The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-09-25
PAIRING ALOHA.
The Retired American Minister and
His Lady,

MI bCO' w meTTlll, dpIOllJSu
by President Cleveland rs United
States Minister Resident near His
Majesty's Court, arrived here with
Mrs. Merrill on June s, 1885. He
had therefore occupied that import
ant position four years and a quar-
ter when relieved the other day by
Mr.. John l.. Stevens, the nominee
Of President Harrison. Mr.. Merrill
has had the honor as well as the
great pleasure of leading his coun-
trymen in the fitting celebration of
five anniversaries of the In0epen-
dence of the United States. 1t is
stating the case very mildly to say
that this, one of the grandest holt
days IN the Hawaiian calendar, has
suffered no diminution in enthusiasm
or effectiveness of celebration under
his guidance. The writer's career in
the land being little longer than that
of the retired Minister Resident, any
comparison of these five "Fourths"
with those preceding would here not
be entitled TO much weight. But
there is-no hesitation in bearing en-
phatic testimony to the fact that
from the first day of their occupancy,
Mr.. and Mrs. Merrill have brought
the American Legation into increas-
ing popularity by means of their
very successful receptions on the
national holidays. By the uncon-
strained cordiality of their welcome,
their impartial attentions to visitors
of all nationalitles and ranks, and
their very generous hospitality, they
won as host and hostess universal
admiration and esteem.
Mr.. Merrill as representative of
his Government earned the most I'M
qualified appreciation of the Presi-
dent and Cabinet Ministers, particu-
larly that of the Secretary of State
with whose Office he had most to do.
His promptness, accuracy land judg
ment in the dispatches transmitted
by him upon Hawaiian, Pacific, and
international affairs were again and
again acknowledged in terms divest-
ed of the usual official formality.
These return dispatches from Wash
ington are replete with cordial ex-
presslons of the Government APP
probation of the thoroughness of the
Minister Residents reports, and the
comprehensivenes and value of his
observations upon matters within
his official view. During his whole
term he has not had to read a single
line of disapproval of his action in
any matter, which, considering the
critical junctures in Hawaii that he
has been brought into relation with,
is a record of which any diplomatist
might be proud. When in the trou-
bles of 1887 Mr.. Merrill had to
shape his own course, owing to the
impossibility of communicating in
time with his Government, his report
to the Department of State was ac-
knowledged as having Participated
the instructions" he would have re-
ceived. He was especially COM
mended on that occasion for having
avoided the necessity of calling in
foreign aid, which would have en-
dangered the independence of this
country. Mr.. Merrill received
special approval of his action in
promoting the renewal of the Reel
procity Treaty.
Not only under President Cleve-
lands administration, to which he
owed his position, has the late Min
lister Resident received expressions
of confidence from Washington. His
views recommending certain amend
ments in the Extradition Treaty
have been acknowledged by Secre-
tary Blaine as having been "much
appreciated. He has been assured
of the approval of President Har-
rison of the tenor of des-
patch communicated by him on
Samoan affairs. Secretary Blaine's
letter of recall evinces an APP
probation of Mr.. Merrill's services
to his country, which, coming from
the head of the opposite party to his
own, is telling tribute to his career
and shows that nothing but the po-
litical methods prevailing in the
Union dictated his removal. The
Secretary of State, after announcing
the appointment of Mr.. Stevens,
says he is "further instructed to
say that this decision in nowise de-
tracts from the high opinion which
has been formed of your intelligence
and zeal in the discharge of the du-
ties of your station" The letter
concludes with courteous request
that Mr.. Merrill should remain at
his post until his successor arrived,
and with assurances of Mr.. Blame s
personal regard.
The late mistress of the Legation
has not only in that capacity won
the reputation of most amiable
hostess, but, by her cheerfulness,
modesty, and ladylike qualities of
all kinds, she has endeared herself
to Honolulu society. Mrs. Merrill
naturally fell into the heartfelt re-
CARDS of Her Majesty, who esteemed
her as sincere friend. During the
present week the Queen sent her a
large photograph of herself, to
which her autograph is attached
accOmDaniel with the fOllOWino