly, will now be aban-
doned.p
Then, since the outlook for the future
il 40 bright, there can be no foundation
for the rumor about "a project being on
foot to annex the islands 10 the United
Statesi" was the cautious suggestion of
the scribe.
NO: not the slightest" replied Mr..
Daggett. "rhe Hawaiian people are I'm
bucd with a strong spirit Of independence,
and their government is perfectly able to
maintain itself without assistance from
other countries, other than that eX-
tended through commercial treaties This
great cutlery OF annexation and the fan Of
the Hawaiian throne is wholly due to the
maliKnancy Of the party in opposition 10
the government, who are endeavoring TO
make uD for their paucity Of numbers by
a great deal of noise and bOmbast, with
the hope that 1t will lead to the fall of the
party in power, even II il carries the
kingdom with il. Their efforts have been
absolutely abOrtive, but they have done a
great deal to iniurc the reputation of the
nation abroad
This being the case, then, your COM
mission from King Kalakaua has been
much distorted"
Eyes. indeed" was the reply. "KnOw-
ing that it was necessary for me to visit
Washington in order to surrender mg
Ministerial credentials, his Majesty in
trusted me with a commission to transact
a few matters OF business for him. the i'm
port Of which would be of interest to no
one did ! feel inclined to betray the conf
dence Veposed in me-"
Have you noticed lately any of the
numerous defauters of this city who
sought refuge and quiet in Honolulu
was asked.
Yes; ! saw Mclaughlin a short time
previous TO my departure from the islands.
He has purchased large interests in one
or more sugar plantations, and is evident
ly making preparations for a long stay.
lie has very little to say about his doubt
ful transaction with Gen. Barnes, but
makes very light of the subject when
spoken to, and apparently does not allow
the matter to weigh very heavily upon his
conscience. The other abscOnders l have
not seen, as they have sought secluded
retreats in various portions of the king
DOM"
When asked what were his intentions
for the future Mr.. Daggett modestly adj
mitted that he might possibly assume a
prominent position in the next Senatorial
election in Nevada. In the meantime he
would devote his attention to preparing
for publication a book on the Hawaiian
islands, its King and people, the material
for which he has been industriOusly col
Letting during his residence in the king
dom.