The sun., 1895-05-25
Tho Hawaiian Conspirator ors.

The controversy between Great Britain
and Hawaii in regard TO the nationality OF
the convicts RICHARD and WALKER may
lead to serious results. RICHARD was one
of the principal plotters in the recent at
tempt to overthrow the republic, and aided
in the landing of arms; his sentence was a
fine of $40, 900 and imprisonment for thirty
FIVE years. WALKER pleaded guilty to the
charge of filling the bombs.with dynamite,
and received sentence of 5000 fine and
thirty years. imprisonment
The British Commissioner, Mr.. HAYES,
reported that Lord KIMBERLEY had rejected
the claim Of HEwETT, still another convict
to British protection, but his communica-
tion in regard to the other two contained
these emphatic words: II am, therefore,
INSTRUCTED to represent to your Government
that her Majcsty's Government cannot ad-
init that the Hawaiian nationality Of
,Messrs. RICHARD and WALKER has been
established" A prolonged secret session
,of tho Hawaiian Council, held to confer
npon this resolution, resulted in the public
announcement that Hawaii would maintain
her ground.
II the views entertained in Honolulu are
correct, these three British cases do in fact
stand on substantially the same footing. 1t
ds not denied that RICHARD and WALKER
both took the oath of allegiance to King
KALAKAUA and his successor, but they in
pist that they received express assurances
that this would not interfere with retain
anR their British allegiance. WALKERS
affidavit is that, at the Kings sugges-
tion, he signed the oath in order to
get greater privileges as n resident,
having married Hawaiian wife; and
RICHARD made a somewhat similar state
ment. Lord KIMBERLEY is ready to accept
their depostions that, if they were natural
dzed under Hawaiian law, it was not with
their knowledge and consent, and, further
moro, he makes the point that no proof is
offered that certificates of Hawaiian nation
Rlity were issued to them. Such certificate
was issued to HEwETT, and the case of the
aatter is therefore abandoned.
The question now arises whether England
will be able to coerce the little republic into
accepting her views of these cases, just as
she coerced Nicaragua into acknowledging
the official status of Proconsul HATCH and
paying such fine as she chose to fix
The statement of the highest authorities in
Hawaii, including Chief Justice JUDD and
nx-Minister THURsToN, after examining the
official records is that the cases of RICHARD
and WALKER are precisely like HEwETT's.
WALKER, it is true, received no certificate
bf naturalization, but that is accounted
Tor by the fact that the issue of
certificates only became customary about
Seven years ago. If we understand the
statements correctly, RICHARD did receive a
certificate. in spite Of Lord KIMBERLEY's
doubts on the subject, and, in any case, as
he was elected to the Legislature, it would
seem that he must have accepted enough
allegiance to Hawaii to justify his sentence
for attempting to overthrow the only lawful
Government.
It may be remembered that, in the case of
BOWLER, who had claimed American pro-
tection, Mr.. GRESHAM declined to interfere
But, on the other hand, he has insisted upon
the American citizenship of CRANsTUN, 30
that in this respect he has made our part in
the quarrel somewhat analogous to that Of
Great Britain. There seems to be no doubt
that Hawaii means to insist on her rights in
the case Of RICHARD and WALKER, and if
she does, it remains to be seen whether
JOHN BULL will back down or attempt to
Release these men by force,