The herald., 1893-01-29


have te refer all euch matters to the
provisional government at Honolulu"
MR.. wILDER's STATEMENT.
William G. Wilder, another of the
commissioners, explained the situation
of affairs to an Associated Press repre-
sentative. Mr.. Wilder is president of
the Hawaiian Interislsnd Steamship
company, and is heavily interested in
Hawaiian property. He said: "lf the
United States wants the Hawaiian is
lands che can have them now, and on
terms more favorable than ever before
offered, or than will ever be offered
axain. All the Americans on the islands
are unit for annexation, and the new
provisional government and its aims are
supported by nearly all the English
there, and all the Germans. The for
eign interests in Hawaii amount to about
$40 900, 900, $50, 100000 of which is in
the hands of Americans. Honolulu is
as much an American city as San Fran
cisco ITSELF"
'If the United States government
should refuse to annex the islands, do
you think Great Britain will step in and
take possession ?" was asked.
THAT question / can not answer" "
said Commissioner Wilder, shut this l
do know, the queen is strongly in favor
of British rule; and, if allowed, would,
| have no doubt, apply to Great Britain
for protection"
"Why was the British government the
only one of the powers represented in
Honolulu that did not recognize the pro-
yisional government"
"1hat / do not know. England is
represented on the islands by Commits
sioner j.. H. Woodhouse. He, in COM
mon with the other representatives, was
notified of the change in the govern
ment, but returned no answer to the
communication. He may have changed
his mind, however, as he had an inter-
view with the acting president just be-
fore we left.
"Queen Lilioukalani," continued Mr..
Wilder, ''if che had been allowed to
carry out her plans, would have be-
come absolute despot of the islands; no
whites would have been allowed to vote.
The house of mobiles would have been
abolished; the supreme court judges,
who are now appointed for life, would
have been appointed for six'year term
only, and would have been subject to
dismissal at the whim of the queen.
1--WE were glad to have the United
States ship Boston in Honolulu harbor.
She was the only man-of-war in port,
and while she did nothing beyond the
landing of armed sailors who patrolled
the street, yet the moral effect was good
and probably quelled any disposition to
fighting on the part OF the natives, had
there been any. The Hawaiians, as a
rule, are simple, peaceful and indolent
people, and would probably make no
trouble if let alone. They are easily
influenced, though, by politicians, and
were convinced by the queen that she
was acting in their interests.
II understand that the United States
warship Mohican has been ordered
to proceed at once to Homo
lulu to assist the Boston in
maintaining order. We would much
prefer to have some modern warships
like the Charleston and San Francisco,
which are now on the Atlantic coast.
think the Boston will be able to con-
troll the situation without trouble, but
more ships would do no HARM"
SAN FRANCISCO MERCHANTS INTERESTED.
The commissioners this morning re-
ceived an invitation from the San Fran
cisco chamber OF commerce to meet the
directors of that body and discuss the
slIusJIurr VT -fx-;------itla- 4ha merchants.
The invitation was accepted, and the
chamber OF commerce will probably
adopt resolutions asking the United
States government to annex Hawaii.
The commissioners have arranged to
leave for Washington Sunday afternoon
via the Central and the Union Pacific
and Chicago and Northwestern roads.
They will arrive in Washington next
Friday.