The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-06-10

but, later he sent a letter to the Minister
OF Foreign Affairs stating that he would
make no written application, as it was
contrary to military principles and ETH
quette.
The next step was his reelection by a
majority of the officers. Before we took
action on the reelection the Attorney
General returned.
This brings me to the third branch OF
my statement, viz. the reason why we
have distrusted G. w. Ashford, and this
brings me to one of the most painful ex-
perlences OF my life, because G. w. Ash
ford has not only been my official COM
panion for three years, but because ever
since he came here, seven years ago, he
has been my intimate friend, and in this
world, intimate friends are not many.
have worked with him, trusted him,
have passed through trying periods with
him, shoulder to shoulder, have stood by
| him. When prominent members pro-
posed to put him out of the Cabinet last
Legislature and go on with new Min
lister, l said no, if we go out we go out
together. And wish to say here that l
believe, and know from previous expert
ences many years, that we have never
had an Attorney General who has work
ed harder and more faithfully in the con-
| duct of the business of his office than he
has. The relations of the Cabinet with
the Attorney General continued most
cordial up to the time of his departure
for the United States. He has mem
toned point of difference of opinion
with regard to the treaty 1t did not in
terfere with our cordial relations and
was solely a matter of discussion, and
was adjusted by the Cabinet. As evil
| dence of this and against the published
statements made by G. w. Ashford over
his own signature and before the Finance
| Committee l will read from the reply
on October 4th last to the committee
which waited on the Cabinet concerning
the treaty.
This reply was constructed in the fol-
| lowing manner. After full discussion of
the whole topic. each member of the
Cabinet made draft of reply. Then
sections were taken from each and en-
bodied in the final draft, SO that the
three replies, including Mr.. Ashford's,
are there. The beginning shows that it
is the reply of the whole Cabinet, and
the title so states. The Ministers take
pleasure in informing you, etc. 1t is
signed by the Minister Of Foreign Affairs
because it was matter OF his depart
ment. will read a passage, showing
that there was no difference OF opinion at
that time:
Animated as we are by the desire to
strengthen and extend the commercial
ties which have done 80 much for our
national prosperity, and to secure the
safety and perpetuation OF our institutions
by an alliance whereby we shall have
the positive and efficacious guarantee OF
strong friend against interference by
itself or others with our perfect auton-
omy, independence and sovereignty, we
have instructed our representative at
Washington to ascertain if the United
States would be willing to negotiate with
us Convention whereby the following
objects may be secured"
The Cabinet for more than year
has studied carefully many reasons for
and against the points submitted for nego-
tiation, and has taken counsel with others,
both connected and unconnected with
the government, and has considered var
ious propositions and suggestions some
| of which have been approved and some
disapproved.
Any statements of objects or inten-
tons, and any purported draft of a treaty
stating more or other than is above in
dicated which may have been published
are unfounded and incorrect.
The Ministers are strongly and unani-
mously of the opinion that the accom-
plishment of the objects above indicated
will tend to greatly increase the mater
ial prosperity of the country, and perpet-
uate the independence of Hawaii, land the
sovereignty of His Majesty and his sue
cessors over all his dominions.
Mr.. Ashford left on Nov. Is, 1889, with
the utmost cordiality of feeling between
the Cabinet He left, as he stated, on
account of his health, expecting to stay
over one steamer. Two personal notes
were all we had from him until his re-
turn on March s, 1890. We had other
wise no direct communication with him,
but saw numerous interviews in the
papers in which he discussed all sorts of
subjects, treaties, steamship and tele-
graph communication from Canada, all
vital matters which should have been
dealt with by one in his Office only with
the advice and consent of the Cabinet.
What he did in Canada we do not know.
He gave us the barest outline of what he
did. He did state that he had an inter-
view with the Canadian Prime Minister,
that he travelled as guest of the Can
adian Pacific railroad in a private car
K Attorney-General, No. Then some
one else told me about the private car,
and to this day we don't know what his
objects were or what he did. The first
question which came up after his return
was the Colonelcy. The Attorney-Gen-
eral having returned just before the
second election when the question came
up he Immediately called upon the
Cabinet to reverse it's decision on the
matter, to nominate Mr.. V. V. Ashford
to the King and to appoint him. 1t is
unnecessary to say that the Cabinet pur-
sued no such stultifying course, but fol-
lowed its previous decision. The At
torney- General stated that he considered
this action against his brother as simply
an attack upon the Ashford family, and
he was not going to stand it. The ques-
ton had to be settled and the Attorney
General was requested to state whether