The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-10
F. M. ENGLISH HEARD FROM
The Absurd Commentary Of a Royalist
Pensioner

pIONCID, httH tSt OttH que % tfNt'
and if truth be indeed a condition Of
beauty, feel satisfied that the report,
which reach us from Honolulu through
the press of this city and of San Fran
cisco are by no means fair to look
upon. The newspaper accounts are
generally supplemented by an editorial,
but all point one way-that it is the
duty and interest OF this country to an
mex the Islands. The other day Mr.
f. Hastings, the new secretary of the
Hawaiian legation in Washington, de
clared that the people in Hawaii were
unanimously in favor of annexation. 1t
isonly fair then, that opportunity should
be afforded for remark on the other
side. 1t is my conviction that calm
consideration of the facts of the case
would lead any fair-minded man to the
same conclusion as Mr. Blount is re
ported to have reached, viz. That to
annex the Hawaiian Islands would be
an act of supreme injustice on one
hand and very questionable kind of
advantage on the other.
| wish to lay stress on the fact that
although Mr.. Stevens lent himself and
the moral and physical support of this
country to the cause of annexation, on
the other hand Mr.. Blount, the equal
of his predecessor in judgment and
clearsigthtedness his superior in fair
mindedness, has found it his duty to
undo, as far as prudence and safety
would allow, the extraordinary and un-
necessary interference of Mr., Stevens
in the domestic politics of Hawaii.
Mr.. Hastings says that the people
are unanimous for annexation, that the
sentiment is growing one; and then, 1t
is said, that the government is certifying
itself against any possible attack |
will not do more than point out the
contradictory character of these state
ments. If the people are unanimous
it is difficult to see how the sentiment
can grow. Again, # the de faCto govern.
ment has the support of all good men,
what possible cause can there be for
making ready for attack Who would
be likely to attack it
Mr.. Hastings statement notwith-
standing, | venture to say that the sen
tment for annexation is confined to a
minority of not one in ten residents.
Claus Spreckels and his partners, VIM.
G.. Irwin & Co., are certainly bitterly
opposed to annexation, Campbell,
who virtually owns the Honolulu rail
road and is one of the richest men in
the city, is openly hostile to any such
idea Mr.. Fred. Hayselden, who owns
the large island of Lanai, brought 600
signatures against annexation to Mr..
Bount !. Carter, manager OF the
firm of G. Brewer & Co., in Honolulu,
is the open friend of the queen Theo.
H. Davies and his two partners are IN
questionably opposed to annexation.
+. Herdry, the president of the Ha-
waiian Hardware Company told me
that he would vote against annexation
with all his influence, as he considered
it would be injurious to the welfare OF
the islands.
The MaCfarlanes are unanimous and
strenuous supporters of Hawaiian in
dependence. These names are all those
Of houses of the highest responsibility,
equal to any in Honolulu. 1t would
be easy to multiply them indefinitely,
but enough has been said to show the
absurdlty of speaking Of anything like
unanimlty. 1t does not exist
Every now and then an attempt is
made to bring odium upon the untor-
tunate queen and her followers by the
discovery of syme dynamite plot OF
poisoning scheme. 1t is my unhesi
tating opinion that the so'called dis
coveries are the inventions of the rag
tag and bobtail which constitutes the
noisy following Of the Provisional Gov
eminent. Nobody who has any &C
quaintanCe with the Hawaiian people
will ever suspect them Of outrage or
the whites. 1t is wonderful fact thai
there is not on record one single
instance of any such attempt on the
part of a Hawaiian in the history Of the
Islands
This statement was made by Presi
dent Dole to Mr. Blount Now, the
poorer followers of royalty are nearly
altogether natives. The impeCunlous
whites are to a man supporters Of the
Provisional Government.
There is a law in Hawaii that after ;
residence of thirty days your paSspor
is stopped for debt Hence the Pro
viSional Government found itself sur
rounded by an enthusiastic following 0
the insolvent Of all nations, stranded anC
runaway sailors, that curious product o
modern industry known as the ''work
ing man." who never has anything tC
work with apparently; whalers, de
serters. Stowaways, Jews and Gentlles
these form, the National Guard Of Ha
wall to-day. Now, considering that M
bombshell has ever exploded, that no
body has ever been poisoned, is it no
more likely that these things should b.
the handiwork Of this heterogeneou
band of patriots than that they shoulC
be the plots and plans Of the leas
offensive race Of men on earth'
My letter has already run to grea
length. l shall conclude my remarks
with your kind permission, at an earl
date.
Your obedient servant,
I'Nrrt fgu