The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-10
LIGHT FROM THE SUN
SPRECKELS AND DAVIES IN
ALLIANCE.
The Anglo-German Compact in Hawai-
ian Politics -Busybodes and
Meddlers Here.

The following correspondence ap
pears in the New York Sun of recent
date:
SAN FRANCISCO, September IL
The recent deportation for the second
time on a German war vessel of an
aspirant to the throne of Samoa re.
calls events that led up to the first
such occurrence. Like politics else
where, the local contention was for
office and power, but the figures upon
the South Sea Island chess board
represented the sentiments of part of
Europe, where the wires were pulled
that played the puppets.
The nineteenth century has wit
messed the gradual acquisition Of indie
pendent territory throughout the world
till now there is but little land left that
has not been acquired by one or the
other OF the great European powers.
Dawdling on the part OF the British
Foreign Office led to its loss of a part
of New Guinea, which was promptly
seized by Germany The acquisition
and occupation of New Caledonia as a
penal settlement by France induced a
quicker territorial looting of the indie
pendent islands of the southern Pacific,
and less than ten years ago group after
group were occupied by England,
France or Germany.
These seizures, for they we're moth.
ing else, created little or no comment.
They occurred at regular intervals, and
it was supposed that the plans had been
prearranged. Then came the Samoan
imbroglio, with Germany's high handed
and autogratic interference. Germany
controls Samoan trade, what there is OF
it, and England made no resistance.
Had it not been for the vigorous inter
vention of Mr.. Sewell, the American
Consul, who was backed up by our
Government, it is safe to say that the
German flag would to-day be flying
over the Samoan archipelago.
This was part Of the tripsrtite ar
rangement. 1t excited more attention
on the Pacific coast than elsewhere,
and semi. official assurance was re-
ported and never contradicted from
Downing street, that England would
agree to the German acquisition OF
Samoa, while Germany would not OPP
pose Englands acquisition of Hawaii,
which was to come later. Thus did
| tho cholnwe ha
events, which are even of more i'm
portance now when we read Of what
is occurring in France, Germany and
Russia, liable at any moment to disrupt
the peace of Europe.
The Hawaiian Anglo German alliance
is perhaps even of more direct i'm
portance. 1t is not many years since
Mr. Claus Spreckes, who was born in
Germany, and Mr.. Theophilus Davies,
who was born in England, and both of
whom have large sugar plantation in.
terests there, were at open warfare.
MIR. Spreckels had long dominated
Hawaii and Hawaiian interests, so much
SO that he became known as the
"power behind the Hawaiian throne"
and was even called "King Claus"
His acquisition of power was calling to
the British Consul, Mr. Theophius
Davies, and to his superior, Maj 'r
Wodehouse, the British Minister Resi-
dent. The latter, in fact, went SO far
as to vent his spleen by refusing to
make an official call upon the American
Minister, Mr.. R. M. Daggett, when he
arrived at Honolulu, and only per-
formed this act of simple civility shortly
before our Minister retired from his
post,
Mr. Spreckels became so overbearing
in his deameanor and so dictatorial in
his business that the planters gradually
came to resent his methods. The re-
suit was that many plantation accounts
were transferred to another house in
San Francisco and half the sugar pro-
duct of the islands was sold to another
refinery than that of Spreckels. One
to benefit very largely by these change S
was Mr.. Theophllus Davis, the British
Vice Consul, who secured many of the
plantation local agencies that were for.
merly held by Mr., Spreckels. Then
war was waged there between England
and Germany, Notwithstanding the
Anglo-German understanding that wa:
said to exist in Europe.
But now we find both Mr.. Theophi
lus Davies and Mr.. Claus Spreckel.
working hand in hand to restore
monarchy in the Hawaiian Islands
Mr.. Davies is the temporary guardian
of Princess Kaiulani, the heir apparen
to the throne Of Hawaii, and still retains
his business interests and his plantation
agency interests, though living in Eng
land. Mr.. Theophilus Davies is, more
over, the agent, or rather his firm ii
Honolulu is, of the Canadian Pacific
corporation. Mr.. Spreckels has tolC
US that he supports the totterlng throne
of Hawaii because he will not otherwise
be able to get cheap labor. If the isl
ands are annexed to the United States
cody labor contracts must be cancelled
and his polygot plantation population
will be enabled to demand the wages O
free men.