Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-02-02

tic squadron was in San Francisco with
wooden ship and, acting on Geographic
orders from Washington, sailed for
Honolulu at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
The iron ship Ranger has been ordered
from Mare Island to San Francisco to
await orders.
All our modern WarShipS, except the
Boston, are on the Atlantic at present
on the way to take part in the naval re-
view at New York.
The powerful coast defence ship Mon
terey is at this port and could be sent
on short orders but it being of the coast
defense type, the ship has rather
limited coal supply to permit it being
sent to the Sandwich Islands.
William C. Wilder, another of the
commissioners explained the situation
of the affair to an associated press re-
porter. Mr.. Wilder is president of
the Hawaiian Inter-island Steamship
company and has Il large interest in
Hawaiian property.
! He said if the United States wants
1.-THE Hawaiian Islands she can have
them now and on terms more favorable
than ever before offered or will ever
be offered again.
/ All Americans on the island are
unit for annexation and the new pro-
'yiSional government and it's aims are
! uppolt by near y all the Engi sh there
and all Of the Germans.
might ASK urea, iirIEain's for AID.
Foreign interests in Hawaii amount
! to about $4O,OOO,OOO, $30,0OO,OOO of
! which is III the hands of Americans -
continued the commissioner. Honolulu
is as much an American city as San
Francisco itself.
I If the United States government
should refuse to annex the islands do
you think Great Britain would step in
and take possessiOn?' was asked.
That question L cannot answer
said Commissioner Wilder, but this l
do know: the Queen is strongly in
favor of British rule and il allowed,
would, l have no doubt, apply to Great
Britain for protection
why was the British government the
only one Of the powers represented in
Honolulu that did not recognize the pro-
! FlSlOnu government!
That L do not know
Queen Linuokalani," continued Will
der, - if allowed to carry out her plans
would have become an absolute deSpOt
of the islands; no whites would have
been allowed to vote; the house of no.
bles would have been abolished; the SUI
preme court judges, who are now
fp1 tod
for Il SiX-year term only, and would
have been subject to the dismissal of
the Queen. We were glad to have the
cruiser Boston stationed at Honolulu
narbor. While she did nothing beyond
landing armed sailors and marines who
patrolled the streets, yet the moral eff
feet was good and probably quelled any
disposition to fighting on the part Of
the natives had there been any"
/ Sec. Foster Co"fers W ith the President.
WaShingtOn,J Jan. 2S.-An interview be-
tween Secretary of State Foster and
DR.. Smith continued for some time. At
the close Secretary Foster went over to
the white house and had a conference
with President Harrison. While, of
course, no statement of the policy to be
pursued by the United States in the
matter will be made at least until after
the arrival of the commissioners from
Hawaii, it may be said that the visit
of the Hawaiians will hardly be success
full, if the purpOrt thereof has been
correctly stated.
In the house Of representatives there
was a strong feeling expressed by lead
ing democrats against anneXat ton. At
the same time there was an equally
unanimous opinion that no other ma
ton should be permitted to step in
and control the destinies of the Islands.
1t was said by several congressman
that the course that Hawaii is adopt
ing in seeking annexation is practically
the same as that taken by Texas when
it became part of the United States
Naval officers are enthusiastic over
the news from Hawaii.
Chairman Thurtsn Talks.
San Francisco, Cal, Jan. 2S.-Lorrin
A. Thurston, chairman of the Hawaiian
commission, said this evening: Things
are in such a condition now, that no
party or class of residents is fully
capable of establishing a stable govern
ment. They must look outside and nat
urally come to the United States The
condition of affairs is much more threat
ening than is indicated by the
statements published in the Hawaiian
papers. 1t was the declared intention of
the Queen to ultimately expel all for
eigners from the Islands. The proposed
DISTINGUISHING of all except native born
was to be the first step.
THE old treaty between France and
England, made in 1912, recognized the
independence of the Islands and bound
each nation not to take possession of the
Islands. 1t is clear, in view of these,
that England cannot annex nor can
France. The United States at the time
that this treaty was negotiated, refused
to be bound or to join in the treaty.
In other words, it refused to pledge
itself not to take possession of the Isl
ands but simply recognized the indepen-
dence Of the government.
Commissioner Thurston said he had
great hopes that this country would SC
cept the Islands. IF they do not" said
he, 'our mission is done; hut the people
In the event of refusal, will surely turn
to England, who will be only too glad
to take u.s.