Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30
silver men holding the Senate in session
from Wednesday until Friday morning,
when the repealers gave out.
The Hawaiian Question.

The Hawaiian Question.
Early in January last Liiiuokaiani. queen
of the Hawaiian Islands, determined to get
rid of her cabinet. A resolution of want OF
confidence was moved by one of her parti-
sans in the legislature and adopted. The
cabinet resigned, and the queen appointed a
new one, consisting of Samuel Parker, w.
H. Cornwell, John r. CoIburn and Arthur
+. Peterson. The queen now set about the
PRONUNCIATION of a new constitution, whose
contents have not been made known, but
the general tenor of which was favorable
TO the native population. On January IA
the legislature was prorogued without act
ing on the constitution. The cabinet re-
fused their signatures to it, whereupon the
queen excitedly addressed a crowd or Ia
tives. denouncing her advisers. Loud
while her fallen ministers took measures
for their safety. At a meeting OF prominent
white residents, a committee OF public
safety was appointed and a mass meeting
called for the next day. 1t was held. and
the queens course was condemned. On
Monday, the 18th, the committee issued a
proclamation declaring the monarchy abro-
gated and establishing a provisional gov
eminent until terms of union with the
United States had been agreed upon. A
volunteer force was called out, amounting
to 500 tolerably armed men. y force of
marines from the U. S. s. Boston was land
ed. with two field pieces and a Calling gun,
| to protect American interests. The queen
| decided to surrender without bloodshed.
Within five days a commission, headed by
ex-Premier Thurston, the leading Honolulu
lawyer, was on Its way by special steamer
to the United States TO negotiate an annex
alton treaty. On February / Minister John
l.. Stevens at Honolulu ceclared an Amer
lean protectorate over the islands. The
Hawaiian commission reached Washington
February 3. On February Is, a treaty OF an
nexation having been agreed upon, II was
sent by President Harrison to the Senate.
But the Fffty-second Congr ass vas nearing
Its close and appropriation and other bills
blocked the way 81 the treaty. On Presi-
dent Clevelands accession, deeming undue
haste had been used in the matter, the
treaty was withdrawn from the Senate,
and James II. Blount os Georgia was dis
patched to Honolulu to discover the facts
connected with the overthrow OF the queen.
The report Of Mr. Bloun. that Minister
Stevens had lent me aid of rhc United
States to the revolurionssts, he report of
Secretary Gresham TO the Presiden. that a
great wrong had been done to Liliuokalan!
the Presidents subsequent message to Con-
gress giving his similar conclusions, the ar
rival Of Mr.. Willis of Kentucky as United
States minister at Honolulu. are OF such
recent occurrence as 20 be well known.
The Bering Sea Arbitration.
The tribunal which met in Paris on the
23d of last February to settle the long
standing dispute between Great Britain
and the United States regarding the seal
catching in Boring sea has been called the
most important international tribunal
since the Alabama claims commission OF
1871 at Geneva. Representatives Of France
Italy and Norway Sweden, with two each
from Great Britain and the United States,
! formed the tribunal of seven. After organ
tztng with the election of the French rep
resentative as president, the printed agree
ments on both sides were submitted and
the tribunal adjourned to April 4. The
American claim was that Boring sea was a
closed sea when Alaska belonged to Russia
and that Russia had exclusive right to the
seal fisheries therein and that those rights
were transferred to the United States when
Alaska was purchased The British claim
| was that Bering sea was an open sea, with
all that implies regarding seal catching
therein. Further, Great Britain claimed
| that Russia did not exercise exclusive juris-
diction in Boring sea; that in 1921 she did
attempt to assert such right, but that both
the United States and Great Britain sue
eessfuiiy protested against IL, and, further
| more, the United States from 1867, the
time OF purchase, to 1886 did not advance
claim or exclusive rights in Boring sea.
Finally. Great Britain professed to be ia
vorably disposed to the adoption of general
measures OF control of the fur seal indus
try. From April the tribunal met four
times week to hear argument. James c.
Carter and Frederic r. Coudert opened for
the United States; Sir Charles Russell Sir
Richard Webster and c. Robinson followed
for Great Britain and Z. j. Phelps closed
for the American side. The wide scientific
knowledge displayed by counsel on both
sides and their care in the preparation Of
their arguments excited universal admira-
ton. With the closing remarks of Mr.
Phelps on July the case went to the court
On August Is the decision of the arbitrator
was given out. The decision was against
the United States on every one of the five
points in dispute but one-that America ac-
quired with the purchase of Alaska all the
sealing rights enjoyed by Russia. 1t was
decided that Boring sea was an open sea
and part OF the Pacific ocean, and that
Russia did not enjoy exclusive sealing
rights therein. But the United States gain
ed virtually its case in the protection regu-
lations recommended. These included a
prohibition of sealing within sixty miles of
the Prtbilof Islands, or of sealing during
the season from May 1 to July 81 north of
30 degrees north latitude and east of $50
degrees west longitude. Only sailing YES
sells will be allowed to engage in the trade
and the use of nets, firearms and explosives
is forbidden. These regulations were in
tended to prevent the wholesale slaughter
OF the seals, against which this country had
strongly protested. On the American claim
OF derivative title and exclusive Jurisdiction
in Boring sea Senator Morgan's was the
only vote in favor of the United States.
On the point of alleged proprietary right in
the SEALS upon which great stress was laid
by the United States in the later stages of
the controversy, Justice Harlan sided with
Ills COlledSue III favor. Americans gener-
ally look on the decision of the tribunal as
practical If not theoretical, vindication
of their claims.
The Worlds Fair.
The prelude to the worlds Columbian ex-
position at Chicago in honor of the four
hundredth anniversary of the discovery Of
America by Columbus was the Columbian
naval review in the harbor of New York
on April "a. The gathering of warships
was the largest ever seen. Ten nations
were represented and the officers and men
numbered more than 10000. The vessels
rendezvoused in Hampton Roads and then
proceeded to New York where they were
reviewed by the President, the three cara
vels from Spain, fac SMILES of those in
Columbus fleet, having the place of honor
at the head of the line. A grand ball at
night and parade next day closed the
celebration. On May l the exposition at
Chicago was formally opened. The Presi-
dent and his cabinet and distinguished
persons from throughout the country were
present. An orchestra of GOO musicians
played the Columbian march. Rev. DIR. Mil
burn led in prayer, the prophecy of Co.
lunbus, by w. A. Crofut, was read, Di-
rector General Davis described the labors
of those who had organized the project
and President Cleveland declared the fair
open, touching the electrical key that start
ed the machinery. In accordance with the
invitation of Congress the Duke of Vera
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