The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-04-20
COMMISSIONER BIOUNT
SAYS HANDS OFF OF HAWAII.
United States PrOtectOrate Over the
Islands AbOlished---The Stars and
Stripes Give Way to the Monarchy
COlOrS

Islands AbOlished---The Stars and
Stripes Give Way to the Monarchy
COlOrS.
HONOLULU, April 6.-The Stars and
Stripes, which for two months have
foated from the government building,
have been hauled down, and the re-
naming forces from the United States
cruiser Boston have been sent on board.
Nothing indicative of American
authority remains in Honolulu, save
Minister Stevens and Commissioner
James H. Blount, of Georgia, the
latter of whom sits in his easy chair at
his cottage, cogitating no one knows
what. On April Ist, in the presence
or crowd, numbering probably 1000
persons, Lieutenant Draper, the marine
officer Of the Boston, blew the notes
Of the retreat from his bugle, and " old
glory" sank from the sight of the
throng, and was replaced by the colors
of the Hawaiian monarchcy, which
still remains the flag of the island.
The report that Commissioner
Blount would order the American flag
down and the protectorate abolished
got abroad on the night of March
3Ist, preceding the day of the occur
renee, but did not become general.
1t created at first among the American
party feeling of CONSERVATION, not
altogether unmixed with Indignation
On the afternoon of March 3Ist the
commissioner held-a lengthy con-
ference with President Dole and the
ministry, at which he notified them OF
his intention to declare off the protec
torate established by Minister Stevens
February Ist. 1t is understood that
he gave as his reason therefor that the
Washington administration did not
regard the protectorate as necessary,
and further, that it was incompatible
with any diplomatic negotiation that
might be arranged between the two
countries. The United States, however,
would brook no hostile interference in
Hawaiian affairs by any foreign power
Conscious of their strength in view of
the latter assurance, the provisional
government somewhat reluctantly ac-
qulesCed in the commissioners
decision, and prepared to order out
their forces to maintain the peace
wi, IL |, hoi continued Il
during the protectorate. At 9 o'clock
on the morning of April 1st President
Dole and the cabinet visited the
barracks and inspected the men under
arms: At 10 O'Clock Companies A.,
B., G. and D., of the volunteers,
assembled, making with the regulars
| about 400 men in ALL
The hour for hauling down the
American flag had been fixed for I I
o'clock. As early as 8 O'Clock in the
morning, however, the streets had
begun to fill, and they were soon
thronged. AT Palace Square the
jumble Of native Chinese, Japanese,
half-caste and Portuguese, and whites
on foot, on horseback and in car
riages, waited to see the flag "that
never came down. come down. On
the faces of the American residents
were looks of chagrin, while broad
grins overspread the faces of many o1
the natives. The majority of the
onlookers, however, preserved stolid
silence. lust before the minute hand
Of the clock in the tower reached the
hour of II the regular troops of the
provisional Government marched into
the enclosure before the Government
building. Following them came Com
pany A., of the volunteers. Immedi
ately in the rear of them came Battery
d., with one Gatling gun and two
Hotchkiss field pieces, which were
placed in position to silence hostile
demonstration should any occur
Company B., of the volunteers, was
left in charge of the barracks, and
Company c., was stationed about the
palace.
The provisional government forces
were all under command of Colone
[ ]. H. Soper. Inside the Government
yard were President Dole, and the
members of his cabinet, Chief Justice
Judd and other officials, officers from
naval vessels in the harbor, promlnen
residents and representatives of the
press. As the hands of the clock
reached the minute past the houl
Lieutenant Draper stepped fortl
amidst sudden hush of the throng
and, facing the Government buildings
raised his busle and sounded the cal
in a clear and distinct uote. Drawn
by unseen agencies, the flag sank from
sight, and a minute liter the Hawaiian
emblem was hoislcu to its place
Scarcely a sound accompanied tht
transformation. Some of 4N0Aican'
officers, as they turned slowly away
said that while the withdrawal of ths
flag might be the proper thing il
international law, they personally fel
as if "we had no right to be here ane
witness the act
Captain Zeigler marched into The
hallway of the building with Gatlin!
gun and field piece and stationed
them at the various enteranCes. Th
other troops were marched to tht
barracks. Lieutenant Draper and hi
squad of marines proceeded to cam
Boston, where they joined tn
battalion under Lieutenant Laird
which, under orders from Admira
Kherrett, evacuated the quarter the
had held SO long. They marched t
the boat landing and embarked to G
t aboard the Boston and remain indef
nitely. Thus ended another eplsod
in Hawaiian history.