The sun., 1894-03-31
England and Hawaii.

There may be no foundation for the rumor
that Admiral WALKER has been sent to
Honolulu owing to belief that British sub
jects have been enlisted In Canada for the
purpose OF aiding Mrs. DoMINIs In an in
surrection against the Provisional Govern
ment. Il may be true that the present
British Ministry would not authorize the
commander Of the British war ship at Hon
olulu to countenance such q proceeding.
But far-sighted persons are accustomed to
Judge Of the future by the past. and 1t Is an
unquestionable fact that twice In the his
tory OF the Hawaiian Islands have British
naval officers formally taken possession OF
Q part or the whole OF the group In the
name Of the British Crown.
A contrary statement has Of late been
current in the American press and has been
repeated by some newspapers usually well
informed. The truth Is that the island OF
Hawaii was placed under British protection
by Capt. VANCOUVER Of the royal navy In
1874, and that under pressure applied by
Lord GEORGE PAULEr the whole group was
ceded In Is4s to Great Britain. Let US re-
view these incidents in order. Capt.
VANCOUVER had been sent with the ship
Discovery and the armed tender Chat
uhH " EoCoN0 LILO COboiOh Va VNOotho
Sound and the adjoining countrys from a
Spanish Commissioner. While In the North
Pacific he made three visits to the Sand
wich Islands. and acquired great influence
over KAMRHAhEHA l.. who was at that time
King Of Hawaii. but had not yet established
his sovereignty over the rest OF the
group. It was on his third visit that
VANCOUVER secured the acceptance Of a
British protectorate. On Feb. 81. 1794. q
grand council Of the chiefs OF Hawaii was
held ON board Of the Discovery. for the
purpose OF placing Hawaii under the pro-
lection OF Great Britain. On the 25th Lieu
tenant PUGET hoisted the British flag on
shore. and took possession Of Hawaii in the
name Of his Britannia Majesty. A salute
was then fred. and the natives shouted
Randka no Beyitane. I'VE are men Of Brit
ain" No systematic attempt. however. was
subsequently, made TO enforce the rights
acquired by VANCOUVER. and the claim of
protectorship was lost by non-user. The
task OF converting and civilizing the natives
was left to American missionaries. and was
by them successfully carried out.
The second attempt TO gain possession Of
the islands was made. as We have said. in
lsls. On Feb. 10 OF that year Lord GEORGE
PAULET. commanding the frlgate Carysfort.
arrived at Honolulu. and. Withholding the
usual salutes. exaoted the immediate settle
ment Of certain exorbitant demands. To
enforce compliance, the frigate was cleared
for action. and her guns were brought to
bear upon the town. As KAMEHAMEHA III.
had no adequate means OF defence. and as
PAULET's demands had purposely been
made entirely irreconcilable with Hawaiian
Independence. the King preferred. instead.
to offer a eession of the islands subject TO
the decision OF tho British Government
after the receipt Of full information from
both parties" On Feb. rs the act OF cession
and proclamation by PAULEr were pub
licly read. Then the Hawaiian flag was low
cred. and the British was hoisted over
the fort by Lieutenant from the Carys-
fort. and saluted by the ship and fort.
The British flag remained flying over
Honolulu more than five months. until July
| 81. Is4S. when Admiral THOMAS. having ar
rived from Valparaiso. announced that her
Britannia Majesty did not accept the cession
OF the islands. but would recognize KANE
HAMEHA III. as an independent sovereign.
There is but little doubt that Lord ABER-
DEEM. then Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
would have risked giving offence to France
and ratified PALLETS act had he learned OF
it before April l. ls4s, when he reluctantly
informed the Hawaiian Commissioners that
her Majesty's Government had decided to
assent to the request for the recognition OF
the Sandwich Islands. That this assent was
practically extorted by France seems clear
from what preceded and what followed. The
United States had recognized the in
dependence of the Hawaiian kingdom on
Dec. 10. 1872. but so far was this prece-
dent from exercising any influence on Lord
ABERDEEN. that when the Hawaiian Com
missioners had an interview with him on
Feb. %, ls4s-iust three days before PAULEF
raised ths British flag at HonOlulu-he de-
clined to receive them as envoys from an
independent State. or 70 negotiate treaty.
alleging that King KAAEHAAIKHA III. did