The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-06
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press1
HONOLULU, March 29.-The United
States revenue cutter Rush arrived here
this morning, nine days from San Fran
cisco, having on board ex-Congressman
bIount of Georgia, who was appointed
commissioner 10 investigate the existing
conditions in Hawaii and report as to the
expectancy of annexation of the islands
10 the Unlted States. AS soon as the cut
Ter was sighted off Koko Head at \. NJ.
the business men went to work and in
short time the streets and buildings were
covered with flags and bunting. The
townspeople turned out en- mass. and by
II o'clock, when the Rush anchored in
Naval Row. the docks and streets were
crowded.
The mail steamer Australia, which was
scheduled to leave at noon, was held
back and from her deck the band of the
Provisional Government welcomed the
new arrivals with the strains of the 1.-The
Star Spangled Banner" A delegation
from the Annexation Club hastily
formed, and welcomed the Commissioner
at the boat-landing. a party of about
seventy-tive Hawaiian women from the
Women's Branch of the Hawaiian Patri-
Quo League, bearing American and Ha-
wanan flags, also proceeded to the docks.
DIR. j. S. McGrew, Chairman, and Pro-
lessor Scott and General Hartwell, as
committee from the Annexation Club;
United States Minister Stevens. f. p.
Hastings, Aide TO President Dole; Major
InhnrtSnr ha
and the newspaper correspondents put
Oil to the Rush to pay their respects to
the commission. The news that but one
person had been sent in that capacity TO
the islands soon spread to the shore and
occasioned much surprise.
Commissioner Blount declined to be
interviewed for publication, but from
casual conversation it would seem that
his labors here may cover a period of
several weeks. The Rush will probably
return 10 San Francisco in the meantime.
Commissioner Blount did not leave the
steamer for several hours, and conse-
quently the reception by the Hawaiian
League and Annexation Club did not
lake place. The Rush brought dispatches
from Washington to Admiral Skerrett,
and also to the Provisional Government.
but the nature of them could not be
learned.
After the first feeling of surprise had
passed away, expressions of satisfaction
at the personnel of the commission pre-
vailed among the annexationists. The
Hush brought no mail from the States.
and the arrival of the Rio de Janeiro,
which is expected to put in here to-mor-
row on her way to China, is awaited for
further particulars as to the sentiment in
America.
The past two weeks have been fruitful
OF political matters, and the general
lethargy Of the Hawaiians prior to March
18th has given way to action The Civil
Rights League and the Hawaiian Patri-
otto League have held frequent mass
meetings, at which either annexation or
dlstranchisement were the respective sub
lects of denunciation.
On the evening of March Dist, the day
before the arrival of the steamship Aus
tralia with the news that the annexation
treaty had been shelved, a rousing meet
ing of white residents, numbering fully
l,5O0, was held at the large drill shed adj
joining the armory OF the Provisional
Government, at which an annexation
club was formed which now has about
1900 members.
Speeches were made by some of the
most prominent men in Honolulu.
Robert Wilcox, the editor of the Liberal.
was made one of the Presidents of
the Iclub, and was the only Hawaiian
who prominently allied himself with the
honor
forced upon Wilcox, who had hitherto
considered that his influence would be
greater among the natives if he held aloof
from open demonstrations.
The escape of Imada Yasaki, a Japan
csc murderer, to the cruiser Naniwa on
March 18th, and refusal of Captain Togo
of the Naniwa to give him up on the re-
quest of the Provisional Government.
caused considerable excitement for a
time, especially when the rumor ci-cu-
lated that the Boston's guns would en-
force the demands of the Provisional
Government.
1t is needless to state that the American
naval forces did not contemplate any
interference, and that the Provisional
Government, recognizing the fact that it
has no extradition treaty with Japan and
must therefore rely on international
courtesy to turn over a convicted Grim
inal, did not unduly press the matter.
Captain Togo has referred it to his Gov
eminent and will act in accordance with
the instructions he may receive.
Hon. John +. Bush, ex- Representative
and editor of the hd Leo newspaper, and
Mr.. Marsden, one of the Hawaiian Com
missioners from Washington, returned
here on the Australia March 22d. AS
soon as the steamer arrived within hail
ing distance of the dock, Bush mounted
the rigging and called out in the Hawaiian
language: NO annexation yet; the treaty
has been tabled and a commission is COM
ing down TO find out what you want and
give you your rights"
\ yell OF joy went up from the crowd
OF natives who lined the shore, and the
lace of Marsden, who stood near Bush,
flushed as the natives turned their looks
of triumph on him. Bush continued to
call out the good tidIngs as the steamship
slowly steered to her anchorage and a
roll of applause everywhere followed the
remarks of the "Hawaiian patriot"
The native does not attend annexation
meetings, nor those presided over by
friends of the Provisional Government,
or the so-called missionaries. conse-
cuentlv it is from speakers like Ashford,
Creighton, Rosa, Bush and others that be
learns what the United States is going to
dc.