New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-13
NP. SPRECKELS IN IA VAIL

TIE TRIBu,NE is permitted to pint letter
from Honolulu written by one of the Com
mssoners through whom the Treaty OF An
nexation was negotiated. dealing with the pro-
ceedngs in that city of Mr.. Claus Spreckels,
the sugar planter and retner. 1t is known that
Mr.. Cleyeands distrust of the annexation PIN
arose from the suspicion in his mind that it was
mainly sustained by the speculative interests OF
Mr.. Sprcckels, that his was the advantage
chiefly to be served by annexation, and that
the movement to that end in Hawaii lacked
patriotic impulse and popular support. The
letter printed to- day thoroughly disposes OF tbs
notion which, we are prepared to believe. is
no longer strong in the Presidents mind. Ii
is related that Mr.. SpreckeS is doing every
thing he can to prevent annexatIon that he
called together meeting OF the most prominent
planters and business men and desired them 10
Join him in petition looking to the defeat OF
that movement. His anxiety is not so much to
prevent annexation as to leave the contract
labor system in operation. The treaty ncgo-
tiated by President Harrison puts an end to that
system by preventing the further Introduction
of coolies. MIR. Spreckels's plan for the GOV
eminent of Hawaii cOntempatSs the establish
troll and subordinated on foreign questions to
the United States. lie thinks he will be able
TO secure the material advantages OF anneAa-
ton by this arrangement and yet be left free
to bring in all the Chinese labor he requires.
lie is represented as both violent and conf
dent. but it may be assumed that he does
net appreciate the forces that are operating to
hiring Hawaii into the American system. The
sentiment of the lIawaans concerning Mr..
Spreckels and his plan is well indicated by
the remark: eff we are delivered over to
the tender mercieS of Spreckels Oligarchy, pro-
tectcd by the United States, we shall soon have
the food gates open to the ignorant hOides OF
Asia, and all or many white mechanics and
labore,s will be forced to Leave
An interesting part of this luminous letter is
that descriptive of Mr. Blount. lie says that
tbe Commissioner SIS doing good work." that
he is "a man of excellent judgment and per-
fectly fair" that he appreciates the situa-
tion,r and that everything he learns rebounds
TO the credit of the revolution and the party OF
annexation" We shall be glad to believe these
things of Mr. Bount. The known prejudice OF
President Cleveland against the annexation pol
lev Of the Administration he succeeded ard
more especially the terms in which MIR. Bount
was commissioned and the means he took OF
asserting his paramount authority" the dis
trn,tful attitude he maintained toward the Ha
waiian Annexationists, end the comfort his acts
and manner gave to the party of reaction, have
combined to make the impression here that he
was engaged in anything but patriotic work.
There was no point OF view rom which his
mission could be looked upon as OF probable ad-
vantage. The only thing that needed to be done
when Mr. Cleveland took office was to ratify
the treaty. No one could doubt that fair
minded commissioner. engaged sincerely in the
work of investigation, would discover, just
what it is said has been discovered by Mr..
Blount. that all the facts go to the credit OF
the party that established the Provisional Gov
eminent ard asked for admission into the
Union. There was nevertheless great danger
that an unscttlement of the treaty might by
any one of dozen different chances result in
preventing annexation. And certainly this
danger is still imminent.
Mr.. BOunt is now in a lawful position with
regard to Hawaii lie is the American Minis
ter with all of IA Minister'S peculiar duties and
responsibilities. lie represents the people of the
United States, not an individual II is to be
hoped that he is fairly earning sincere praise
and that the history Of his ministry will not be