The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-01-23

The immediate cause of the resig-
nation OF Colonel Mclean was the OPP
position of a group of the regiment Of
ficers. He has been unpopular with a
number of them for several months
and failed to get into their good graces
again. When a charge was suggested,
II was thought best to go back to the
old arrangement which existed prior
to the arrival of the Colonel in 1895.
During the last week of Decem Der all
Iof the officers of the regiment were
called before the President to state
their grievances" if any, and their
opinions as 10 the best course to pur-
sue. Another matter, which commend
ed the suggestion of going back TO the
old system. was that of expense. The
result OF deliberations on these points
was the above correspondence of yes
terday.
Upon receiving the acceptance of his
resignation, Colonel Mclean imme1i-
ately retired from the duties of his
office He will occupy his room in ;he
bungalow until about the first of the
month, when he will depart for his cid
home in New York.
Colonel Mclean arrived in Homo
lulu on May 9, 1895, twenty-one months
ago, from New York. He had just re-
turned from a scientific trip to Ger
many and was employed by Hon. L. A.
Thurston, then Minister at Washing
ton, upon instructions from this Gov
eminent, to come here and take COM
mand of the First Regiment. At that
time the Regiment consisted merely of
one battalion of six companies. One
of the COlonel's first moves was to
divide it into two battalions, and Com
panies G and H were formed to make
up the required number of elements.
The least that can be said of his
move is that he has brought the mill
tary of Hawaii up to a state of effici-
ency never reached before. Several of
the companies are today on a par with |
of the United States in point |
Of discipline and efficiency. The Col |
onel proved disciplinarian of the first |
order and his constant efforts has |
brought this high standard of the reg
ment.
The news of the resignation was the |
of genuine regret in the bar
'acks. There the Colonel was very |
popular. At the meeting of Company
D last night, the situation was an
bounced by Captain Mccarthy. Sever
II speeches were made, eulogizing the
services of Colonel Mclean to the n.
y. H and expressing regret at the |
urn of events. The following reSOlu
ion, apropos of the resignation, pro-
posed by Private w. Charlock. passed |
)y unanimous vote:
Resolved, That in the resignation of |
Colonel Mclean from command of the |
First Regiment, the National Guard Ha-
wall has sustained a great loss; that /
receives with profound re-
Sret the news of such resignation
Colonel Mclean said last night: Il
nave done my best and trust my work
speaks for itself. l leave Hawaii WITH
he highest regard for the President,
he Ministers and the department. To
nen of the regiment, l will always
,ear the strongest aloha. Emotions |
an hardly describe arise as l come to
cave them. l have Away considered
the greatest honor to command the
first Regiment, n. G.. H.--not SO
much for the distinction as for the
ersOnnel of the men composing the
title Hawaiian army. They are men
f business and honor, struggling for
0fty principles. L will ever remember
18th pleasure my association with
hem'