The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-10-23

yroduced after Col. Ashford's resig- \
nation from the force, to bolster up
the rump of the "Reform" party at
present in power by getting at the
head of the military establishment
some man who would be subservient
to the Government.
1t was hoped that Col. Ashfords
temporary retirement had so mill
tated against him as to insure his
failure: otherwise the faithful
would never have passed Military
Act; because, as confessed by their
party organ, they we're "afraid" of
him; for what reason no one can tell
unless that as he had pitchforked
them into office, he might, unless
they pulled his teeth, pltchfork them
out on their continued refusal to
carry out their anti-election pro-
misses. Then as soon as the law was
passed over the Kings veto, and
Col. Ashford announced himself as
candidate for the place, every one
| of the "jackal" politicians went to
work to defeat him. Though the
election was by the officers of the
Battalions, an influence was sought
to be cast against him in advance
by an adverse pronunciamento of
the men in the ranks of the Rifles,
his old corps. Cabinet Ministers
even went to employers of young
men who were members of that
body, and induced them to "infiu-
ence" their employees by threats of
dismissal. Government positions
were actually made-manufactured
to throw as sops to officers who
were known to be "Ashford" men,
to try and buy them; and every
volunteer soldier and officer in Gov
ernment employ was plainly told by
men known to be personal friends OF
Ministers that in voting on the ques-
tion they would do we'll to remember
that the Government wanted Ash
ford defeated. But the result was
an almost unanimous promouacid-
nento in his favor, by the men in
, the ranks; while he was elected or
first ballot by about o-thirds
majority of the officers, on August
Goth, and so officially reported Il
9 the Minister of Foreign Affairs The
next morning.
Sec. of the Act says: GAS sool
as may be after such name shall b.
!, so certified to said Minister, h
shall, unless majority of the Cabi
~ net object to the fitness of the pei
son so certified, present his name t
- His Majesty, who shall then commits
Z sion such person Colonel of the Ha
y waiian VoIunteers;" and the mex
section reads "In case no person S
certified shall be approved and pre-
sented to his Majesty said Ministe
st shall, within two weeks after sue
he certificate shall have reached hin
le notify the senior officer, etc., etc.,
Or describing process for new ele'
n ton.
en- Now it is notorious fact that tN
d. of the Cabinet (including "sai
d, Minister'') worked the whole fou
1g teen days allowed by law to Undue
RS third Minister to "object to Il
d, fitness of the Celonel-elect; an
,e- that only on the fourteenth day d
at they hand the commission to Il
". King, who had meantime been MAJ
,c- aware of the extreme desire of o.
ill half his Cabinet that the electi
ok should, through some hook or croo
NC become abortive. 1t is matter
ar- notoriety that one Of "said Min
1ot ters'' stated in express terms af
ley the election, that "he'd be d
he'd ever sign that commission"
no. But now comes a delicate gu
ac- tion. The Minister of Interior Ga
i've ing for Minister of Foreign Affai
lay then ill) took the commission to
sa- King. The Minister has made sts
irs. ments to number of people to
bic effect that he in the name of
ut,' Cabinet advised and requested
riv- Majesty to sign it. The King,
all the other hand, is credited with
the statement that the Minister not o
,ro- did not proffer any advice, bat,
being asked the desire of the c;
net, distinctly refused to adv