Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-06
Ex-MINIsTER AUSTIN.
Not Here With Scheme to Annex the
Sandwich Islands.

Sandwich Islands.
WASHINGTON, September 5th.-The re-
Gently deposed Minister of Foreign Affairs
for the Hawaiian Islands, Hon. Jonathan
Austin, is again in Washington.
Mr.. Moreno, who was at one time For
eign Minister in that country, insists that
Austin is here in response TO an invitation
from Secretary Blaine, and that together
with Hawaiian Minister Carter, who is IN
Europe, the trio have a scheme to annex
the Sandwich Islands to the United States;
but Don Celco Cesar Moreno is utterly un-
reliable, and no credence should be given
to reports coming from him.
The Honolulu Gazette also prints an item
to the effect that Austin is here 10 concoct
a scheme by which the Sandwich Islands
are to be turned over to the United States
Government.
Mr.. Austin's presence here has created
something of furry in diplomatic circles.
Notwithstanding the gentleman's stout as
sertiOn that he is not here on public busi-
ness, it is believed that he has scheme on
hand concerning Hawaii's public affairs.
Mr.. Austin stated to your correspondent
tonight that be was here to visit relatives,
and that no political significance should be
attached to his presence in Washington.
He laughed at the idea that there was a
scheme to annex the Sandwich Islands 10
the United States, and said that not FIVE
hundred men on the islands favored such a
policy As for himself he was emphati-
cally opposed to it, and Minister Carter wa
also.
He said that the present population
would not warrant State government, and
he was sure the people did not desire q
broken down politician to be sent out as
Governor, which would be done if Hawaii
was only Territory. In response to a
question he said that Minister Carter would
not be recalled by the new Minister. Mr..
Carter was popular i'll Hawaii ana was esti-
mated as man of rare ability. He could
remain in Washington as the Hawaiian
representative as long as he liked, but it
was very probable that he would not care
to remain much longer, as he was tired
of it.
The salary of the position said Mr..
Austin, sis 5000. but Mr.. Carter recently
showed me by his expense account that last
year he spent over $4,000"
Mr.. Austin expressed disappointment
that Secretary Blaine was not in Washing
ton. "For," said he, there is just one mat
ter and one matter only that / would like
to consult with him about. namely, the
prospect of laying a submarine cable from
some point on the California coast to Hon.
olulu. know that it would be paying
enterprise as well as great blessing to the
Americans in Hawaii. 1t would prove of
inestimable advantage to the State Depart
ment, too, in the transaction of diplomatic
affairs, which have grown to considerable
proportions. For instance, it was recently
reported from Seattle that Admiral
Brown of the Charleston feared a revo-
luton had taken place at Hawaii. The
people of the coast wto had friends there
and merchants who had heavy CONNER
cial interests on the islands were greatly
alarmed, and yet it was a week or ten days
before news was received by the steamer
Alameda that the report was without
foundation. A project is now under way
to lay cable from Victoria, B. c., to
Honolulu. and if the United States Gov
eminent is wise, the movement will be
headed off by this Government laving q
cable from San Francisco. If the British
Columbia people laid the cable English
affairs on the islands would receive great
impetus and American interests would be
correspondingly deprecated"
Mr.. Austin further said in reply to a
question that under the reciprocity existing
between the United States and the islands
we have considerable advantage over other
sugar-prOouclDg countries, WHICH is Onset
somewhat by the higher prices our plant
ers pay for labor-from $8 to $40 month
more than is paid anywhere else. If free
sugar comes into the United States from
other countries wages of Hawaiian laborers
will be reduced and our planters will not
make quite so much.
Mr.. Austin is of the opinion that Ad-
miral Brown was misrepresented by the
Seattle newspaper reporters. The Admiral
and himself were intimate friends and he
knew him to be a cautious man and one
not calculated to make the statement at
tribGted TO him.