St. Paul daily globe., 1893-01-29
AN ABSOLUTE DEsPOT
Was the Ambition of the Deposed
Queen.

SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 2S.-William G.
Wilder, another of the commissioners,
explained the situation of affairs to an
Associated Press representative. Mr..
Wilder is president of the Hawaiian
Inter-Island Steamship company, and
has large interests in Hawaiian proper
ty. He says if the United States wants
the Hawaiian islands she can have
them now, and on terms more favorable
than ever before offered or will ever be
offered again. All Americans on the
island are unit for annexation, and the
new provisional government and its aims
are supported by nearly all the English
there and all of the Germans. The for
eign interestS-in Hawaii amount to
about S40,000,000, $30,000,000 of which
are in the hands of Americans. Homo
lulu is as much an American city as
San Francisco itself.
''If the United States government
should refuse to annex the island do
YOU think that Great Britain would step
in and take possession?' was asked.
"That question l cannot answer"
said Commissioner Wilder, "but this |
do know: The queen is strongly in ia
would, have no doubt, apply to Great
Britain for protection"
"Why was the British government
the only one of the powers represented
in Honolulu that did not recognize the
provisional governmental
THAT l do not know. England is
represented on the island by Commis-
sioner j. n. Woodhouse. He. in COM
mon with the other representatives, was
notified of the change in the govern
ment, but returned no answer to the
communication. He may have changed
his mind, however, as he had au inter-
view with the acting president just be-
fore we left. Queen Liliuokalani," con-
tinued Mr.. Wilder, IF she had been
allowed to carry out her plans would
have become absolute despot of the
islands. No whites would have been
wonld have been abolished, the
supreme caurt judges, who are now
appointed for life. would be ap-
pointed for six years. term
only. and would have been sub
iect to dismissal at the whim Of the
queen. We were glad to have the United
States ship Boston in Honolulu harbor.
She was the only man-of-war in port,
and. while she did nothing beyond land
ing armed sailors, who patrolled the
street. yet the moral effect was good,
and probably quelled any dlSpoSltlon TO
fighting on the part of the natives, had
there been any. The Hawaiians. as a
rule, are simple. peaceful and indolent
people, and would probably make no
trouble if let alone. They are easily
influenced, though, by politicians, and
were convinced by the queen that
she was acting in their interests.
l. understand G. that the United
States steamship MOhican has been Or
dered to proceed at once to Honolulu to
assist the Boston in maintaining order.
We would much prefer to have some
modern war ships, like the Charleston
and the San Francisco. which are now
on the Atlantic coast. think the Bos-
ton will be able to control the situation
without trouble, but more ships would
do no HARM"
The commissioners this morning re-
csived an invitation from the San Fran
cisco chamber of commerce to meet the
directors of that body and discuss the
situation of affairs with the merchants.
The invitation was accepted, and the
chamber of commerce will probably
adopt resolutions asking the United
States, government to annex Hawaii.
HEARD AT WASHINGTON.