The San Francisco call., 1898-05-10

Islands being annexed as 8 war meas ure immediately on the outbreak of hostilities with Spain, the prospect Is that they will virtually be abandoned by the United States until the war is over. It is understood from several sources of good authority that the United States has already asked Great Britain to dispatch cruiser to these islands on the outbreak of the war in order that United States vessels now stationed here might be permitted to return home to do their share in pro- tecting Pacific Coast cities.
 It will be remembered that in the agreement between Great Britain, France and the United States, one or the other of the powers has to main tain a naval force here for the joint protection of the citizens of the three countries in case of revolutionary or any other trouble on shore. Of late years, by mutual consent of the three powers, the duty of caring for these islands has been left to the United States for many good reasons. Now that the latter country has become eIn- broiled with Spain she has probably felt justified In asking Great Britain to assume, for the time being, her share of the care and protection of Hawaii, and there is no doubt that the latter power has promptly acceded to the re- quest, the more so as she appears par ticularly anxious at present to obtain the good will of the United States. In the light of recent events British cruiser may be looked for in this har bar in a very few days, and on her ar rival the Bennington will lose no time in getting to the coast.
 On the 18th the Alameda arrived with the not altogether unexpected news of impending war. There was intense excitement and strong patriotic senti- ment toward the United States ex- pressed, and grave anxiety felt as to the result of war upon our unprotected island home, and the stand to be taken by our Government in the event of ac- tual war.
 The Call correspondent promptly called upon President Dole at the ex- ecutive building. MT. Dole was evil dently perturbed at not having re- ceived a telegram from Minister Hatch or from any one at Washington with official news later than the newspaper dispatches, which merely left the con- dition of affairs unsettled, with the war apparently inevitable. He was strong 1y of the opinion that there was no ne- cessity for the Hawaiian Government to issue a proclamation of neutrality In
 
 the condition of affairs or the actions or wishes of the United States in the matter. He believed that neutrality could be preserved equally as well without a proclamation as with it. Our intimate relations with the United States were of such nature that our position was so delicate as to require very grave consideration before any action was taken. In the meantime he would await further information.
 Hawaiians are becoming extremely anxious about mail communications, and more especially in regard to the imported food supply. Taking advan- tage Of the situation the merchants are already raising the prices of staple imported foods, and as Hawaii pro duces but little. and this Is a bad year for rice and taro, the outlook for the poor man Is not pleasing.
 Taking in the general aspect of af- fairs the people are very self-contained and philosophical. and have come to the conclusion that annexation will not again be considered until "the war Is over," and then probably not for years to come. This is the view now entertained by the Cabinet and the Legislature. with the bare hope enter tained by the most radical that we may be absorbed as war measure.
 The Government has suffered anoth- CT crushing defeat in the House in the election of the five members of the Council of State. The House chose to select five of it's own members in pref erence to such men as an ex-Minister of Finance, J. F. Lansing; very prominent and intelligent Hawaiian lawyer MT. Kane; a son of the late Minister H. A. P. Carter, and brother to their "martyred" Charles Lunt Car ter, MT. George R. Carter, and others Nv in nd al ity. Those elected were: A. A. V. Gear of California; A. c. M. Robert son, son of the late Justice Robertson, & clever lawyer and an actual member of the Council; W. c. Achi, half-Chi- nese lawyer (disbarred), useful and in- telligent as a legislator; J. l.. Kaulu- kow. the Speaker of the House, and P. R. Isenberg. This election makes one third of the Council of State practi- cally a subcommittee of the House, and is regarded generally as such poor politics that 1t would not be wise to go behind the door to ascertain motives for the result.
 The City of Picking arrived this fore noon. but brought no news of later dates
 The legislative excursionfsts to the Ieper settlement on Molokai returned last night having been thoroughly soaked during their visit of inspection. The following interesting political goS- sip was gathered from the legislators on the trip:
 It appears that the majority of the Senate and the House are dissatisfied with the manner in which the Govern ment Is conducted, and the lack of at tention 1t pays to their resolutions of instructions and condemnation, that they are preparing three separate votes of censure. we'll knowing that the President will fall back upon the un- constitutionality of such votes and pay no attention to them, but that perhaps they may force the resigna- ton of two of the Ministers, and then, in course of time, by the three to one method. make the change. They are also opposed to the imagined candidacy next year of MT. Damon for President, believing that he is pledged to make MT. Dole his Minister of Foreign Af- fairs, and Mr. Dole has lost the re- spect and sympathy of many of his old friends and supporters through the un- fortunate contretemps in connection with the $500 contribution to the sur vivors of the victims of the Maine dis aster.
 The most popular candidate yet men,