The morning call., 1890-09-06
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.
Hon. Jonathan Austin Returns
to Washington.
lie Denies That There Is Any Plot to
Annex the Islands.
Urgent Necessity Of Cable Communication
Between the Two Countries Min.
lister Carter


WASHINGTON. Sept. 5.-The recently de-
posed Minister of Foreign Affairs for the
Hawaiian Islands, Hon. Jonathan Austin,
is again in Washington. Mr.. Moreno, who
was at one time Foreign Minister in that
country. insists that Austin is here in re-
sponse to an invitation from Secretary
Blaine, and that, together with Hawaiian
Minister Carter, who is now in Europe, the
trio have scheme TO annex the Sandwich
Islands TO tie United States. But Don
Celso Cesar Moreno is utterly unreliable
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 TO concoct 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 a furry in diplomatic circles.
Notwithstanding the gentleman's stout as
sertion that he is not here ON public bust
ness, 1t is believed that he has scheme on
hand concerning Hawai's public affairs.
MIR. Austin stated to your correspondent to-
night that he was here to visit relatives, and
that no political significance should be at
tached to his presence in Washington. He
laughed at the idea that there was scheme
to ann&x the Sandwich Islands to the United
States. and said that not 500 men on the
islands favored such policy. As for him
self he was emphatically opposed TO it, ard
Minister Carter was also.
He said that the present population would
not warrant State Government and he
was sure that the people did not desire a
broken-down politician to be sent out as
Governor, which would be done If Hawaii
was only Territory. In response to a ques-
tion he said that Minister Carter would not
be recalled by the new Ministry Mr.. Car
ter was popular in Hawaii and was esti-
mated as man of rare ability. He could
remain in Washington rs the Hawaiian rep
resentative 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, is $1,000, but Mr.. Carter recently
showed me by his expense account that last
year he spent over $4,000" Mr.. Austin
expressed disappointment tha. Secretary
Blaine was not in Washington, "for," said
he, there is Just one matter, and one
matter only, that | would like to consult
with him about, viz. the prospect of laying
a submarine cable from some point on the
California coast to Honolulu. l know that
it would be paying enterprise as well as
great blessing TO the Americans In Hawaii.
1t would prove CT inestimable advantage to
the State Department, too, in the transac-
ton of diplomatic affairs, which have grown
to considerable proportions. For instance,
it was lately reported from Seattle that
Admiral Brown of the Charleston feared
Int. ION ha1 tol-n rN1n in Inu
The people OF the coast who mad friends
there and merchants who had heavy COM
mercial interests on the Islands were greatly
alarmed and yet 1t was Il week or ten days
before news was received by the steamship
Alameda that the report was without foun-
dation. \ project is now under way to lay
a cable from Victoria, Is. C.. 10 Honolulu,
and if the United States Government is
wise the movement will be headed off by
this Government laying cable from San
Francisco II the British Columbia people
laid the cable English affairs on the islands
would receive great impetus, and Amer-
can interests would be correspondingly
deprecated"
Mr.. Austin further said in reply TO
question:; Under the reciprocity existing
between us and this country we have con-
siderable advantage over other sugar-pro-
ducing countries, which is Offset somewhat
by the higher prices our planters pay for
than is paid anywhere else. III free sugar
comes into the United States from other
countries the wages of Hawaiian laborers
will be reduced, and our planters will not
make quite so much"
Mr.. Austin is Of the opinion that Admiral
Brown was misrepresented by Seattle news
paper reporters The Admiral and himself
are Intimate friends, aud he knew him to he
cautious man and one not calculated TO
make the statements attributed 10 him.