Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-11

lor and we're almost Immediately joined by the
President, who was in his office when
they arrived. There were no formaii-
ties, but the proceedings were marked
by quiet dignity betting the
importance of the occasion. The Secretary Of
State first presented Mr.. Thurston, the head Of
the commission. He took the Presidents prof
fered hand and then handed him the
credentials OF the commissioners, explaining
brihy the nature of their instructions. The
other gentlemen were then presented indiyidu-
ally to the President. and an informal conversa-
tion followed in regard TO the condition of
affairs in Hawai.
The President was very cordial in his manner
and expressed his personal pleasure at meeting
the commissioners and in accepting their ere
dentials He said that negotiations on the part
of this government will be conducted by the
Secretary OF State, and expressed the hope that
they would result in an agreement 10 the entire
satisfaction of all parties concerned.
No FORMAL SPEECHES.
No speeches were made on either side and
the Presidents remarks. as given above. were
made in conversation with different members
of the party. The reception lasted about If
teen minutes and was very satisfactory to the
Hawaiians, judging from the smiles and happy
remarks TO one another they left the au-
dience chamber to return to their hotel.
They fingered in the house long
enough, however, 10 witness the President
| shake hands with about two hundred aud fifty
citizens of the great republic who had gathered
there to pay their personal respects TO the
chief executive. This was an interesting cere-
mony to the visitors from the Pacific and their
| impressions may be judged 10 a certain extent
bya remark made by one of them that it was
mighty hard on the President"
PRACTICALLY COMMITTED TO ANNEXATION.
1t is learned on good authority this after
noon that the government has practically
committed itself in favor of the prop
osition for the annexation of Hawaii,
and that the President will send
message to Congress on the subject next
week. 1t is known that the commits
siouers feel satisfied with the present
fort to conceal their confidence of the
success of their mission and evidently expect
tangible results in short time. Tie absence
of the representatives OF the deposed
queen Will cause no delay in fixing the
general policy of the United States, as
it is understood that the object of their visit to
Washington Is merely to see that proper pro-
vision Is made for the queen household. That
is detail that easily be arranged after the
general plan of action is determined.
SUPPORTING THE AMERICAN MOVEMENT.
An element that is supporting the movement
for the annexation of Hawaii. and which it is
believed will have great influence. is that COM
ing from representatives of the missionary work.
ers of the country. President Harrison has re-
ceived a letter written by Gen. S {. Armstrong su-
perintendent of the Indian school at Hampton
Va. Gen. Armstrong was born on the Hawaiian
Islands, his parents having been missionaries
there, and the first twenty-five years of his life
were spent in that country.
In his letter be saws that he has ever
since kept in touch with the condition
of things there and made a visit TO
Honolulu only last year. He says: The
late queen is INSCRIPTIONS to the last
degree. of no moral standing whatever, and
not entitled to the least confidence or respect
She is not without intelligence, and has
much more ability and sense than had
her brother. the late King Kalakaua. Good
things were expected when she came
to the throne. Her restoration to
power now would mean the destruction OF the
progressive element in Hawaiian life and the
collapse Of all hope for that people. The situa-
tion there now is desperate. IL the United
States declines to adopt Hawaii she will turn to
England. whose colonial government has often
been marked with much success"
Gen. Armstrong says that the conquest by
American missionaries of the Hawaiian Islands
for a degree of Christian civilization gives the
United States both a claim and an obligation in
the matter-a claim to be considered first in
".
obligation to save to decency and civilization
that utterly broken down monarchy.
There has been and could have been indefi-
nitely good government and a very satisfactory
order of things under the monarchy The de-
throned queen, who had an excellent cabinet
has thrown away a great chance to make a
noble record and hopelessly wrecked the noble
dynasty of the kamehamehas. Gen. Armstrong
continues:
"A decent civilization at the Hawaiian
Islands is important to the United States be-
cause Of the very vital strategic posi-
tion they occupy in the center Of
the North Pacific ocean. The power that
the entire commerce Of that part Of the
worl1. Ever since Daniel Webster was
Secretary Of State and said to Q Ha- |
waiisn representative, If England takes |
those islands viii make fuss |
about it, it has been taken for granted |
that American interests are paramount there |
and must be considered first The English are
jealous and keep . watchful eye on them. II
the Nicaragua canal is to be COM
pleted il means q tremendous growth /
Of American commerce in the Pacific,
and that in the not very far futura. The United /
States has now an opportunity to establish her /
influence in the Pacific ocean that she ought
not to neglect"
The general says in conclusion that the
Hawaiians are . kindly. intelligent race. the /
finest he believes Of all the Polynssian tribsa
In the late civil war . number Of the natives
were volunteers and he says . full regiment
could have been secured for the federal army
without Q dollar Ut bounty.
REV. Dr. yAcKsox's WE'VE
The Rev. DR.. Sheldon Jackson, the veteran
Presbyterian missionary to Alaska and now the
general agent Of the buresu Of education in
(Comsimsed on Sixth Pagsl |,