Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-21

San Francisco, Dec. 16.--The steam
er Australia arrived from Honolulu
this morning. She brings adyices to
Dec. 8. The excitement was at fever
heat, but up to that time there had
been no change in the situation.
A press correspondent ut Honolulu
writing under date Of Dec, 8. says:
Since Dec. . no material change has
taken place in the military or political
attitude of the different parties. The
queens adherentS are being secretly
armed The marshal is satisfied that
over 200 new Winchester rifles have
been worked into Honolulu III small
lots from the islands of Maui during
the past month and distributed TO the
royalists. The police force under the
marshal is now large, and in a higher
state Of organization than ever before.
\ yigilant watch is kept upon the
movements of the royalistS. one hun
dred men of the citizens reserve are
selected who will reinforce the station
house ut Il moments notice. The roy
alists express Il certainty that on the,
dIT1Nti Oh the AlttiHeud OH Iuc --u IuSt,t
Minister Willis will carry out his OF
drs TO reinstate the queens govern
ment 1t is not believed the royalists
will make an independent or premature
attack upon the strong position OF the
provisional government.
After hearing Of two days in the
case of +. Wundenburg, the supreme
The court found that Wundenburg had
violently denounced the provisional
government and its chief officers and
stated that it was impressed with the
view that he had done SO because of
his disappointment at not having been
made marshal.
In his testimony Wundenbmg denied
having been an anneXationiSt. It Is
certain, however, that he vehemenly
favored annexation at the time OF
the Ashford and Wilcox conspiracy
for annexation nearly two years ago,
when most of the reform party OPP
posed it as premature and hoped to.
be able to induce the queen to be reas-
GlaDle.
The leading political event of the.
week is the decision OF the government
to proceed at once to remove all EN-
pioyes not distinctly loyal to it..
This deSciSion was alTiyerd at by
vote of the advisory council in regular
and open session on the Tth inst. The
question was submitted TO them by
the executive council for their decision,
49,, Il; Il
one.
Minister Damon had been from the
beginning firmly opposed to such re.
movals, but agreed to be governed
by the action Of the advisory council,
which passed the resolution by vote
Of eleven to one.
Strong pressure has for several
months been made by supporters of
the government upon it to weed
out all disloyal employees. It has hith-
erto been the custom not 10 remove.
the subordinate officials on account OF
political leanings, and Minister Dam0D
has strenuOuSly opposed making change
from the former system.
Since the situation has become crit
cal the demand mas become strongly
accentuated, and as shown by the
vote the government has become near
~ unanimous upon the question. The
debate upon the question was earnest
but conducted in friendly temper.
Rumors were circulated that Minister
Damon would resign. He has public
ly denied any such intention as long
as the provisional government has use
for him. Mr.. Damon's services in es-
tabIishing the financial condition Of
the government are esteemed by of
ficials as of the highest value.
Charles Carter, late commissioner to
Washington, considers the crisis sub
stantially over and thinks the strength
Of the provisional government much
more than adequate to repeI any
United States forces now here. He is
certain that those forces would not
proceed to the extent of bloodshed. He
his personI knowledge that SOME
royalists are quite hopeless