The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-27

position was made, fired. The raising of
the stars and stripes allayed all appre-
hension from that source; for however
much she might dare attempt with Ha-
wali, she must treat her great neighbor,
| Uncle Sam, with all due respect.%
| And so matters have stood for weeks.
| The Kongo and Ell, M. S. Garnet have
both left port, leaving in the harbor only
the two American men-of-war Boston
and Mohican, and the Nanira, infinitely
superior to either.
Affairs at Washington have progressed
slowly. To the law makers there of
course this has been but one of many
important questions to be dealt with,
but here it is the first and, until the
question is settled, almost the only mrt-
ter of interest. Business is practically
suspended, for no one dares risk capital,
| not knowing what the event will be.
When, March 20, the revenue cutter
Rush arrived, bringing Commissioner
Blount much relief was experienced, and
| hope revived that affairs would come to a
| speedy termination. But nothing of an
| encouraging nature has yet developed.
On Saturday morning April 1, a rumor
hurried from street to street that made
even the stoutest hearts quail. With
| CHASTITY smiles men assured each other
that it was only an April fool. But it
| proved too true; and at II o'clock, bv
| order of Commissioner Blount, the stars
and stripes over the government build
| ing was lowered, and the Hawaiian flag
raised. The troops of the Boston were
withdrawn from the government build
| ing, and replaced by the forces of the
| provisional government.
Colonel Blount's action is meeting with
severe censure by American residents
here; and will, am sure, in the States,
when the facts are fully known. "Old
| Glory has never been in the habit of
being lowered, and it gave us all feel
ing of humiliation to see it go down. l
can yet feel my cheeks burn with the
shame of it. Many were downright an
| cry. l heard one man hiss "a Northern
southern rebel pulled it down. which
was literally true; only it wasn't nice to
say, and L have no doubt but that Colonel
Blount has entirely outlived the days of
the confederacy, and is as strong a Union
man as any Northerner.
| No one knows the why for the where
fore. If, as is probable, the Democratic
| party wish to carry the negotiations on
| entirely in their own hands, and to undo
all the beginning of the Republican party
| the idea is most puerile, and is entirely
| unworthy of representative body of
| American statesmen.
Minister Stevens has been eminently
wise and faithful in all his diplomatic
services, and, am safe in saying, is more
honored and respected by foreign resi-
dents than any other man upon the
islands. We Main1acs are proud to claim
him of our own Pine Tree State. The
| insult to him is most marked, and clear
and satisfying explanation should be de-
manded by all American people.
Colonel Blount's action in lowering the
American flag has caused SO much criti-
cism and ill-feeling that he takes occas-
ion in the Hawaiian Star of April 9Th, to
| justify This course in regard to the flag,
on the ground that it was desirable to
have the Provisional government stand in
a position with its sovereignty unimpaired
by any foreign power" Mr.. Blount also
ministry that the United States will brook
no interference with the Hawaiian gov
eminent by any foreign power.'
All very well, and the explanation that
every one expected, but am not logical
enough to see, if the protectorate is really
abolished, as the lowering of the flag
would indicate, why Commissioner Blount
has power to taboo all otherpowers. The
| general sentiment still is that Minister
| Stevens is left in an uncomfortable posi-
| ton.
The list of members of the Annexation
Club lengthens daily. About 5000 names
| are now enrolled with 25 per cent of them
| natives. The sentiment among the better
class of natives is almost universally in
favor of annexation, and is rapidly in
creasing.
A MAINE WOMAN.