Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-13
ENGLISH AND HAWAII
Governments Attitude Different From
That ofthe Subject.
AROBSING NATIVES 10 OPPOSITION
Hostility to the Americans. on the
Islands.
SUPPORTERS OF MONARCHY
Special Correspondence Of TIE Evening Star.

Special Correspondence OF TIE Evening Star.
HONOLULU. March 80, 1898.
We received two days ago the joint reso-
luton for the annexation of Hawaii which
was reported to the Senate March 16 by
Chairman Davis Of the committee on for
eign relations. We are much encouraged
by this forward step in the business.
I feel moved to make some statements
respecting that paragraph in Senator Da-
Wis report which has elected a protest
from the British government, through Sir
Julian Pauncefote. The report says:
IF Great Britain is not industriously and
openly engaged in fomenting this concert
ed movement for the destruction of the
republic and the restoration of the mon
archy on its RUNS. her agents and the
princess. her protege, are kept conveniently
near at hand to fasten her power upon
the islands the happening of any pre-
text for the protection of the lives and
property of British subjects in Hawaii"
We are aso told. under date Of March
q. that Much surprise has been created
in England by the passage in the recent
report of the Senate committee on foreign
relations respecting the attitude of Great
Britain toward Hawaii and Sir Julian
Pauncefote. under instructions from his
government. has informed the Department
of State that the committee of the Senate
is under an entire misrepresentation and
that there Is 10 ground whatever for the
allegations contained in the committees
statement.
1 wish to show that, however apparently
Inconsistent. there is truth in both state
ments. The British government as a gov
eminent. has strictly abstained from any
opposition to the right of the United States
in Hawaii. while at the same time British
subjects. as G class, have been Jealous sup
of he Ia mo- "a
ter opponents Of annexation TO the United
States.
To the best of my information. it is true
that the British government have for forty
or more years La ST regarded the Hawaiian
Islands as belonging to the sphere of Amer
.can influence, and likely TO come into the
full posse ssion of the United States. They
have accepted II as an understood tniaS
that such was to be the destiny of Ha-
wall. In view of the immense and Srowir s
power Of the United States, and of their
natural occupation and possession of these
islands. England has fully adopted tie
policy of entirely concedirg all rights in
Hawaii to the United States as something
not to- be questioned | think it cannot
be doubted that. a government. they
have been loyal to this understanding
Any other course attitude would most
obviously have been imDolitic and mis-
chievous- 1t has been the prudent policy
of the British government to do nothing
in Hawaii TO awaken jealousy Of her in
tentions here. and thereby hasten aEnexa-
ton EeeAlessIy. The necessity of 'he
islands 10 the United States as a strategic
and commercial outpost in the Pacific has
long been 50 obvious that 1t has been a
constant surprise to England that the ex-
pected step has not been consumnated
Until consummated a bare possibility al
ways remains that their independen"e Ray
continue which would be better for british
interests. Therefore England strictly
avoids doing anything to stir up the Inited
States to action in the matter
the hand well KNOW IL, anu
as have repeatedly stated in this CORE
spondence. Engiishmen are constantly man
ifesting hatred and aversion to not only
annexation to the United States. but also
to the present Hawaiian republic 1t is
strictly true that, since the inception or the
republic. its strongest and bitterest enc
mics have been Rritishers. No other class
of men has so industriously labored to fill
the minds of the natives with sense of In
jury and to inspire them with desire to re-
store the monarchy These people told the
natives that they were to be tranpled in
the gutter and all their rights and prfv-
leges taken away. Shortly after the re-
public was established an elderly native
dame. with whom had a special friend
ship. came weeping to ask why We were
going to drive all the natives into the
mountains. Her son-in-law was wealthy
British planter and had filled her mind
with such falsehoods- The same were gen.
orally current among the natives, traceable
to British authors.
Hostility to Americans.
For some time before the dethronement
OF the queen the hostility of leading Brit
ishers to American influence was very pro-
nounced, although there were some of them
who were opposed 10 the queens arbitrary
and corrupt policy. Especially prominent
in support of the corrupt monarch was the
British Minister Wodehouse- His official
position forbade him 10 be demonstrative.
but his wife. a large and -strong-minded
lady. was conspicuousy during the long
struggle in the legislature. in which four
cabinets OF the queens choice were sue
cessively unseated by votes of want OF
confidence" month or before the
close reform cabinet appeared to be
hrmiy seated, but. the cumming queen pro-
longed the session ten days after their
business was completed. A number of the
reform members had gone home. She
bribed several more. and at an unexpected
moment succeeded in getting vote of
want of confidence against the reform cab
iret- She Immediately put in a quartet OF
her henchmen-- At the same time she got
her supporters to revive the lottery and
opium bills. which were supposed to be
dead but at the last moment were passed
and signed, against the vehement protest
of the chamber of commerce.
Represented British Sentiment.
The point am coming to is this At the
critical moment in the legislature, when a
majority was declared for want Of conf
dence" in the reform cabinet the wife of
Minister Wodehouse stood up In her chair
waved her parasol and cheered. This was
witnessed by scores of people. The lady
represented the average. British sentiment
which was to support the arbitrary mon
arcby against the reform party which was
led by Americans. The British anImus was
their deep hostility to American influence
Tnat hostility grew mainly out of the
knowledge that the Americans regarded
annexation as the ultimate. destiny, of the
islands, although few OF them believed thar
times were ripe for 1t. Nearly all of us were
anxious to continue the monarchy a white
longer. ana TO that end sought- 10 restrain
the queen within reasonable limits
When The queen broke away from 20
straint and Undertook to proclaim a con-
stftution giving herself desro,fc powers
no one was more filled with regret and
alarm than the British minister He had
been long resident in Honolulu and well
knew the temper OF the whites and their
perfect ability to carry out theIx- aims
over any resistance possible for the na-
lives Mr. Wodehouse used his utmost
endeavors to dissCadc the queen from her
insane course. because he plaiaiy saw that