The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-06

secretary house on Nuuand avenue during
their stay in the city, but the offer was de-
clined. The next arrival was james Rob-
ertson, her ex-Maiesty's ex-Chamberlain,
who. however, made no attempt to see the
commissioner, but saw, instead, some one
on board ship of whom he asked a few
questions as to the number of men COM
prising the commission, when they would
come ashore and where they would stay,
and then fastened of, saying, He must see
the Queen" He went ashore. jumped into
hack and was driven rapidly to Waikiki,
where the ex-Queen was spending the day.
The steam launch from the japanese
cruiser Naniwa-K Kan next came alongside the
cutter and lieutenant came aboard bearing
the greetings and compliments of Captain
Togo.
After a few words with the commissioner,
Mr.. Hastings went on shore, taking Secre-
tary Mills with him. The commissioner
was not answering questions. he said, and
had very little TO say. As to why only one
commissioner had been sent when three
were expected, lie could not say. He had
himself expected to see two others at San
Francisco. but on his arrival there had
learned that lie was the commission. The
programme to be followed By the commits
sioner is not of course, yet made public.
1t was generally believed in Honolulu that
acting Rear Admiral Brown was to be of
this commission, and his many friends
among the native ladies' have been active
in their preparation TO give him true
Hawaiian welcome. All the yellow flowers
obtainable in town had been engaged for
the manufacture of leis, wherewiIh the
commander. was to have been decked. and
report has it that hard up though she is just
now, her ex-Majesty had even gone 10 the
expense of having her carriage upholstered
and reftted for bringing him from the
wharf to the quarters Of the commission.
1t awaited Commissioner Blount. who, how
ever, declined to use 1t.
Well, the community missed this noble
spectacle, but it still had the delight of gaz-
ing upon the recession of members of the
Hawaiian Women's Patriotic League, who
paraded down Fort street tn the wharf and
back, arrayed in white holokus and carrying
Hawajian flags. A procession of Mother
Hubbard wrappers is in itself an Impressive
sight, but on this occasion 1t was rendered
douDly so by the fact that it occurred on
rainy day. The streets were muddy, and
as the prevailing fashion in feminine attire
has reached these Islands, the hoIokus are
made with trains. The struggles of the
ladies to keep their flags in posi-
ton and their trains out of the
mud consumed enough energy. could
it have been rightly expended, to achieve
Hawaiian independence. Some of them
wore neat slippers and black stockings,
some stockings of more cheerful hue, some
were bare-foOted. The height TO which all
seemed agreed to raise the holokus was
about twenty-four inches.
The appearance of the Hawaiian women
in politics is something new. They have
heretofore kept in the background, but this
league was organized March 27 and num-
bers about 160 members. Mis-. F. w. Mac
farlane is president and the membership
roll and list Of officers, as published, con-
tans the names of the wives of many we'll
known annexationis;s. The reason for this is
that, as is sometimes done at home, these
ladies names were put up and voted upon
without their knowledge c. A. Brown, for
instance. is a thorough-going anneXationist,
but Mrs. Browns name appears as an
'hono orary PRESIDENT" whatever that may
mean, of the league. Mrs. Brown herself,
full bloodej native lady of very fine
family and woman of culture and refine
ment, is heart and soul for annexation.
The first trouble in the league camp oc-
Cured when it was learned by this class of
the membership that the society was to be
used for political purposes and that its first
duty was to get UP great luau or native
feast to feed the United States commits
sioneIs on roasted chicken, pig and poi
when the commissioners should arrive.
As the ladies could not see the connection
between love OF country and luaus, be-
tween pig and patriotism, quite number
of the honorary officers and members have
declined the honors and privileges of men,
bership and have withdrawn from the
league.
just what the new administration expects
this commission of one with secretary
to accomplish is somewhat difficult to deter
mine. There is no information with refer
ence to the islands which Blount can obtain
that is not already in possession of the State
Department at Washington. II Mr.. Cleve-
land had been in any doubt as to the policy
he intends 10 pursue in regard to the islands,
and had sent down commission of any size
to investigate and report. some ole might
perhaps believe that he intended making an
honest effort to do what is right by the little
kingdom; but 10 send one man down, like
trustee sent to report upon the condition
and conduct of paroohial school, is carry
ing the farce little too far. The fact that
there is but one commissioner was rather a
dampener upon the enthusiasm of the
people who turned out to greet the arrivals
by the Rush. There was liberal display
of American hIgs IN the streets and plenty
OF people turned out to receive, but there