The record-union., 1893-09-01
Special to the RrcoRp-uS1ox

HoNoLULU, Aug. PA crime involv-
ing an insult to the Government of the
United States has been one of number
OF sensations happening here since last
advices were forwarded.
On the night before last the United
States Consulate was broken into and
everything in the shape OF documents
and papers in Consul General Seyerance's
room Overhauled; nothing was taken.
Entrance was made probably through a
skylight and exit through a door in the
shipping office. Those connected with
Che Consulate have attempted to keep tho
matter dark, but the story leaked Qua
yesterday. 1t is the general belief tha1
the ROyalists made the raid in the hopa
of finding some documents that would
throw light on the probable attitude Of
! the United States on Hawaiian affairs.
1t has been known for some time that
| the kOyallsts fear the case is going
against them, and it is significant that tho
| overhauling took place shortly after Ad-
miral Skerrett checked a threatened out-3
break by his prompt order to the Bos-
| toms men. 1t is said here that the threats
and late actions # the ROyalists are duo
TO the reply made by Minister Blount,
just before he left, that the United States
would never recognize any faction not in
control OF the seat Of government and tho
executive buildings.
Since last writing there has been moro
! or less agitation and excitement here. on
last Thursday evening the Government
| was in possession Of information which
| pointed to the attempt, long threatened,
| OF unseatlug the Provisional Govern
| ment. 1t IS understood that Marshal
! Hitchcock had sufficient evidence to con
meet the Ashford brothers with tho
| scheme.
! At about 8 o'clock last evening Attor-
! ney-General Smith called on Admiral
Skerrett, and IN an unofficial manner laid
! the facts before him. The Admiral said
| nothing, but Immediately sent orders
! aboard the nited States steamer Boston
to have battalion ready to land on fif-
| teen minutes notice. The ship was under
arms all night, and the men were de-
! prived of shore liberty for several days
thereafter.
The Government was not aware Of tho
/ AdmlralS action until the next day. No
outbreak took place, but Admiral Skier
rett evidently showed he did not intend
! to allow the peace and quiet Of the cOuu-
/ try 10 be disturbed. The Provisional
Government IS highly pleased at Sker-
| retts prompt action without their re-
| quest, and Americans claim il outlines
the future policy 10 be pursued toward
| the Provisional Government III case its
| existence Is threatened.
Several facts were back Of the Amer
| lean AdmlraPs action. One was "a propo-
sitIon to have the ex-Queen raise her
standard on the Island of Maui, which
would call the troops from Honolulu and
! give the ROyalIsts a chance to seize the
Government buildings. Another was that
the cOnsplratOrs would explode dynamite
and fire buildings in Honolulu, and
would seize the Government during the
confusion.
The Government was in no wav
alarmed and had not expected Admiral
Skerrett to interfere. The military had
been warned and special orders issued to
the five hundred reserves who could have
been rallied i'll twenty minutes. The
effect OF Admiral Skerrett's action has
been salutary, however, and the last
threatened seizure of the Government
has melted into the air like previous
schemes.
Admiral Skerrett has since admitted
that he acted entirely on his own aulhor-
lty. The opinion prevails here that had
the Boston's troops landed the stars and
stripes would have gone up again never
to be lowered. When asked thu direct
question Admiral Sllerett would not deny
this Interpretation of his action.
The ROyalists deny that any outbreak
was contemplated, but the facts in the
possession OF Admiral Skerett and the
Provisional Government point very
strongly the other way, and are believed
to have been serious enough to Justify
action had movement been made or
even threatened.
F. NJ. Hatch, an American, has been
elected lce-President of the Provisional
Government, to succeed w. c. Wilder,
who has gone to the United States.