The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-29
SITUATION EXPLAINED
By Two Members of the Com mission to
This Country.

IhIe country.
SAN Francisco, Jan. 90. William G.
Wilder, one of the commissioners ex-
planned the situation of effairs to an Asso-
ciated Press representative. MIR. Wilder is
president Of the Hawaiian inter-i island
steamship company, and has "a large inter
est IN Hawaiian property. He said if tho
United States wants the Hawaiian islands
she can have them now, and on terms mo 70
favorable than ever before offered, or ever
to be offei ed again. All Americans on the
islands are a unit for annexation and the
new provisional government ana it's aims
are supported by nearly all the English
there and all of the Germans. Foreign in
terests In Hawaii amount to about $40 Co.,
OOO. oU,0OO,0OO of which are III the hands
of Americans Honolulu is az much an
American city "a San Francisco itself.
IF the United States government should
refuse to annex the islands. do you think
Great Britain would step in and take pos.
sessiony' was asked.
That question | cannot answer" said
Commissioner Wilder, but this do know;
the queen Is strongly In favor of British
rule, and if allowed would, l have no doubt,
apply to Great Britain for protection
why was the British government the
only one OF the powers reuresented in
Honolulu that did not recognize the pro-
visional government"
That do not know. Queen Lilioukal-
nni." continued Wilder, ''if allowed to
curly out her plans, would have become alb
solute despot of the islands. No whites
would have been allowed to vote, the house
OF mobiles would have been abolished; su-
preme court judges, who are now appointed
for life. would be appointed for SIX years
term only, and would have been subject to
dismissal at the whim of the queen. We
were glad to have the United States ship
Boston i'll Honolulu harbor She was the
only man of-war In port, and while she d i'd
nothing beyond landing armed sailors and
marines who patro.led the streets vet the
moral effect was good, and probably would
have quelled any disposition to fighting on
the part of the natives if there had been
any,"
Tne commissioner this morning received
invitations from the San Francisco cham
ber of commerce to meet the dl ectors OF
that body md discuss the situation of nt-
fairs with merchants. The invitation was
accepted and the chamber of CONNIE ce
will probably adopt resolutions asking the
United States government to annex Hawaii.
Lorrina lhurston, chairman of the Ha-
wailan commission, said this evenings:
"Ihings are in such position that no party
or class of residents are fully capable of
establishing stable government. They
must look out. and nntu ally come to the
United States. The condition of affairs is
much more threatening than indicated by
published statements in Hawaiian papers.
1t was the declared intention of the queen
to ultimately expel all foreigners from the
island. The proposed DISTINGUISHING of
all except native born was to be the first
step. Then there would be bioodshed and
destruction of property, and after expellinR
all foreigners their property would be CON
iiscated.
The old treaty between France and Eng.
land made i'll 1872. teoogulzed the lnde-
pendence of the islands and bound each ma
tion not to take possession of the islands.
1t is clear. in the view OF those we'll posted
that England, under the treaty. cannot
annex. nor can F,nnce. The United states,
at the time that the treaty was negotiated,
refused to be bound by or join In the
treaty. In other words. it refused to
pledge itself not to take possession of the
islands, but simply recognized the inde-
pendence of the government
Ihs following is the personnel of the
Hawaiian commission: Lorrn A. Thur
ston. chairman; WAS premier of the first
evolutionary cabinet OF Hawaii iU 1857
He Is II leading LAWYER i'll Honolulu; WIS
born in Hawai-, his patents being Am mari-
can missionaries. lie han been ounuee ted
with the government in some capacity for
years.
William c. Wilder is the head of the Nil
dor eamshlp company, which does u
transportation BUSINESS among the islands
lie has not held political position until re-
Gently. when he became member OF the
legisBtnee.
William l.. Castle is u lawyer md largely
Interested III real estate in the islands; is
one of the principal owners of the Oahu
railroad. which runs down to pratl kiver
hurhor. He is native of HnwAi
Joseph Marsden is sugar planter in
Hawali. lie Is an Englshman: has lived
III Hawaii about titteen years.
atla n
Hawaiian minister TO Washington. He il
n lawyer.
Commissioner rhurston said this evening
that he had great hopes the country will
accept the islands III they do not" said
he, our mission is done, but the ueople, IN
the event of refusal will surely turn to
Englaud. who would be ouly too glad 10
take us. :"