Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-27
WHY HAWAII HOPES
Right in the Path Of Trans-Pacifc
Steamers.
ALL COMMERCE MUST PAY HER TOLL
Legislative Approval Given to SpaId-
ing's Great Gable Project.
T II e o PIU NJ TR A T + G
ALL COMMERCE MUST PAY HER TOLL
T HE o Plum TRAFFIC
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Nothing has so far been heard of any
claims for damages urged by the British
government in behalf of persons arrested
during the late instruction. If, as sur
missed, your administration, by presenting
the Dureell claim, intended to set an ex-
ample to the former power, 1t has not
yet been initiated. Quite on the contrary,
the British foreign office has, through its
commissioner here, signified the withdraw
al of its claim previously made to interpose
in the cases of Messrs. Richard and Walk
er as being British subjects. The proofs
presented by this government have been
accepted as entirely satisfactory, that those
gentlemen, Notwithstanding their affidavits
to the contrary, had been for many years
naturalized as Hawaiian citizens. Both
had held offices under the monarchy.
1t Is due to the British commissioner,
Major A. G. Halves, to state that he
makes himself highly acceptable to this
government, aud that his style of proce-
dure is far more satisfactory than that of
United States Minister Willis. The lone
of the latter seems to assume in the out
set that this government is necessarily in
the wrong. In the case of Dureell, he
made no preliminary inquiry here into the
facts, but accepted the bare affidavit of
the poor darkey. and sent it on to Wash
ington to be returned here with claim for
has received similar applications, enc at
least from man OF some business stand
ing, upon all of which he has at once con-
ferred with Minister Hatch, affording the
government immediate opportunity to set
forth the causes of the arrests, before the
cases were referred to London.
Richard and Walker above named were
the most deeply and actively involved in
the January instruction of any persons
except Gulick, Seward and Nowlein. The
last named escaped penalty by turning
states evidence. The other four are serv-
ing long sentences In Oahu prison. Their
health has for the most part exempted
them from hard labor. 1t Is hoped that
the time may come in no distant future
when ii may be safe to remit the greater
part of their sentences. This can only be
when sufficient period has elapsed of
entire acquiescence in the government of
the republic to remove all apprehension of
further attempts to overturn it. Annex
alton to the United States would of course
have the same effect of creating absolute
stability of government.
Pardons conditioned on leaving the coun-
try have just been extended to two of the
leading insurgents under long sentences
ne med W. H. C. Grey and Louis Marshall
Both are youthful, the latter white Amer
lean, the former a half-white Tahitian.
They served as officers in the rebel forces
The especial reason for pardon was their
physical condition. both having been in
the Queens Hospital very low with typhoid
fever and their convalescence apparently
also pleaded In their favor
MIR. HilbcIn and Hawaii.
There appears to be no disposition here
on the part of any dissent,ents to make
further attempts to restore monarchy; nor
are there any Indications of weakness or
instability in the government. This OBJ
servatlon Is called out by interviews re-
ported in the San Francisco papers with
NJ ,f
Gently visited the islands, and while here
to the stability of the government and the
desra bleness of annexation. Mr. Hilborn
is now reported as saying that annexation
is undesirable; that the republic of Hawaii
must soon collapse, and that the queen
Will before long be restored Possibly he
has been unsupported. 1t is difficult to
believe that man of the supposed intelli-
gence of a member of Congress would
have formed such opinions local politics
from anything seen or heard in Honolulu.
Only two elements are alleged by the
enemy here as adverse to the stability of
the republic. One is the fanciedly hostile
attitude of the administration in the Dureell
case.
The other element of weakness recently
harped upon by the royalists press is the
financial one In this there is nothing what
ever. The pretext for it is the very candid
showing of Finance Minister Damon that
owing to the January disturbances and
ton the finances fell short s16I,O0O as
compared with the previous year. That
was certainly cheap enough for stamping
out Il formidable attempt to overthrow the
government. This falling off is deficit.
The finances are in admirable condition.
and the government credit never was bet
ter. There was simply an extra war eX-
pense, provided for from ample current
receipts of the treasury. In it's finances
the government is thoroughly strong. 1t
Is equally SO otherwise, making allowance
for sullen and incapable hostility of per-
haps a majority of the native Hawaians
who have not yet had time to accept the
very conspicuous fact that under the re-
public they have even more freedom AMI
prosperity than they had before. There
are mary and various unmstakable signs
that this native opposition Is fast abating
Traps-Pncinc Commerce.
The steamer traffic calling at Honolulu
continues steadily to increase. This Is the
necessary result of the rapid growth of
trans-Pacific commerce. The fact is that
this port has good wharf accommodation
for no more than two first-class steamers
at once. and more must be provided imme
diately. Last Saturday three large steam
ers had to be accommodated. and fourth
was due from Portland on a newly started
line, putting our worthy harbor master to
his trumps. We can make several large
Wharyes more however, and there Is Pearl
harbor close by, with unlimited room, as
soon as the sand on the bar is dredged out.
We learn that Japan is likely very soon to
put a strong line of steamers via Homo
lulu, probably to San Diego for the pur-
pose of bringing American cotton to the
new factories the japanese are establish
ing. There will also be heavy trade in
japanese coal to the Pacific coast. A very
large fleet of superior steamers is now Iy-
ing idle in Japan, which We're employed
transports in the late war, and are still
held in reserve, pending the complete set
tlement of the troubles. Honolulu may
very soon expect to have to make room
for some Of those ships at our wharves.
Nothing In the near future is growing
more plain than the coming great CONNER
cial importance of this port by reason of
its unique geographical position. 1t abso
lutely commands the situation, without
rival. The greater part of the steam traf
fc crossing the Pacific on the main lines of
trade is compelled to pay toll the
way. The only route exempt from calling
at Honolulu is the very northern one be
tween Japan and the Puget sound ports
Most steamers from Japan to California
find Honolulu a convenient calling port
The immense trade which will cross the
Pacific from the Nicaragua canal must
nearly all touch here.
As Il Cable Center.
Intimately related to these facts Is the
coming Importance Of Honolulu as the