The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-08-12
AMERICAN.
The COnsummatiOn Of a SHANE
Tess Crime.
Hawaii Absorbed Into the American
Union Before Many specta-
tors But without Much
Enthusiasm.


the Executive Building and at noon
precisely, three American ensigns
6oated from the towers OF the same
building and still another from the
Judiciary, the former Government
building in response to the cescion
OF the sovereignty and property Of
the Republic of Hawaii by President
Dole which was formally accepted
by U. S. Minister Sewall.
There was an immense concourse
on the grounds and in the verandahs
Of the Executive Building, and
goodly gathering OF officials on a
platform in front decorated with
tawdry bunting with large rosette
in front composed OF the Hawaiian
aud American flag.
In the concourse we're hu' few
Hawsiians but apparently almost
every Portuguese, Chinese, and
Japanese laborer from surrounding
plantations aud highways aud by
ways had turned out to view the
interesting ceremony.
1t must be- admitted that the
function as a spectacle was excel
lently carried out. 1t was very
picturesque and it had tn. advan-
tage of being conducted with
brevity, decency and consideration
for the feeling OF the Hawa'ians.
Except from the annexation organ
izations and those in the employ Of
the late autocracy there was but
scant enthusiasm and the cheering
fell fat and cold even when the Am
erican flag was hoisted in token of
sovereign supremacy. The lowering
of the Hawaiian flag was marked by
numbering solemnity and silence
and bitter signs with few silent
tears. And yet there we're merry
comments upon the antics of the
much be-uniformed and dressed to
kill ushers OF the defunct republic.
Mr.. Dole had again parted his whis-
kers to typify the parting of the
ways" Mr. Cooper and several
others had apparently purchased
new bell toppers to catch the gentle
dews from heaven and Parson Pear
son had been inspired with an uncon.
scionable long prayer. As we left
Mr.. Sswall was apparently making
a fsrvid grafton, but the sccomoda-
lions for the press we're so execrable
that we decline to immortalize his
utterances. In every State of the
Union the marked discourtesy to
the visiting journalists on the part
OF the ex-Foreign Office will be pub.
lished far and wide, and locally it
shall be dealt with as occasion offers.
Nearly every store in town was
closed, few ships dressed and
much powder was burned.
NOTES.
The Chinese stores were closed to-
day. Do our Chinese friends be-
lieve that they will have any kind of
show under our new government
Hawaiians were absent from the
exercises which this morning trans
ferrsd their country into the juris-
diction of the United States. Why
did Dole, Smith and their compa-
triots cry when their flag was lower
edo and they realized the enormity
OF their trsachery.
The Hawaiians stayed at homo to-
day and the "pap.eaters" were visi-
BILE on the occasion when Hawaii
lowered her flag
Minister Cooper is still an official
and will draw q salary. His job as
Minister of Foreign Affairs is gone
however, but he will draw a salary
and pay those claims.
You could here a pin drop when
the Hawaiian flag went down this
morning, and cheer, as feeble q,
ever heard at public function