The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-25
KANAKAS IN REVOLT.
A Revolution Against Whites
Has Begun in Hawaii.
ADMIRAL BROWNS STATEMENT.
An Uprising Prepared Before the
Charleston Sailed.
ADMIRAL BROWNS STATEMENT.
Natives Will Rebel Against White DOM
ination and Have Probably Risen BY
This Time-England Ready to Seize
the Plum.

Some interesting news concerning Hawaiian
affairs was learned from Admiral Brown yester.
day by PosT-lNTELLIGENCER reporter It will
be remembered that the Charleston left Homo
lulu on the 7rh OF this month. aud the last
steamer for San Francisco on the first OF the
month, ak days before. No more news will be
received till the Soth, when another steamer
will reach San Francisco. Accordingly the word
which Admiral Brown brings is the latest The
fact that the admiral has been to the Hawaiian
Islands several times and has an unsurpassed
acquaintance with the affaiis of that kingdom
lends peculiar interest to all he says.
The Charleston lay at Honolulu for two months
and ten days. Her obieCt iu going, as has be-
fore been stated, was to protect American inter-
ests; for in the islands are many Americans, aud
about so per cent. of the capital invested there
is from this country. Sine the political condi-
tion of the Hawaiian gov rament is more or
less precerious, our adm inistration deemed it
best to have the Charleston on hand during a
period which il was believed woul d be a trying
one. In his talk with the PosT-iNTELLIGRNcER
reporter Admiral Brown summed up the 81 ua-
tion about as follows:
'The present constitution of the Hawaiian
government was I'd pied IN 1887 Previous to
that time the king who possessed large powers
had been negotiating extensive loans, some
times of a million dollars or more; and the peo-
pie felt that he was running the country too
heavily In debt. OF course he found little did,
Guilty in getting the money: because the English
capitalists were only too glad to lend to King
Kalakaua. You see tine English government
practically, though not nominally, guarantees
the loans by English syudicates aud banks to
foreign countries. II the king of the islands
should default in interest or principal, then the
English would have pretext for stepping In,
taking possession OF tie custom houses, and. IN
reality. getting hold of the government, in or
der as the English say, TO protect their inter-
ess. This is thing which England has done
before, and it is part OF the policy.
'But, a. say. the peop.e rotestsd against the
governments assuming such heavy debts; and
SO through the efforts OF wast is known as the
Reform party new const tuition was adopted in
1887, greatly restr citing the power o. The king in
every Way, Dut specially as regards the borrow
lng and handling Of money. Uuder his new
constitution things Lave been running with q
certain amount of friction sver since.
"But new element is coming into political
prominence, or rather an old element is getting
greater strength. Hitherto the government has
been managed, in fact at least, by Europeans
and Americans, chiefly the latter. for the reason
thai these foreigners have been tine only ones
fitted by education, training and experience for
conducting affairs. The islands, however, have
natives have been well educated. In many in
stances the young men have been sent to
Europe and to America 10 receive still greater
advantages. The result has been that those
educated natives-perbaps / might say over
eoucattd-have become unwilling TO 90 into
the trades or become clerks or subor-
dinates in shops and factories. They
wish to be doctors, lawyers to
go to the legislature and to become professional
They baus. faif n fhax
petent to conduct the Hawaiian government.
and that the part played by foreigners in the con.
troi OF affairs was an unwarrantable interfer-
ence with their sacred rights. Accordingly
these schooled natives have gathered around
them band of followers daily increasing in
strength, who have ra.sed the cry, Hawaii for
Hawaiians.' These malcontents form part at
least OF what is known as the National Reform
party. Through their agitation a revolutionary
spirit has been steadily growing and threaten
ing trouble.
"1he feeling against foreigners has been in
tensifed by the action of the pre- ent legislature
In May this body, through the influence of the
National Reform party-not the Reform party
which put through the present constitution
passed vote declaring a lack OF confidence in
the ministry. Since the governm MT is con-
Quoted somewhat on the English plan, this vote
was request for the ministry To resign The
resignation was made. aud new cabinet
formed, with Jonn Cummings. native, at its
head as premier. OF the other three
cabinet officers, Mr.. Spencer the minister OF the
interior, IS an American; Mr. Peter on, the at
torney general. is also an American, and Mr.
Brown, the minister of finance is an English
man by birth, though he has spent his life in
the United States and In the Sand wich islands.
Thus it happens that Mr.. Cummings is the only
one of the cabinet thoroughly repres sDta,iye of
the National Reformers The other three are at
best what might be called mugwumps. Since
Mr.. Cummings formed this cabinet and put no
natives into it, a strong feeling has grown up
against him in his own party. So by this means
the present government has been further weak
ened.
THUS it happens that this ministry, COM
posed so largely OF aliens, has given the revolu.
tionists an excuse for further complaint and az.
itation. Accordingly, the malcontents have
been working up the natives to feeling of hos.
tility TO the government, aud what Ia more, they
have prepared a new constitution closely re-
sembling that in force before 1857. especially as
regsrds giving the king power. The constitu-
tion of 1857 was really revolutionary. sirce it
was not adopted in accordance with regular
legal processes. but 1t has been in full force for
three years and has the authority of established
fact This constitution of 1887 contains a clause
providing for amendments. According to this
provision any proposed change must be passed
Dy TWO SUCCESSIVE eSIstdluF6S 6RQ approved Dy
the king. Now the revolutionists do not care
to wait so long; for the legislature meets bien.
nialiy. II they carried their point with this
they might fail with the next, and
even were they sure OF the next. there would be
the inevitable delay of two years. so they have
been preparing for a revolutionary step.
ITO this end they tried by act of legislature TO
get the independent troops out of the way; for
example, to disarm and disband the two COM
- u1nnIt.lu ~
young Americans who will espouse the cause of
the present constitution. for the Americans are
contented with the existing government and il
is satisfactory to our interests in the island
But the discontented p-rtv has not succeeded
in getting lid Of these troops. which would be a
big obstacle in their way
"The malcontenis have also been trying to get
q constitutional coayeIton which shall adopt
their proposed obstituilon; but this plan. If
openly brosched in The legislature, will be vo ed
down by that body on tn ground that IL is revo-
In ionary Ii will be opposed by the Reform
party, and by certain OF the Nationals as well,
who have little sympathy with the disgruntlei
but thinE that Bswaii will prosper most uncer
the present regime. From this it can be seen
that the National Reformers are divided, many
Of them opposing revolution.
ssS III another cause Tor Illegal outbreak NAV
be mentioned. The reyolu.ionists want the Of
fees at the disposal of the government: for
though Hawaii is small. il has full Sc, of
Offices for larger kingdom. The maicontents
have in meetings with the Mechanics Union
passed Z so Il ions asking that this patronage.
A. we cal il here, be gwen to natives and 10
members OF Their osn party. Tn s request,
however has been ignored By the government
Back Of these things are several other fac
tors which enter into the caieulstion. The con-
stiiution proposed by the revolutionists gives,
as have said. more authority 10
the king: so naturally he favors
It, and lends his support to the