The Portland daily press., 1893-11-14
HAWAII WE'LL GOVERNED.
Admiral Skerrett Says the People
There Feel Secure.
THE GOVERNMENT ON WHICH WAR
HAS BEEN DECLARED.

Up to the Sailing of the Last Steamer.
Hawaiians We're Apparently Ignorant
of this Country's Attitude-Jubilant
Feelings Among the Queens Followers
Would Indicate that They Had a Hint
1t Is Said Willis May Entirely Ignore
the Provisional Government
San Francisco November 13.-The
officers of the steamer China, which left
Honolulu November Z, and which arrived
here today, reports that all was quiet
when they left.
Admiral j. S. .Skerrett, who was relieved
of the command at Honolulu by Admiral
Irwin, was among the China's passengers.
He said quiet reigned in the islands
when he left with no indication of i'm
pending trouble
The new United States minister was to
submit the governments ultimatum on
the day the China sailed. Up to that
time no special effort had been made to
anticipate the purport Of his Instructions
The country, Admiral Skerrett added,
was prosperous under the rule of the
provisional government and possessed
the unlimited confidence of the white
population irrespective of nationalit y.
Business was moving with it's usual
quickness and the merchants were undis-
turbed by sensational rumors. AS to the
feeling among the natives, he said he
personally had no opportunity of ascer-
tanning how they regard the situate on.
Generally speaking the provisional gov
eminent gave satisfaction and justified
the feeling of the security simply be-
cause it was good government. Reply
ing to question as to what would be
the effect when the ultimatum of the
United States was received, the admiral
answered that he could not state He
admitted that there was some foundation
for fear of trouble between the party in
power a. d the adherents of the deposed
queen. When he was requested to give
his side of the alleged conflict between
himself and Minister Blount, in which
it is stated that the Admiral refused to
comply with Minister Blount's request
until the latter produced his written
authority, the Admiral characterized the
story as entirely and unequivocally
false. He affirmed that Minister Blount
and himself were on the most cordial
and intimate terms"
A letter from Honolulu under date of
Novem ber Z, says: "The main event of
the week has been the arrival on the
fourth, of American Minister Albert S.
Willis, who is believed to have brought
with him instructions which fundament-
ally affect The future of Hawaii. 1t is
supposed here that the American public
is already informed of the nature of these
Instructions. We here are still ignorant
of their nature, and all parties await their
disclosure with great anxiety.
81 he probability of the Importance of
Mr. Willis's mission is increased by the
unexpected arrival of Rear Admiral
John Irwin last evening to take COM
mand of the forces at this station in
place of Admiral Skerrett, who proceeds
to San Francisco on the China this morn
ing. The reason for this change can only
be a matter of surmise; it is possibly in
order TO have the intended measures in
itiated by an officer of higher rank than
that of an admiral Admiral Irwin's
coming was totally unexpected By naval
officers here excepting those highest in
command.
minister Willis is to present his
credentials to President Dole this morn.
ing. His intended address has already
been submitted to the President in order
to enable him to prepare his reply. It's
contents are kept strictly secret. I have
positively ascertained that it contains no
definite intimation whatever of the
policy to be pursued by the new Ameri-
can minister. Mr.. Williss special COM
munications to this government will fol-
low later, possibly in time to be reported
by the mail of the 11th.
1.-THE government party is confident
that the Washington policy is to main
tain here white mans governments
with no possibility of reviving the native
monarchy. The Royalists betray great
depression, but are still circulating
among the native populace their boast
that the Queen is to be Immediately re-
stored by Mr.. Willis.
"On his way down Mr.. Willis made a
most favorable impression on his annex
ationist fellow passengers, including
several prominent men. While strictly
reticent as to his mission, he left in them
a strong impression that he sympathized
with the annexation movement.
"T. FL. Davies, guardian of Kalulani,
also arrived on the fourth instant. On
the passage over Mr.. Davies disavowed
the widely published statements imputed
to him in favor of the restoration OF the
GU cen. Since his arrival his tone has
been somewhat deprecatory and pleading.
as if he felt the hopelessness of the re,
establishment of the monarchy. He is
deeply concerned that no injustice be
done Hawaiians by taking their country
from them without their consent by
vote.n