The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-02-04
A ROUSING MEETING.

On Friday evening mass meeting OF
the fourth ward was held at the Old
Armorv. There was large attendance
including many prominent citizens. The
meeting throughout was Of the most en-
thusiastic nature. 1t was called to order
by Mr.. J. H. Fisher who nominated Mr..
Theo. c.. Porter as chairman amid APP
plause. Mr.. (. O. White undertook the
duties of secretary and Mr.. Luther Will
cox was interpreter.
Mr. Porter said they had met to hear
the views and expressions OF their candi-
dates and others. He would first call
upon His Elk. Mr.. Thurston, Minister of
the Interior.
MIR. L. A. Thurston who was received
with applause, said: The course OF the
Opposition for the last few weeks re-
minds me OF statement recently made
by Chauncey NJ. Depew in connection
with the recent election in New York.
He stated that formerly the Democratic
party learned nothing and forgot moth
ing, that its present opponents learned
nothing and forgot everything. That is
Just the situation with the present Oppo-
sition, although this country has his
tory concerning its relations with France,
England and the United States for the
past fifty years they have learned moth
ing from it, and have forgotten all OF it
that they ever knew. They ignore facts
and history and are running a campaign
on ignorance and prejudice. They are
pursuing the same course and using the
same incendiary arguments and appeals
to race feeling that they did prior to the
3Oth of July last. 1t led to bloodshed
then and will not be their fault if it
does not lead to bloodshed now.
The question OF our relations with our
great neighbor is a live issue with us. 1t
effects us, our children and our future.
The only argument of the Opposition is,
that the Government is trying to sell out
the country, and that the United States
is trying to gobble US up. They state
that we shall have to keep a watch on
the United States, or else they will come
and take away our independence, 1t
shows they have learned nothing Of our
past history. l will state briefly what
the history Of this country with France
and England has been. In 1889 French
man-of-war arrived and demanded
$40. 900 damages. The Government was
very poor and had to scratch around for
money, finally getting it from white peo-
pie. to save bombardment. At the point
of the gun the Captain forced the Gov
eminent to make most unjust treaty,
one claim of which was that there should
not be more than five per cent. duty
charged on imports from France. In
IS43 France and England entered into a
treaty. They agreed not to interfere
with this Government, which was not
party to it. If either country chose to
take the country to-day they could, the
treaty is between themselves, so far as
that treaty is concerned. In 1S49 an
other French war vessel arrived, and
trumping up lot of charges, said if the
Government did not come to terms, the
King would be deposed and they would
take the country. He would not weary
them with all the demands, simply men
tion four as follows: l. That all cores
pondence between the two countries
should be lin French. 2. That the Catholic
schools should have paid Catholic in
spectors; The schools had an inspector
for both Protestant and Catholic schools
8 A small boy having gone into the
Catholic church, made fun of the priest
and stuck his finger in the holy water,
that such sacrilege should not be re-
peated /. Because certain English
sailors had gone into Frenchman's sa-
loon, got drunk on his brandy and broke
his glasses a bill was made out for dam
ages. This last demand was so ridicu-
lous that the merchants subscribed So 80
each and paid the damages. That clause
was withdrawn. While the Government
was trying to arrange matters, and while
the Prime Minister was on board the
French man-ot-war, a squad OF soldiers
was sent ashore who took possession of
the fort, dismantled the guns, threw them
into the harbor, went to Governor Keku-
anaoa's house, smashed the furniture
and threw it into the yard. As a finale
the French took the private yacht be-
longing to Kamehameha Ill. and sailed
it to Tahiti. 1t has never been heard Of
since nor has any compensation ever
been made for it They finally with
drew their claims. Next year DR.. Judd
went to England and France and tried to
arrive at some definite settlement with
the French and see that it should not
De repeated He was put off, and re-
turned to the Islands in 1851 He had
not been home long before another
French vessel came in with similar de-
mands. The Government at that time
was weak, and in desperation the Legis- |
lature passed the following:
JOINT RESOLUTION.
Be it resolved by the Mobiles and Repre-
sentatives of the Hawaiian Islands
in Legislative Council assembled:
That, in the sense of this house, the |
demands OF France are so clearly unjust, |
and contrary to the laws of nations and |
to treaty; and the course pursued by her
is so incompatible with the existence OF |
a regular independent government in |
these islands; if France should persist |
in such course, it will be the duty OF
the king TO shield himself and his king |
dom from insult and oppression, by plac
ing this kingdom under the protection of |
some friendly state, and that should such /
be so urgent as not to admit |
Of the legislative council being convened, |
il shall be left to His Majesty by and |
with the advice of his privy council,
under such emergency, to consult the
honor and safety of his kingdom, accord
ing to His Majesty's best judgment; and
that whatever he NAV do will be bind |