The record-union., 1893-03-02

gain pure Hawaiian vote, and without
that vote annexation could be neither
completed nor carried out hereafter. I
then urged that council of all classes of
voters should be called, carefully revise
the Constitution presented them: that the
Queen should be requested to abdicate
and the Princess Kaiulani should be pro-
claimed Queen, with a Council of Re-
gency. of which 1 suggested that Dole,
now head of the Provisional Govern
ment, should be President. On February
18th ! received this cablegram from
Washington: Islands transferred; Prin-
cess provided for
whether this cablegram was to be
considered an official communication, I
do not know. but was the only commu-
nication which reached me, and abso-
lutely none has reached the Princess.
The most striking fact of this cablegram,
next apparent to heartlessness, is that It's
accuracy was not confirmed by any teie-
grams that had been published in Eng
land. Why it was sent, or who sent it, [
do not know, but as loyal guardians and
faithful friends, there was only one thing
for US to do, to stand beside the Princess
in the presence of those representatives
of Hawaii who would transfer her birth
right without civility, humanity, or one
word to her of explanation or even of
sympathy.
1--WE come here with no official status
and no official information, but with the
conviction that the Government and peo-
pie of the United States will not lend
their countenance to the disinheritance
for no fault alleged against her or her
nation. This royal lady has with singu-
lar grace and courage endeavored to fit
herself for her high station, and shrunk
from neither duty nor sacrifice in that
effort.
Il feel good deal Of sympathy for the
Commissioners, who must find them
selves in a position of great embarrass-
ment. Several of them were concerned
in the preparation of the Hawaiian Con-
stitution in 1887, which they compelled
the King to accept and still maintain. At
least four of the Commissioners have
taken oath to the same Constitution, and
1t has been adopted by the nation. When
Llliuokalani assembled the throne she
took the usual oath, and by that Consti-
tuition the Princess kaiulani was pro-
claimed heiress to the throne. The
Queen appears to have violated her con-
stitutional oath and laid herself open to
deposition, but that cannot affect the Con-
stitution itself nor the oaths which the
Commissioners took
There is no pretense that the Hawaiian
electorate ever knew of a revolution at
the date of the Commissioners departure
on their present mission, and it is diff
cult to see how they can so sufficiently
define their present position as to enable
them to write to the heiress apparent and
announce to her the circumstances of
their arrival. | do not for q moment be-
lieve any OF them would be guilty of in
territorial cruelty or even discourtesy to
the Princess, and the inconceivable treat
ment which their silence toward her has
betrayed them into must arise from the
difficulty they find in reconciling their
present attitude, with the knowledge that
their oath to sustain the Hawaiian Con-
stitution binds them to the succession of
the Princess, unless the nation itself re-
leases them from that OATH"
In the short talk Davies said he was de-
lighted to learn that the question of the
annexation of Hawaii had taken turn
in the Senate, and was practically laid
over for the consideration Of the next adj
ministration. I'VE do not mean to get a
hearing with President Cleveland in any
official capacity" he said, "but simply as
private indivuals. What his decision is
will scarcely be affected by our visit. The
Princess felt in the face of the threatened
annexation of Hawaii by the United
States that she ought to come here, where
she could learn directly what was the
true sentiment of the people. We will
remain here until after March 4th. From
here we proceed to Washington, W here
we expect to see Mr.. Cleveland"