The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-28
AFTER THIRTY-FIvE YEARS.
How Lord Charles BeresfOrd Nailed
Up an American Shield.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
The presence in New York of Rear Ad-
miral Lord Charles Beresford is graft
flying to most Americans who have memo
ries. The rear admiral is fine type of
the British sailor. lie IS esteemed the
world over for his professional ability. his
professional record, and his personal char
actor. He was conspicuous figure at
Alexandria. He has always done his duty.
and he has always told the truth. He was,
moreover one of the earliest of American
expansionists. He once nailed up the
American coat-of-arms in Hawaii.
But Lord Charles Beresford had first
taken down our eagle and stars in those
Islands. The circumstances are worth re-
calling now.
In 1864, during our civil war, when the
attituGe Of the British peerage and part of
the British people toward the United
States government was not exactly what
it Is IN these happier days, one of her
majesty's men-of-war happened to be at
Honolulu. Hawaii at that time was re-
garded by many British statesmen as a
desirable acquisition for the crown. The
preponderance of American interests there
was distasteful to some of the spirited
are not quite sure which ship it was. Two
cadets in the British naval service, both
of them sons OF peers, went ashore on
lark one night and illustrated their con-
tempt for the American government by
tearing down the coat-of-arms which
adorned the gateway of the United States
legation, and carrying off the purloined
shield 10 their ship.
Mr.. Idncofn's minister to Hawaii was
~. 81 ~ n, .afn O
tanned from natives that the authors Of
the outrage were young British officers. He
procured a search warrant recovered the
venerated emblem. and discovered the
names of It's ravishers. The captain of
the British man-of-war and the British
minister at Honolulu both apologized
That was not enough for DR.. Mcbride.
He insisted that the two sons of peers who
took down the coat-of-arms should public
ly restore it TO its place with their own
hands The captain and the British min
lister protested against this requirement
1t was too humiliating to the service, too
disgra ceful to the young noblemen con-
cerned. DR.. Mcbride was inaeXibe, and
after considerable diplomatic correspond
ence and some delay he had his way.
The incident was subsequently reported
to Secretary Seward, VINO made an inter
national affair of it. The English govern
ment formally apologizcd. If our recol-
lection Is right the two risky sons of
peers were suspended or temporarily dis
missed from the British naval service.
Ill the year 1899, on his errand of amity
and fraternity and cooperation in the Pa
cihc il will interest Read Admiral Lord
Charles Beresford to inspect the subjoined
reproduction of a sketch made in Honolulu
thirty-five years ago.
The Sun here repTOduces an old wood
cut, Of sOmehat vague outline, OF which
it sayS:"1t represents the two young
British noblemen in the act of mailing up
the American eagle on the archway of
the gate leading to the American lega-
ton, at high noon, in the presence, as his
tory records, of a thousand or so hugely
interested spectators"
Which one of the two young gentlemen
acting so reluctantly as heraldic support
ers of the United States coat-of-arms,
while a jackypounds the nails, is Lord
Charles Beresford. we are unable to say;
but one of them he was The Rear Admi-
raj may be on the lion side, or he may be
on the unicorn side. Perhaps with the ex-
pert assistance of his friend and host, the
Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, he Will succeed
in picking himself out, for he Is certainly
there. The gentleman with a tall hat, on
the sidewalk, is DR.. Mcbride The gentle
man in e light overcoat whose back is
turned, is the British minister The gen.
tleman with a naval cap is Lord Charles
Beresfords Disguised captain. The group
on the other side including Americans,
Hawaiians and Chinese, represents the
populace assembled TO behold this me
morable ceremony of reparation
Nobody will suppose that we reproduce
this picture or recall this incident in order
10 detract from the dignity and graceful
ness of Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beres-
ford's present mission to America. On the
contrary. incident and picture emphasize
the significance Of the invitation he brings,
and the fraternal words ne utters
What wonders Time works! Thrty-fye
years ago Lord Charles Beresford was
mailing up the American emblem In a re-
mote island Of the Pacific, now forever
American territory. To-day his warmest
desire is for the advance of the American
flag across the Pacific, side by side with
the banner to which his first allegiance
Is due.