The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-08-12

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graduation he entered the Law School
taking the full three years course,
and receiving the degree of Lii. b.
In October, 1885, he was appointed
Vice Consul at Liverpool. March,
1881, the Consulate at samoa having
been raised to the rank of Consulate
General, he was appointed To the Of
flee.
Upon his arrival there the German
government, Notwithstanding there
was a conference of the powers in
treaty with Samoa in session at
Washington, seized the Islands. Re
fusing to recognize the authority thus
established, combining himself to pro-
test and to efforts to prevent blood
shed, Mr. Sewall's course in the emer-
gency with which he found himself
confronted, was warmly approved by
the department Of state. AS a result
of German action, and the consequent
| indignation in this country by this
violation of good faith and the injury
| suffered by American citizens, the
| Senate Committee on Foreign Rela
| tons summoned Mir. Sewall to testify
| and at the conclusion of the testimony
an amendment to the Diplomatic APP
| preparation bill was reported, appro-
| priating 100000 for the protection OF
our interests in Samoa and the uccu-
| patton of our harbor there. In sup
| porting these amendments in an eX-
| haustive speech on the floor of the
| Senate, January 20, 1850, Senator
Sherman, chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Relations gave Mr.. Sewali
the highest praise for his conduct
and the personal qualities he had e>>-
hibited before the committee. the
testimony given by Mr.. Sewall was
never made public, but ii is known
that he advocated a different policy
in regard to the conduct of our rcla-
lions with Samoa : from that Which
had been pursued by Secretary Bay
ard, view that was supported by Mr.
Whitney, who was overruled by the
President and Mr.. Bayard. Upon the
conclusion of the testimony, Secretary
Bayard requested the resignation of
Mr.. Sewall. which was Immediately
rendered. but in April, 1889, the Ger
man government, having invited a re-
newal of the conference broken up at
| Washington, at Berlin, Secretary
Blaine attached Mr. Sewall to the
commission, and after returning from
his service there, in February, 1890, he
was re-appointed ny President Har-
rison to his former post, to assist in
the Inauguration of the government
established in Samoa by the general
act of Berlin. This having been ac-
complished to the satisfaction of our
government, Mr. Sewall returned
home and resigned his commission to
the President, who, in accepting it, eX-
pressed in an autograph letter. the
highest appreciation of the service he
had rendered.
In the fall of 1893. Mr.. Sewall hav-
ing married Miss Ashe of San Fran
cisco, made tour of the world, re-
turning to Bath in the summer of
! 1894
In the fall campaign of 1898, al
though Mr.. Sewall had previously
been a Democrat. the Republican COM
mittee requested him to address a
e large gathering in Augusta on the
American interests in the Pacific. At
: this meeting EX-Minister' John l..
e Stevens presided and spoke. That
: was Mr.. Stevens last public appear
n ance.
: He Immediately entered into the en-
: suing campaign and spoke in Massa-
f chusetts and New York and in his
n own state in behalf of the Republicans
s ticket. He presided mt the state con-
j vention at Bangor in June which nom
mated the present governor of the
s state, who was elected in September,
! by the unprecedented majority of
/. nearly fifty thousand votes. Mr.. Sew
i all was also q delegate from the Sec
II ond district to the Republican Ma
tional convention at st. Louis, where