The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-15

trouble with the foreigners and. fearing
attempts upon their Independence, deter
mined TO thwart them by sending agents
abroad and securing from the great pow
ers the recognition OF national charac-
ter. These agents arrived In the United
States Just before the meeting OF Con-
gress In December. 1872. They appealed
to the President, and ne at once sent a
special message to Congress, recommend
ing an appropriation for maintaining a
consul at the Sandwich Islands, and
arguing their right to be recognized as
Independent and against the right Of any
European power 10 colonize or take pos
session OF them. In the same paper he
recommended a mission to the Celestial
Empire.
This stand OF the Government was
taken Just i'm time. The agents OF the
Sandwich Islands set sail for England In
February, 1913, TO secure recognition In
that country. But before this could be
done the dangers which the islanders
anticipated burst upon them. In the
Pacific ocean both Governments had
their squadrons patrolling the waters.
Taking advantage Of the troubles with the
missionaries, Lord George Paulet, who
commanded the English squadron, landed
hts forces and on the 18th of February.
1Si3, took possession OF the Islands in the
name OF ms bONeInlIenl. <Ntno VI fiho
action was speedily carried to Washing
ton. The President did not hesitate. He
at once instructed Upshur. who succeeded
Webster as Secretary of State. to protest
against the occupation In communica-
ton addressed TO the British Government
The protest was heard and respected.
The British Government declared the
course of Lord Paulet unauthorized. and
followed our example In recognizing the
islands as an Independent nation. I'm
authorized the act undoubtedly was; out
the tone of the London Times, and the
whole foreign policy Of Great Britain, Sc
cured to promise it ready ratification, had
IL not been fo- the attitude OF the United
States Indeed only a short time before
France. who was also a party In the
struggle on the side of England. had led
the way by the seizure Of the Marduesas
Islands The disclaimer of the British
Government" wrote the President. lis
highly gratifying, but. inasmuch as In its
reply there seemed to be IN unnecessary
assertion OF right to enforce its claims
for indemnity for wrongs committed
on British subjects, II was considered
proper, in the answer OF Judge Upshur,
to guard against any ambiguous or hid
den intent"
Thus IL was that the Sandwich Islands
took their place on the map of nations.
The British, defeated in this project,
were speedily overreacehd on the whole
line Of diplomacy. Pres lent Tyler had
suggested to Webster the leading features
of the Ashburton treaty, and, before
Wcbster's departure fro the state DC
partment the northeastern boundary,
with all the attendant questions about the
Caroline. the Creole. and right of search,
had been adjusted. Texas WIS next an
nexed, and the administration by estdb-
fishing a line Of connecting forts from
Council Bluffs in Michigan 10 oregon.
by the exploring expeditions Of
Fremont and its policy OF encouraging
the transportation Of emgraats, made
possible the acquisition OF the rest OF
the territory in controversy. 1t is now
known that before Mr.. Tyler left the
Presidency a proposition. originating with
the President as early as 1872. had been
agreed to by the British and Mexican
Governments-caled the tripartite treaty
by which the annexation of Texas was
to be admitted by those governments. and
California and all the rest of the West
conceded to the Unit ID States. President
Polk, who succeeded Mr.. Tyler preferred,
no wever, for mis- own reasons war with
Mexico to the Immediate acceptance OF
the proposed treaty, but the treaty of
Gaudaloupe Hidago in 1S47. and the Ore
gon treaty with Great Britain in 1886 only
secured what a superior craftsmanship
would have acquired without a war des-
tined in its results 10 convulse the Union
on the slavery question. and TO over
whelm the people with internecine strife.