The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-18
FOR an INDEPENDENT HAWAII.
The Purposs OF Minister Thurston's Returu
to the I-lands.


San Francisco. Dec 17-Efrorts were made
here before Minister Tnurston sailed for
Honolulu to get some idea OF his plans. but
without result He was very reticent, and
would only say that his course In Honolulu
would depend much upon circumstances.
Now tho Oakland Enquirer prints what IL be-
lieved here to be true statement OF Thurs
tons plans. which Is nothing less than to pro-
mitigate a new Constitution and form an In
dependent nation. with the present Provisiona al
Government az Its head.
Thurston's idea lie that. the present Govern
ment being recognized as the de facto Govern
ment. any Constitution It may adopt will be
legal on Thursday evening last. the night
before the Honolulu steamer sailed, Thurston
met number OF prominent merchants in
terested In Hawaii at the house Of a rich Hon.
olulu man now residing In Oakland. The
party all had common interests. and Thurston
talked freely. He outlined his plan, which Is
to aid In substituting for the present Govern
ment permanent Government. with Con sti-
tuition which shall make Hawaii q republic
and fsee and Independent nation Of the
earth. All idea OF seeking annexation Is to be
abandoned, for the present at least. and the
Republic OF Hawaii Is to be established. thus
ending the uncertainty In the islands.
The gist OF the Information which Thurston
carries back to Honolulu Is that nothing Is to
be expected from the Government at Wash
ington, and that, therefore. the part OF wisdom
is for the Provisional Government to use it's
present strength and popularity to establish a
permanent government This may not be so
easy II there Is delay and uncertainty. until
dlssenslons creep in and sap the strength OF
President Dole's Administration.
In conversation. Thurston showed that his
mind was made up for the boldest action. He
implied that he was going home not to dis
ouss matters. but to act. III see m cd to enter
tain no doubt that President Dole and the
other members Of the Provisional Government
would be with him heart and soul Asan illus
tration OF his spirit this remark By Thurston
may be mentioned:
Il don't know but what II would be a good
thing II there were little fighting down there.
1t would unto the people"
BY this he was understood to mean COL
lision between the United States forces and
the Provisional Government Thurston said
that nothing was to bo expected from tho
royalists, who must be STAN ped out" As to
details Of new Con stitution. or how It would
be promulgated Thurston said nothing, but
he admitted that the serious obstacle was the
suffrage question. the natives being friendly
to the fallen Queen. He referred to the Portu-
guese settlers. OF whom there are over 5000,
who might be voters. and said he thought they
would stand 10y the new Government. and that
the Japanese. II admitted to suffrage would
do the same.
humorous incident Of the conversation
was reference to the fact that in the late
Presidential election most Hawailans now liv-
ing In the United States voted for Cleveland
because they thought the Democrats would re-
store the tariff on raw su gar. and the Hawaiian
sugar. coming in free under the treaty. would
have the same advantages as before. Thurston
said test vote was taken. for amusement. In
Honolulu and Cleveland had a large majority
over Harrison. Thurston Joined In the laugh
that followed when these "reminiscences were
related and the disappointment in Cleveland
was rememb ered. but his feelings toward the
President were manlfestly bitter.
Thurston was very much In earnest about
his plan. and appealed to several gentlemen
present to accompany him to Honolulu and
create a nation. Whether It was due to his ap-
peals or not, the steamer carried a number OF
influential Hawaiians back to their old home.