Evening journal., 1893-02-02
NO SELFISH MOTIVES.
Hawaii Commissioners Say
Their Mission is Patriotic.
THE BLESSINGS OF ANNEXATION

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Commissioners Thurston aud Castle Say |
They Represent the Majority Party in
Hawaii and Solicit Annexation Because
1t is for the Best Interest of the Island.
OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 2.-Lorin A.
Thurston, chairman of the Hawaiian
commissioners, who arrived here last
night on his way to Washington, gave
some additional particulars in regard to
the revolution be fore leaving this morn
ing.
When asked, he said: 'if we would
support the Cabinet against the Queen,
we sent to get the names of all willing
to do so and who had rifles. We did not
know who possessed weapons. The re
sponse was unamious. There was no
premeditation The feeling was general
that if there was to be change of gov
ernment it must be the United States or
nothing and not a man would have
answered the appeal to arms If he had
thought that it was not to be the United
States.
"The idea that the cry for annexation
is in the interests of sugar men is
wrong. The great fault of the Queen
was that she did not wish to reign a
constitutional monarch She was in
terested in the cry Hawaii for the
Hawaiians. The Europeans and the
Americans pay nearly all the taxes and
do not propose that the natives shall
have fba oraudfnu ~ tha rnnuay
"On what terms do you wish to be an
nexed to the United States2'
THAT has not been definitely set
tied We would-not expeet-c to come in
as a state and It 1siprobable we should
ask to come in as a territory.
Would you wish resident of Homo
lulu to be appointed governor2"
''Fhat is the general wish. There are
about % 900 inhabitants of the island
and of these "a, QUO are natives, about
10000 Europeans and Americans, $4,000
Chinese, 2O,0t0 Japanese and the rest
Polynesians.
"WhiA we do not wish to deprive the
natives of the right to vote there is no
doubt that a large number OF them are
incapable of using the franchise. The
Chinese and Japanese are not citizens
and could not vote.
Commissioner Castle Talks.
Commissioner w. H. Castle said: "The
foreign population is practically unan
imously in approval Of the overflow Of
the monarchy, and in belief that annex
alton to the United States is the only
remedy for bad government. There arr
some English, not very large number
however who believed the Queen should
. 41.... aufr 3 lol
the Young princess Kalaulani, now il
England should take the throne o.
course the result of this would be prac
tically an English colony. The islands
have been made what they are, first b.
the civilization taught by the American
missionaries which provided for Hawai-
recognized place among nations
Otherwise Hawaii would have long sine
become an appendage of some European
power.
"The Hawaiians are almost unani
mously against annexation. They ar
also opposed to any government tina
will give the foreigners any voice in il
The natives were equally opposed to tn
treaty of reciprocity in 1876, but with
three years they found out what wa
meant and then the natives were in favo
of it.
"But some natives of high standin
and integrity openly favor annexation
The landing of the sailors snd marine
was done at the request Of the America
minister because there were threats {
bloodshed incendiarism and violencl
and a great many residents, not onl
Americans, but others begged the con
mittee as a matter of safety to make th
application to the American minister
"a letter was signed by all the men
bers of the committee and Mr. Thursto
and myself took it to Mr.. Stevens and r
auested that sufficient troops be land'
to guard against violence 1t has bee
announced that some of the foreig
representatives Of the other government
protested In point of fact the landiI
Of trOups was commended by some Of Il
representatives and up to the time tn
our steamer left on Thursday no prote
had been fled by the British reside
minister"