The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-02
sPRRCKBLs' FINE HAND.
The Big Sugar Man Said to Be a Prime
Work er in the Revolution.

From the NeD York World.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.-Facts have
leaked out which show clearly that the in
trigues which resulted in the overthrow Of
the Hawaiian government had been going
on for several months, and that Claus
Spreckels was chief mover. He was the
power behind the throne in Hawaii during
the greater part of Kalakaua's reign. A
man of affairs who is intimately acquainted
with Hewalians matters said to-day:
"Spreckels made the islands the greatest
sugar-I reducing district in the world and
be has always felt proprietary interest in
them. Twelve years ago, when he was at
the hight of his power, he dictated what
he wanted, and kalakaua obeyed.
The king actually permitted Spreckels to
food the country with Mexican silver, by
which deal the sugar planter made about
S250000, out of which Kalakaua got fat
percentage. 1t was notorious then that
Kaakaua could keep no cabinet that was
opposed to Spreckels
Finally several rich men in Honolulu
loaned the king enough money to free him
from his heavy debts to Spreckels They
obtained In return the opium concession
and other lucrative monopolies which
Spreckels had previously handled.
THE result was a hig row between the
king aud Claus Spreckels, in which ksla-
kaua declared that he had gained bis indie
D6uu6BCG anu pEOpOSeO 10 Keep duu Ol6uB
swore he would have revenge before the
year was ended.
"Soon after this occurred the Wilcox
revolution of 1887 which was really formid-
able, and was only put under by the prompt
action of the foreigners who were opposed
to SpreckelJ and in favor of retaining Kala-
kaua-
There was much talk of annexation then
by the Spreckels element, but il came to
nothing. What they did accomplish, how
ever, was the change Of the constitution,
stripping the king of many fat perquisites
and the greater part Of his power. 1T was
a crushing blow to Kalakaus, and he always
attributed it 30 Spreckels' revenge.
The feeling against the king was kept
alive by ma in,riguerS enlisted in the
SpreckelS interest. The best takers among
the HaWaiians we're constantly haranguing
public meetings about the necessity of an
nexation or a republic, and this talk finally
resulted in the absurd revolution, headed by
Wilcox, which was stamped out little
over year ago.
This was regarded more as an opera
bouHe than as genuine revolt. but it
sutiiced to keep agitation lively, for the
government dared not punish Wilcox, and
contented itself with banishlng Volvey V.
Ashford and several other conspirators
when the new queen came into power
Spreckels at once began his old devices TO
secure control of her, as he had controlled
kalakaua. He worked through her pocket.
He induced a syndicate of schemers to start
postal savings bank with the backing Of
the government.
The natives were encouraged to deposit
their savings in the bank, but il soon leaked
out that the deposits were used for public
improvement, and when run began the
bank couldn't pay, and the government
credit was ru ned.
This distressed the queen greatly, for
she suddenly found herself unable to pay
her palace servants and guards. Then
Spreckels appeared with offers of small
loans, and since then he has made the queen
advances of money until she is SIPS, 900 in
his debt
"In the meantime the sugar planting in
Gustry fell on evil days. the old supply OF
Portugal and South Sea Islands labor could
not be renewed. Then Japanese we're I'M
ported until now there are over IS 900 Of
these people working in the cane fields
when the Mckinley bill removed the
bonus OF cents per pound on Hawaiian
sugar all the profit was swept away. 1t
costs now about Sl5 more to produce ton
OF sugar in Hawaii than it can he sold for.
''5preckels is the heaviest stakeholder in
the ia ailan Commercial Company W hich
controls practically all the sugar produced
on the islands. The company lost over
100000 last year. The stock fell in few
months from 500 down to 81 per share.
The shareholders met in November and
Spreckels submitted proposition to assess
each share So or to permit him to foreciOse
the first mortgage which he held on the
bonds of the company for $1,000 The
stock was held by many small planters.
ut had been one OF the bonanzas of the
coast, paying in seven years as high as S25
In dividends on each STARE. The stock
holders declined to pay the assessment, but
very few came to the SC atch, and last
week nine.tenths OF the stock was sold for
I'D oh bod hTrC
There is talk of an Injunction to declare
the sale invalid, but no legal action has
yet besn taken.
Now hero comes the milk in the cocoanut
OF the revolution. If the United States can
De induced to annex the islands, this Ia
Wslian Commercial Company will jump
from 10 cents to SIS a share within week,
and every sugar planter on the islands will
see an immediate increase OF 30 per cent. in
the value of his cane fields and sugar mills.
The moment annexation goes into effect
naval becomes vital part of this coun-
Try, and every pound Of sugar produced on
Tue Islands receives cents bounty. This
amounts to the fat sum Of $40 per ton aud
represents good profit to the planters.
is it any wonder that Claus SpreckelS,
having engineered the gigantic deal by
which he and his association have wrecked
and Their absorbed the Hawaiian CONNER
Clal Company, should now desire to put the
hnishing touch to the deal by securing an-
nexstion to the United States!
by it they will rake in s., 900 on the
increase In value of the compnny's stock
end millions year on sugar bounties. His
own extensive plantations, will be converted
from losing TO paying business, and
Taae with the islands, the transportation of
which he controls, will be vastly increased.
iaikit all around, annexation will put
INTO n SDreckels' own pockets not less than
SLO'OOo,OOO in cash, larger sum than he
Meaned up by his shrewd opposition to the
sugar trust and his fiual selling out to that
Olg monopoly"
ne men who are mentioned as Spreckels'
associates in this scheme are Bishop, Irwin
alu Damon, all influential Hawaiian capital
s's. Bishop owns the largest banking bust
ger. 20 us
Damon figured as one of the advisory