The record-union., 1893-05-18
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
HONOLULU, May 10.-The shrill voices
OF the sentries calling the hours, and an
nouncing to the slumbering people of
Honolulu that "all is WE'LL" and occa-
sional guards pacing to and fro on their
beats, are the only signs of political
trouble in this city.
AS Honolulu goes, so goes the rest Of
the islands," is a saying here, and the
situation in this city is plainly indicative
Of that on the other islands.
1t Is now a waiting game, with both
sides apparently confident, and saying
and hoping that their particular faction
will win.
The most important event of the past
few days, and even that has been ex-
pected, was the appointment of Lorrin A.
Thurston as Minister to Washington to
succeed ]. Mott Smith. 1t has been
known all along that the position was
Thurston's. and that he could have it
whenever he gave the word, and when
his acceptance of the mission arrived on
the Mariposa, May 4th, he was imme-
diately appointed and his commission
forwarded on the Monowai, which left
here on May 5th.
Thurston was Chairman of the COM
mittee sent to Washington by the Pro-
visional Government to negotiate an an
nexation treaty, and was practically the
prime mover in the revolution which de-
posed Queen Liliuokalani. He is law
yer by profession, born in Hawaii, and is
we'll spoken of by both Annexationists
and Royalists. He is looked upon as
well fitted to conduct the delicate nego-
tiations which are expected to occur
in Washington when Commissioner
Blounts report has been handed in and
considered.
ATTITUDE OF BLoUNT.
Blount's attitude is still an enigma here
and both factions claim that his report
will be in their favor. The man from
Georgia, however, has given no indication
of what his report will be, and both sides
are given up to conjecture, an occupation
which seems peculiarly adapted to Homo
lulu and its surroundings.
The Annexationists are apparently su-
premely confident that annexation to the
United States is inevitable, no matter
what happens, and the Royalists are
equally as confident that Hawaii will not
be annexed.
Both sides appear daily before Com
missioner Blount and present subtle ar
guments in favor of their respective po-
sitions. The points of these arguments
are carefully noted by Mr.. Blount's
stenographer, and voluminous notes are
forwarded by every mail to Washington
for the mature consideration of President
Cleveland and his Cabinet.
Other items of interest and discussion
here have been the passage of what the
Royalists call the Press Gag Law" and
a law prohibiting the possession of fire.
arms and ammunition. The first-men-
toned law, it is admitted by both sides, is
in the nature of special legislation and is
directed against the HoWdit HoIo-
4'ud, newspaper printed in both the
native and English languages. The
paper has been making bitter attacks
against the Provisional Government, and
as its editors and hackers are unknown,
the Provisional Government has to grin
and bear it. The law, therefore, provides
that the true names and abodes of all the
editors and proprietors of newspapers
shall be conspicuously printed in each
paper, thus locating the responsibility
for such articles as may appear. AS the
ex-Queen is popularity supposed to be
one of the proprietors of the Ho{oBluo.
the law is interpreted as a measure to
shut her off from power to incite the ma
tives to opposition to the Provisional
Government.
The other law provides that any person
having reasonable cause to believe that
arms and munitions of war have been
secreted for the purpose of insurrection
and riot or for any other seditious pur-
pose may swear out search warrant.
and if such munitions of war are found
they may be seized and confiscated bv
the Government. This law went into
effect May 5th, and the press law becomes
operative May 10th.
THE NEW CANADIAN PACIFIC LINE.
On May 9Th there appeared in the
newspapers an advertisement to the effect
that on May 18th the first of the Canadian
Pacific's new Australian line would ar
rive here from Australia, and would be
followed by other steamships in June and
July.
By many people here this action is con-
sidered very significant.
The new steamship line is thouoht m
be more than a mere feeder to the Cana
dian Pacific, bidding for the Worlds Fair
business. and those who claim to know
say that the establishment of the steamer
service is in line with Great Britaln's mol
icy to construct a travelling belt around
the world, and that in case annexation is
refused by the United States England can
with good grace step in and take possess
sion of the islands as necessary to the
protection of her interests here.
Another view of the case is, that the
new company is in the field permanently
as the competitor of the Oceanic Steam
ship Company, and intends to make bid
for the mail subsidy now paid the latter
company by the New Zealand Govern
ment.
The agents of the Oceanic Company
here, however, treat the establishment of
the new competing line with great indif-
ference.
They claim that their line is so superior
in point of shorter distance and quicker
time. beside having the advantage of
sending travellers through the United
States. that any steamship line running
TO Victoria or Vancouver and connecting
with the Canadian Pacific cannot hope to
compete with them.
1t is also claimed that the new steamers
really belong to the Union Steamship
Company, which now runs one steamer
between Australia and the United States,
in conjunction with the Oceanic Com