Evening star., 1893-11-23

carried off by the fatal epidemic of 1859,
the rapid extinction of the order of chiefs,
who were the natural leaders of their race,
the relapse CT the king into habits of gross
intemperance, and the perils from without
overhanging the feeble government dis
heartened many true friends Of the nation
and led them to favor the preliminary steps
then taken toward annexation The OBJ
jections Of the missionaries to that measure
have already been stated. They feared that
the rights OF the natives might be trampied
upon and their interests sacrificed. A
new and liberal constitution had just been
adopted Qn 1850 and they fondly hoped
that the natives would soon learn how
to use their newly granted lands and po-
litical rights.
The ministry, as a whole, favored annex
alton, but Mr.. Wylie acquiesced In it un-
willingly, and only as a last resort in the
case OF an emergency. During the two
Following refgns he developed a decided
antipathy to American influence and Amer
lean Ideas. The king, however. strongly
Favored annexation. He had long been
harassed by the threats Of foreign powers;
he had once been dethroned by a British
naval force; he had repeatedly been COM
PEELED to make humiliating concessions at
the. cannon's mouth; he had recently seen
his fort dismantled and his beautiful yacht
carried off. and his difficulties with France
still remained unsettled. At the same time
he was Kept in a state Of alarm by rumors
OF hlibusters from abroad and threats of
ernment. He was deeply grateful for the
constant and generous friendship of the
United States, and for the benefits which
his people had received from American
citizens. Beside, he had reason to expect
for himself and his chiefs a sum equal to
the revenue of his kingdom and for his
people all the rights of a free state in the
Union. AS far as is known, most of the
high chiefs agreed with him. The heir
apparent, Prince Alexander Liholiho, how
ever, was at heart opposed to the treaty,
and interposed every possible delay to Its
completion. 1t Is said that he and his
brother, Lot Kamehameha, never forgave
some incivility which they had expert
enced on account of their color when trav-
cling In America. He was also moved by
laudable pride of country, a natural de-
sire TO reign and partiality to England
and her institutions The mass Of the ma
tive population was never consulted, and
tagonism had not yet been developed to
any extent. A newspaper in the Hawaiian
language. called the Nuhou, edited by
Mr.. Marsh, was started in February, 1854,
to prepare the native mind for annexation,
and was cor rtinued for six months An
other memorial on the subject, numerousiy
signed, was presented to the king in Janu-
ary, 1854. 1t is singular that hardly an al
fusion to the subject can be found in the
Honolulu papers of the time, and none in
any of the official reports Of the minister
Of foreign affairs.
Negotiation Of the Treaty.
IN February, 1854, the matter took
more definite shape. On the 9th of that
month. In view of danger from filihusters
and conspirators, the king commanded Mr..
Wyllie to ascertain on what terms a treaty
of annexation could be negotiated to be
used as a safeguard to meet any sudden
danger that might arise. Every proposition
was to be considered by the cabinet and
Prince Liholiho, and the treaty as a whole
was to be submitted to his majesty for his
approval, modification, or rejection.
The negotiations were carried on between
Mr.. Wylhe and Mr.. Gregg with the utmost
secrecy. At the second meeting, February
IL, Mr.. Gregg agreed to proceed with a ne
gotiation ad referendum, and wrote to the
United States Secretary of State for in
structions.
"A basis for negotiations, framed by Judge
Lee and approved by the king and his min
tsters was afterward presented to MIR.
Gregg, guaranteeing to Hawaiian subjects
all the rights OF American citizens, providing
for the admission of the Hawaiian Islands
as a state into the Union, for a due COM
pensation to the king and chiefs, and q lib
eral sum for the support Of schools. The
amount OF compensation to be asked for
had been referred to a committee. who rec
commended that a lump sum, viz, $3OO, 900,
be distributed in the form of annuities by
the king and his council. At their sixth
meeting, June l, Mr.. Gregg stated that he
had received full powers and instructions
from his own government. At Mr.. Wyllie's
request he then proceeded to draft an out
line of the treaty. He was furnished with
owned by the Hawaiian government and 0f
the salaries paid by it. An interval of two
months followed during which the treaty
made very little progress.
THE two principal difficulties were, first,
the objection of the Hawaiian authorities
to q territorial form of government, and
secondly. the question as to the amount of
the annuities to be paid, the Hawaiian gov
ernment insisting on 100000 as a sine qua
non. One article provided for the payment
of $4,000 per annum for ten years for ed
to be capitalized for the support of a college
or university.
ProcrastinatiOn.
ION the 18th of September Gen. Miller,
the consul general of Great Britain. had an
audience Of the king. when he delivered a
TRADE Of more than an hour in length
against annexation and in denunciation of
the government and people of the United
States. He read in full an article in the
New York Tribune to show that the de-
signs of the United States were unfriendly
to Hawaiian interests. The king in his
reply said that he much preferred that
such communications should be made in
writing, in order to prevent misunderstood
ings: st,
remained at Hawaii to avoid signing the
wrote, September II, complaining OF the
procrastination and threatening to with.
draw from further negotiations and to de-
clare those which had already taken place
to be at an end. The prince was sent for,
but did not come. Mr.. Gregg wrote again
November l, demonstrating against further
delay in the conclusion of the treaty. He
used the following language: The strong
arm of the United States has been solicited
for your protection 1t has been kindly ex-
tended and held out until at length self
respect must soon dictate it's withdrawaL'
This was regarded as a menace and gave
much offense. The U. s. 8. Portsmouth,
Capt. Dornin, and the St. Marys, Capt.
Bailey, were in fact detained in port dur
ing the fall of 1854. awaiting the result of
the negotiations. The United States frigates
Susquehannah and Mississippi also called
on their way home from Japan, in the lat
ter part of October, 1854. and remained
week off the port of Honolulu.
1t would seem that an attempt was now
made to intimidate the king into signing
the treaty at once. Mr.. Wyllie afterwards
stated that on the 18th of November he
was informed that there was imminent
danger of revolution; that there were
dangerous men from California well armed,
who insisted on the kings immediate sane
ton of annexation to the United States,
without waiting for the arrival of the
crown prince the consent of the legis-
lature; that they would be Joined by 800
or more Of the American residents here;
that II unsuccessful then, they would be
ioned by 800 men of the same dangerous