The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-10-31
THE CRISIS AT HONOLULU.
The Petitions for British Protec-
torate and the Pledges of Half a
Century Ago.

Washington, Sept. 24.-The hur-
ried passage by the Hawaiian Legis-
lature of resolution of want of
confidence in the new Cabinet, only
two days after its appointment, is
one more token of the political
turmoil in the islands. The Queen .
had Just broken deadlock that had |
lasted two weeks by the selection of |
new ministry, but her effort quickly |
proved futile. The most suggestive
incident, however, in the new phase
of the prevailing discomfort, is the
circulation of petitions to Queen
Victoria to take the islands under
her protection.
That can never be- The renewal
of British annexation in the Pacific
during the last few months, includ-
ing the grabbing of Johnston Island
and the Gilbert archipelago, may
seem to favor this move to put Ha-
wall also under John Bulls guard
ianship; but the real alternative for
the kingdom, should the present
dynasty be overthrown, is a repub
lie, or else annexation to the United
States. A British protectorate is
absolutely out of the question.
In King Kalakaua the United
States possessed such a warm friend
and admirer, that had he been I'M
able to hold the throne, his influence
would perhaps have gone toward "A
republic on the American system or
annexation to the Union. But the
avowed sympathy of his sister and
successor with the English and per
haps the further fact that Mr.. Cleg-
horn, the father of the heir appa-
rent, Princess Victoria Kaiulani, is
of British birth, may encourage the
petitions now circulating.
But there has been no gain of real
Importance for British influence in
the islands. Queen Liliuokalani had
an American husband, Mr.. John O.
Dominis of Boston; and although
his death may have somewhat weak
ened American influence with the
Queen, and although she has frankly
stated that her closest friends
are among the British, she is yet
thoroughly informed of the value of
the relations of her kingdom with the
United States. Certainly she would
not sympathize with petitions seek
ing to make her the mere puppet OF
British control. As to Mr.. Cleghorn
during his last visit to Washington
he made no secret of his preferences
for annexation to America, should
Hawaiian autonomy ever be over
thrown, which of course, he did not
expect. Although born in Scotland
he left that country before he was
five years old, and has lived in Ha-
wall forty years. My sympathies,' "
he said, ARE not with Great Britain,
but with the United States. If the
Hawaiian flag is ever to be sup
planted by any other, which God
forbid, we would rather see in its
place the flag of the United States
than that of any other nation" He
also thought that if the proposed
naval station should be established
at Pearl River Harbor, and the
Monroe doctrine extended to the
islands, there could be no danger OF
any European Government obtain
ing foothold
But the anti-British or the anti,
American views of any individual
are of minor consequence in thi!
matter. The position and strategic
importance of the Hawaiian Islands
are such that British protectorat,
over them could not be suffered
The treaties existing between tn,
United States and Hawaii confiic
with any such notion. In lS4l
while Daniel Webster was Secretar
of State, President Tyler publishe,
declaration called out by certai
indications of a desire on the part q
England and France to subvert tn
native Government. This documen
declared that there would be dis
satisfaction on the part of the Unit
ed States at any attempt by an
other power, should such attempt b
threatened or feared, to take posses
sion of the islands, colonize then
and subvert the native Government
Considering, therefore, that tn
United States possess so very larg
share of intercourse with those is
ands, it is deemed not unfit to max
the declaration that their Govern
ocohS, no pttulld
advantages, no exclusive contrC
over the Hawaiian Government, bu
is content with its independent exis
ence, and anxiously wishes for il
security and prosperity. Its forbea
ance in this respect, under the ci
cumstances OF the very large int
course of their citizens with the is
ands, would justify this Government
should events hereafter arise to r,
quire it, in making decided remol
STRANGE against the adoption of a
opposite policy by any other power
The following year this joint declal
alton was promulgated, having bee
signed at London, Nov. 2S. 1913:
"Her Majesty the Queen of til
United Kingdom of Great Britai
and Ireland and His Majesty tn
King of the French, taking in con
sideration the existence in the Sane
witch Islands of Government cap;
BILE of providing for the regulatio
of its relations with foreign nation
have thought it right to engage n
ciprocally to consider the Sandwic
Islands as an Independent State, an