Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-20
WAIIAN AFFAIRS
Relics Of Royalty Bought by the
British Commissioner.
TIE FALLEN STATE OF MRS. DOMINB
Feeling Among Natives as to An
nexation.
4 TOWN OF TELEPH HOMES
Of The Evening Star.

Correspondence of The Evening Star.
HONOLULU, March Z, 1895.
An illustrative incident of the times here
was the other day an auction sale of
number of large old carriages. They were
in a dusty, faded condition, with ragged,
moth-eaten Innings. In their day they had
been grand state carriages of successive
Hawaiian sovereigns. They were all of
English make, heavy in spoke, hub, tire
and springs. The coachman's seat was
high and separate from the body Of the
coach. One &C uld remember former grand
state occasions, such as the proroguing of
the legislature, when the king was driven
over from the palace with his staff in two
or three such coaches, with gold-laced
coachmei. and footmen, in much bravery OF
silk stockings and protuberant calves-mih-
tary drawn up, roll of drums and noise of
band. Great was the past glory of Hawaii
an royalty. Sic transit. Only one of the
clumsy coaches remained in decent condi-
ton. 1t was the largest of all, ordered by
Kaiakaua from England at cost of five
hundred pounds. 1t needed four horses to
haul 1t, or else span of Percherons. 1t
sold for S16O. the purchaser being H. B. NJ.
Commissioner Halves, who thus became
heir to whatever decayed glories of depart
ed royalty still linger around the stately
vehicle.
The British commissioner is fine, some
what elderly major, who has seen much of
the world and the wars, of great stature
and embonpoint, but erect, military bear
ing, very affable and civil. 1t is quite
mistake to attribute to him any active in
reference in Hawaiian matters. He does
not NEEDLE, remains quite neutral, though
watchful of what is going on. Since his
predecessor, Wodehouse, left, who was for
ever meddling and nagging, Messrs. Dole
and Co. have enjoyed a reasonable degree
of peace and quiet from the direction of
the British legation. Still, the major looks
as IL he might become disagreeably active
If he thought occasion called for 1t. He
has lately been negotiating for lease OF
Mrs. Dominis' town residence Of Washing
ton Place to become the British legation,
and it was understood that her agent, Will
son. had concluded the bargain: 1t is now
learned that she demurs, and Is unwilling
to lease the premises at all, which looks as
if she had by no means resigned all hope
of soon being enabled herself to reoccupy
the house But that hardly seems prob
able.
Mrs. DOminfs' Fallen State.
Her poor fallen ex-majesty, Liliuokalani,
has now entered upon further chapter In
her downward history. The residence in
her former royal palace. which she re-
suned as a prisoner seven weeks ago. she
continues therein for the present, under a
penal sentence of five years, having been
convicted of the crime Of misprision OF
treason. The government holds her, under
the same law and liability to trial and PEN
atty as any other citizen or resident of the
republic, accounting her sovereignty to
have ceased and determined. and a private
condition to have begun, when she forfeited
the throne on January IA, 1893, by her at
tempt to abolish the constitution which
made her queen. At the some time they
have regard to her former high position as
chief magistrate and sovereign, and do not
administer the punishment of her recent
or inn in or
accommodation is palatial. For exercise
and air she has the freedom of the spa
c.cIs southeast veranda, with its mag
niticent outlook upon the town and suburbs,
well as on the wide ornamental grounds
below. Her diet will be of her own selec-
ton, at her own cost. 1t is hardly proba-
permanently occupy these quarters. Some
other arrangements will probably be deter
mined upon in due time.
1t will be felt necessary to keep the ex-
queen apart from communication with the
native people for a good while to come.
Her presence among them has been, and
would continue to be, an extremely disturb
ing element in politics. She would ineVita-
bly, claim and receive homage from the ma
tives as their ALI by divine right-as the
Laui or celestial parsonage among them.
The formal written abdication and oath of
allegiance to the republic. which she lately
made cannot be counted upon as able to
restrain the people from rendering their
subservient homage, or her from accepting
it, so long she lived among them, and
10 other prince took the throne in her
place. There is a strange magnetism about
royalty among all peoples who are accus-
toned to 1t, and if the people have any ac-
cess to this woman multitudes will flock
to her, and stir up loyalty to her, and so
renew the tendency and material for fresh
insurrection. She must be thoroughly Sc
cluded from them. Deportation might be
effectual. There are difficulties and objec-
lions to that measure. Whatever course is
finally adopted is likely to be after full and
deliberate consideration.
The Commissions Work Over.
The military commission have completed
their very laborious task of trying the in
surgents and their confederates in the late
rebellion. They are not yet formally dis
charged from duty, but no further cases
are likely to call for their attention. They
have sat in all thirty-five days, during a
period of seven weeks. Probably 200 per-
sons have been tried before this court.
There have been several patches of from
fifteen to twenty-five natives who served
in the field together, or who were together
as guards at Washington Place. The work
of trying all these people has been most
arduous one for all the seven members of
the commission. 1t has been extremely
severe for the two lawyers, Kinney and
Robertson, who served successfully as
judge advocates. very heavy amount
of labor was involved for number of law
yers who prepared the cases.
The work done has been very thorough.
The cases were well prepared. The tes-
timony was usually in excellent order,
greatly facilitating the work of the court.
There was no haste or lack of full oppor-
tunity for the defense. Full and impartial
hearing was given. Witnesses were cross
questioned at great length by defendants
counsel Not many of the accused were
acquitted. In most cases there was no
room for doubt of their full participation
in the insurrection, either as active or as
accomplices. In fact, all seriously doubtful
cases were released without trial, or If
the record Of the party made him danger
Gus, he was given the option of trial or
exile, in nearly every case choosing the
latter. Such were the cases of c. w. Ash
ford, A. Peterson and c. Creighton, who
had been active and reckless partisans of
royalty, and had all held office as attorney
general
The Convicted Insurgents.
Much sympathy Is reported to have been
felt at the east for the case Of Maj. Sew
ard Here his case has been exceptionally
devoid of the sympathy which has been
keenly felt for other culprits. Stewards
record in Honolulu has not been at all a
reputable one. He has been known chiefly
as parasite upon the somewhat wealthy
but prodigal and loose-living John A. Cum
bo1f with the irregular WAYS