The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-12
LILLY & STALNAKER
81 East Wash. st.
RECOGNIZED BY HARRISON
The Hawaiian Commissioners Received
and Their Credentials Accepted.
Introduced to the President BY Secretary Fos-
ter-Formal Negotiations Commenced at
the State Department After the Visit

WASHINGTON. Feb. 1L-President Har-
rIson informally received tho Hawaiian
commissioners and accepted their creden-
tials as representatives of the present pro-
visional government this afternoon. The
commissioners previously called nt the
State Department. and held q conference
with Secretary Foster as to the form OF q
presentation. When they reached the ex-
eoutive manson they were ushered into
the Blue Parlor. They laid aside their
coats and hats as Secretary Foster excused
himself for few minutes and went up
stairs to escort the President to the
Blue Room. He was evidently expect
ing them. for he did not keep them
waiting Secretary Foster presented each
member of the commission to the President
separately, and when that formality was
over they presented their credentials to the
President. who accepted them and referred
them to the Secretary of State to be placed
on file in the department.. There was brief
but informal reference to the Hawaiian af-
fairs, after which the commissioners were
invited to make an inspection of the State
Department and conservatory. Commits
sioner Marsden said afterwards: 1--WE are
delighted at receiving official recognition
from the President. That is what we have
been anxiously waiting for since our ar
rival"
The commissioners followed up the dis
tInct advantage gained by the official
recognition by the President. which gives
them a diplomatic standing. by calling In
their new capacity as recognized ENJOYS on
Secretary Foster at the State Department
this afternoon. Their conference with hlm
commenced about 4 O'Clock and lasted an
hour and half The President. in accentu-
ntlng his cordial reception of the commits
sioners this afternoon, had intinated to
them that negotiations W bIch formed the
subject of their mission would be conducted
by the Secretary of State. The commits
sioners accordingly repaired to the State De-
partment at the close of the ordinary rou tine
OF the days business and laid before Sec.
retary Foster In detail the practical propo-
eition they were authorized to submit.
Some progress was made as to arriving at o
harmonious view of the exigencies of the
situation, but no definite conclusion was
reached. and the conference was adjourned
till Monday The commissioners are meet
ing In detail the objections urged against
the annexation of the islands.
Speaking on behalf of his fellow CON-
missioners Mr.. Thurston to-day said. In re.
gard to the obstacles of the COolie faction:
Every Legislature of recent years. except
that probably of 1887. has contained ma
jorIty of native members. The natives
duction of the Coolies of China into the
islands. and they have resisted every ef-
fort that has been made by the reform
party to restrict the immigration of that
class. They have no one to blame for the
presence of the Coolies In Hawaii except
themselves"
On the matter of leprospy he had also
this to say: IF it were not for the con-
stant struggles maintained by the whites,
the present segregation laws which COM
pei those afflicted with that loatbsome dis
ease TO be transported to the leper settle
ment, the natives In the LeGis-
lature would speedily repeal even
that beneticent measure, thereby throwing
down all bars against its spread over the
entire country. Since the appearance of
the lirst uthen tlcsted case there have been
probably five thousand cases of leprosy on
tha island. At present there are probably
LOO of the unfortunates In the Ieper settle
ment. Of these the percentage OF the
whites is almost lntinitesimal. The per.
centage of cases among the whites has not
exceeded the deaths from diphtheria in an
average American village.