The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-04-03
A BIT OF HISTORY.
An Episode in the Political Annals oil
Honolulu.

April, 1868, DR. James Mcbride Of
Lafayette, Or, was appointed as United
States Minister to the Hawaiian Islands
by President Lincoln. Soon after go
ing there he had the coat of arms placed
over the entrance to the American Leg
alton. In 1904, says the New York
San, an English manof war stopped at
Honolulu, having on board two cadets
IN the English navy, both sons of peers.
One Of them, Lord Charles Beresford,
is now high in the service This was
during the war Of the rebellion, when
England was rather unfrlendy to the
United States, and many Englishmen
were inclined to think that the United
States Government was of no special
consequence and was practically des-
troyed
One night Lord Charles Beresford
and his friend, in order to show their
contempt for the United States Gov
ernmen:, went to the American Lega-
ton, tore down DR.. McBrlde's coat OF
arms, and hired a native to row them
with it into the bay where their ship
was anchored.
On learning next morning that the
coat Of arms was missing the American
Minister instituted a search, and soon
found the native who have taken it to
the ship. A search-warrant was pro.
cured and the coat of arms brought
back by an officer. The Commandant
of the man of-war and the English Min
lister at Honolulu Immediately called
on the American Minister and offered
an apology in the name Of their Gov.
eminent for the insult which had been
offered. After having made their apol-
ogy they stated that they supposed this
was satisfactory and that they had atom
ed for the offense.
The American Minister informed
, them that this was not satisfactory, that
{ the two young lords, who were officers
! Of the British Government, had not on.
l ly committed a theft, but had, by THEN
| act, insulted the Government represent
J ed by him. He further said that, hav.
ing taken down the coat of arms with
e their own hands, he would not be salts
t fled until they themselves put it back
where they got it. At this the English
q Minister and commandant vehemently
{ protested, saying that such a demand
y was humiliating and disgraceful anc
5 could not be complied with. The
y American Minister, however, insistec
Is on a compliance with his demand, say
Il ing that the disgrace consisted in the
= act of stealing the coat of arms and tina
: nothing short Of this would be consld
y cred reparation for their ofense. Ate
{ considerable diplomatic correspondent,
e and some delay, the English Ministe
" agreed to comply with the demand {
'e Dr. Mcbride, and the latter mentioned
u the next noon as the time when tn
N coat of arms should be replaced.
IS 1t was soon noised about Honolul
y that the two young men were to replaC
=. the coat of arms the next day at l
It O'clock When the time came thou:
u ands of people from the city and sur
n rounding country were there to witnes
&c the ceremony. A sketch was made {
o. the two young men while in the act {
III mailing the coat of arms to the arChwa
~ over the entrance to the American 1t
III CATION.
&c After the coat of arms had beenre
NC placed the two young men came to tn
VI American Minister and apologized fC
~ their conduct, saying that they did M
o. stop to think what an insult they wei
Offering to the American Government
,ax' THIS ended the matter in the islands.
ne ne The American Minister then repor
in ed all the facts to Secretary Sewart
gn The latter demanded an apology fro
the English Government, which WI
nd made. The two young men were ca
ay ed home and were dismissed from Il
e. British navy for five years. Lon
to Charles Beresford has since won dl
'as tincton in the English navy. He con
IN. handed the landing force at Alexandr
de- in 1882.
5ht Another incident relating to tn
nit affair may be worth mentinning. III
sea King of the Sandwich islands at Il
Sc, time was Kamehameha V, He "
mt very favorable to English influences
nd the islands, and let it be known that
on was personally displeased because II
American Minister compelled the En-
Ellis lishmen to restore his coat Of arms.
aid few weeks after this, when the Amt
)cX lean Minister went to the palace
in make his usual official visit, the Kin
of evidently with the design Of insulti
of him, sent word that he was engage
my The American Minister returned wo
lille that he was there in his official cal
ma city and desired an interview. The HI
I'D sent word again that he was engag
ask and could not see him. The Minist
ion again sent word that he was there
lay representative Of his Government a
ak intended to stay until he did see hi
the The King then appeared, but in a We
ter. nervous and excited state; but 40 ref
nge ence was made to any differences, a
the interview passed Of pleas nifty, a
the their relations continued thercaf
5e's agreeable,
be DIR, James Mcbride, this firm a
ERE patriotic Minister, was a physician "
all went to Oregon from Missouri in rs.
on and in the early history of Oregon to