The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-07-18
HONOLULU poL1rTcs.
Letter From One In Communication With
Tlihf Country.

Editor Of Asboriln:-
Your paper of THE 18th inst coneined a
telegram dlted at Victoria, b. c., giv-
ing an account of a sharp alluercation be-
tween Rev. Jos. Cook L. L. ID. of Bos-
ton and Mr.. WiEfs, our minister to the
Hawaiian republic, on dhe occasion OF
the Fourth Of July celebration at Homo
lulu The impression left by that dis
patch is that the government and people
Of Honolulu ore in sympathy with the
present administration In washington and
Southern+Democraltf proclvlties. Such
feeling, can assure you, does not exist;
AID as happen No be I'm close conmuni-
eaton with reliable parties IN Honol, lu,
and have full and direct information OF
the AFFAIRS would like ito give a further
account OF some circumstances than has
been published.
EARLY i'm June, at the reques. of prom
inent American citizens residing In Homo
lulu, Minister Wills called meeting Of
Americans TO arrange for a celebration Of
the Fourth. This was only according to
custom. This year, however, 1t was sug-
gested that celebration OF the proclaim
alton of the Hawaiian republic be united
with the Independence day celebration, as
the former occurrence took place July OF
last year. Mr.. willis, however, stated
that It would not be possible for him,
as American minister to take active part
In such a celebration, and 1T was accord
ingdy agreed that the exercises should be
dlstinctlvely American in character and
that Hawaiian politics should be en-
tirely left out. This WAS done at mees-
ing of American citizens, and not OF
citizens Of the Hawaiian republic. Var
sous committees were then appointed In
the good American way, who made all
the necessary arrangements A week or
ten days before the Fourth DR.. Cook ar
rived in the city en- route to Australia,
and as ne is "a distinguished orator, the
committee asked him to speak and he
consented.
The exercises of the Fourth were held
at Independence park, Mr.. Willis presid-
ing. as was proper. DR.. Cook was the
first speaker, and diSregardlng entirely
the provision of the meeting above mem
toned, that no American politics should
be introduced, he chose for his subject
1.-THE Present Condition OF the Hawaiian
Republic" For a full understanding Of
the events that followed it will be neces-
sary to show the character OF the audi
ence present. Honolulu is an exceedingly
cosmopolitan city. People Of all nation
albties. political beliefs hnd ways of
thinking are thrown together there, and
have learned to Yield respect and toll
erance to the opinions OF others. This
audience while composed principally of
Americans celebrating their national In
dependence, held also Hawaiian citizens
British and Royalists. DR.. Cook, as all
know who have heard him, is an exceed
ingly vigorous and aggressive speaker
and, Ike many who speak extempore. Is
at times carried away by the vehemence
OF his own oratory. When, therefore
alter choosing a forbidden subject he
passed from disparaging comparisons of
southern with northern opinions to a. dl-
rect criticism Of the American admins
tration, 1t could not we'll be otherwise
than that the audience would show It's
approval of Mr.. Willis rebuke. And At
required relbuke in strong terms to
bring man like Mr. Cook Ito q realtza-
ton OF his offense. Much as we may
regret 1t, Mr.. WINS is our representative
In Honolulu, and Mr.. Cooks language
was not only an insult to our government
through him, but an utter disregard of
the character of the meeting, an insult
also TO THE Americans he was addressing,
ana they could not but approve q positive
reDulne. British and Royalists would ap-
plaud for reasons OF their own. II some
orator from Seattle should have come
here on the Fourth and made disparug-
Ing remarks about Oregon and COMMENT
ed upon the filossbaclism Of the state
and of Astoria In particular, would we
we not have applauded any chairman
who would can him 10 order, even II the
chairman we're Ex-Governor Pennoyer
himself? The conditions were similar In
Honolulu, and the approval of Minister
Willis action was only an evidence OF
Dairm-ndedness and resentment for an
uncalled for insult, and not of assent to
the opinions OF policy of Mr.. Willis and
our administration. The Hawaiian re-
public Is ait present in a peculiar position
and one which 1t is difficult to understand
without being acquainted with both the
men and the conditions there. The pres
emit government and Its supporters are IN
tensely American In feeling, ais only
Americans in "a foreign country can be-
But their relations with this government
are not a little strained but they must
be maintained II the islands are not
to be llald open TO British and Japanese
aggression. Flor this reason Minister
Willis Is tolerated there, and ordinary
diplomatic courtesies are exchanged, but
nothing more. That he was congratulated
by any government supporter as having
accomplished the stroke of his life is
not credible, and my source of informa-
tion makes no mention of it. That some
Royalist or Britisher 50 congratulated
him is quite possible, and indeed prob
able
Hoping these few lines MAY aid In CIV
ing correct impression OF the condition
of affairs m those islands, the control
Of which 1 believe to be so important
for us to maintain, am, yours truly
]. s. BISHOP, M. d.