The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-05
rnr FIG or nAWAIE
Emergencies That HAD 90 Ne With RnaEinG u
what It IL.
nrom az cAtcaoo onrontole.

From the Chicago Chronfc'e.
All histories that arc printed OF the HAWAIIAN
Republic fail to toll OF the interesting story con-
nocted with the adoption OF tho flag OF that
country. Tho Incident bonrs not q little ro-
nance and shows in a way the Ingenuity OF the
natives. Tho adoption of the emblem datee
back about 20 years, when tho country was still
q monarchy and King Kamohameha II. was on
the throne. Tho country was continually vip-
tied by the warships OF tho different nations Of
the world and tho ruler Of the Hawaiians had .
difficult time to keen his little land from being
seized by some foreign power.
The story is handed down by postoritY. The
exact date of tho occurrence Is not known,
though IL was In the year 1873. The King OF
the "key to tho Pacific" Awokc one morning 70
find a French warship anchored safely in the
harbor of Honolulu. He became alarmed at the
prospect OF q conquest. and sont at once for his
Prime Minister. He was advised by him to ruA
up a flag. and show the visitors that the coun-
try belonged to some ono. ana was not q mo
mans land" to be pillNgod at will. by tho first
the advice. cast about for q piece OF bunting to
represent his nation. and fell upon an old Brit-
ish flag. This, he had run up to the top OF his
The bunting had hardly had time to unturi
lisslr Of o the the King In came amer rup n to bim e and told X
hin ~ that tn ne , TGnid I. have EnsOs 70 t "a. Az re 81 gag { d8 SnS
lish man.of-wAr that was expected at the island,
would arrive. and. the commander finding HE
nations colors flying over Honolulu, would take
possession in the name of the Queen. This
frightened Kamehalneha, and he started another
hunt for a flag; This time the Ssarchers un-
Taking tho two flags, the ruler had them made
into one. Tho jack In the corner OF the English
emblem was left. while the stripes of the Ameri.
can flag were added to 1t. Thus the Hawaiian
flag at fret had thirteen stripes and, a jack, the
disposed of his French. visitors, had time to
think over the matter. 1t was decided that 10
would be better to have only eight stripes. repre-
senting the eight islands of the nation. The
extra pieces were cut of; leaving, the eight
stripes, with a white one on the top. bejack still
carries the st. Georges cross, the st. Andrew'o
cross, and the st. Patrick's cross, the same az
tho English.
Soon after the adoption of this flag the whites,
who had begun to settle on the island, came
result, the monarchy was finally overthrown
and tho republic placed on q firm basis. with
white men at the head of tho Government. The
natives, who are Buperstitious, believe the
change In power from the unprecedented people
to the whites is directly due to tho fact that tho
white stripe is directly over the red In the flag.
They say that had tho red been first the whites
would never have gained foothold on tho island
sufficient to warrant their taking tho reinS OF
the Government In their hands.
ture of Hawaii scarcely over meets but what
some new bill to change tho position OF the
stripes on the flag Is brought up. This wiseSt OF
The men among the natives are kept constantly
at work on the drawing up of such measured.
and their members in the Congress are ever
lief is that as soon AS the order OF the stripes 10
changed. the red having the preference. the
copper. colored natives will again ascend to
and have full sway in the Government.