Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-20

TacInc iIoin some point on her Canadian
border, probably Vancouver. 10 n res,in.
place In the middle Of the sea. from Witt
two branches would dverge, one To so,na
point in Australasia and the other IN ,ba
Chinese or Japanese coast, il most inte,ss,
ing.
| In October 1891, commission cons,s.
ing OF British consul, Capt. Hawes NJ.
Sanford Fleming Of Ottawa, and Mr. W
| Hepworth Mercer II the British coloni.,
Office, visited the Hawaiian islanda .na
| sought to obtain permission to accrt.'
| property by lease or purchase IA a landin.
place and intermediate station for ~
| British Pacific cable The commission b.s
| gone so far as TO claim TO the Hava,ian
government that under their treaty VIII
| us lease to an individual WAS not NO
hibitcd and that such All instrument roiob,
| bc made 10 Mr.. Mercer for the beneG, ~
such company as he might form. To this
proposition the Hawaiian government 70.
fused to listen. The most they undertook
to do was 10 refer the subject TO the United
states and ask an expression Of cur policy
This proposition was submitted by Presi
dent Cleveland In his message IL jam.
airy. 1895, to the Senate recommending its
assent 10 the proposition of the British
company. This was not fayorably received
by the Senate and nothing came Of il.
The senator here read from "A report OF
the proceedings Of the colonial conference
AT Ottawa in June and July, 1894. At
one Of these sessions, Sir Henry WrixOn.
a delegate said: d" We are all in favor az
England having supreme control Of the
Pacific; we regard that as essential 70 our
rights and to our existence as a nation.
We in Australia dearly cherish the idea
that England should control absolutely in
the Pacific; that Is my argument. The
imperial view or the national view we re-
gard as Important; we want to prevent any
other nation from becoming dominant in
the Pacific Many similar propositions
and reflections were made at the confer
ence.
Senator Hale here gave an interesting
incident showing the watcbfulness OF
Great Britain and its determination 10
gain foothold in some part of the Ha-
waiian group.
Necker island lies about 400 miles north
west from Honolulu and is in a direct line
where cable would naturally be laid from
Canada to Australia or upper Asia. It
had been claimed by the Hawaiian govern
ment as one of the Hawaiian group since
1854 when 1t sent Capt. Patty to inspect
its outlying islands. Capt. Patty reported
that he had sailed round Necker island but
found no place where landing could be
made.
From that day to 1894 the island at
tracted no attention. The Hawaiian gov
eminent seemed TO have been conscious Of
the defect in its title TO Necker island by
reason Of never having taken possession,
and in May became aware that this defect
had been discovered by the Canadian gov
eminent or by persons connected with the
British Pacific cable enterprise. A person
whose movements were conducted quietly
and perhaps furtively landed from one Of
the Canadian steamers and went at once
to The survey department Of the Hawaiian
government where he made minute and
pointed inquiries regarding Necker island.
He also sought and found IA son OF Capt.
Patty. Of whom he solicited the possession
of the log kept on the voyage of 1857.
These facts were brought To the atten-
ton of the Hawaiian government, which
at the same time observed that the British
cruiser Champion then in port was pre-
pared to 20 to sea, ostensibly on target
practice cruise.
The Hawaiian government determined
to act at once in order TO save any ques-
ton about ownership of Necker island
They chartered one of the inter-!sland
steamers, coaled and provisioned it and
dispatched it for Neckcr island within six
hours of the time they had learned of the
danger and of the near departure of the
Champion.
The Hawaiian steamer and the CHAM
pion left port at the same time, headed in
the same direction. 1t was commonly be-
lieved that both vessels We're bound for the
same destination, but the little Hawaiian
steamer was enabled to make better time
on account of her light draft and ability TO
ignore reefs and she succeeding in reach
ing the island first, where the Hawaiian
flag was raised and Necker island pro-
claimed a possession of the Hawaiian gov
ernment. This is why Mr.. Fleming rather
says in the Ottawa conference
that Necker island is no longer available
as a British midway point for the laying
of their cable
Mr. Hale then produced the enabling
act of the Hawaiian Legislature approved
by its president, which authorized the sub.
Sidy and the concession to +. s. Spalding,
formerly United States consul at Homo
lulu, and the act of Incorporation of the
Pacific Gable Co, with which, under the
senator's bill, the contract is to be made
by our government.
He commented upon the different provi-
sions of the bill showing that the govern
ment was amply protected and could take
possession of the cable at any moment il
any exigency should arise requiring it.
As TO whether the project if carried out
would accelerate the annexation move
ment. MIR Hale said that he could not say
and indeed did not care whether it would
or would not. He looked upon the ques-
ton Of annexation as sure to come in the
near future. but he did not want to pre-
cipitate it now.
OF one thing he felt sure, that with this
cable built all the world would take
notice that the interests of the two govern
ments and the two peoples would become
so connected that any attempt Mt interfer-
ence from outside nations would cease
forever.
He said in closing, quoting President
Cleveland S message in 1885 and 1887. in
favor of aiding its construction, that the
way was now clear for us to accomplish
this great purpose: that if we abandoned