The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-11-28
FFTY-SEVEN YEARS AGOTHANKSGTV|NG SPORTS
TODAY THE ANNIVERSARY OF A
GREAT EVENT.
The History Of a Conquest and Restor-
alton That are Now Probably Cele-
brated for the Last Time.

Fifty-seven years ago today, at the
end of one of the most interesting
chapters of Hawaiian history, a treaty
between England and France estab-
lished the independence of the Hawai-
ian nation upon a firm basis and for
number of years this day has been
holiday in honor of the event. The
celebration today may be the last that
will occur as it is thought by many
to be likely that the legislature will
abolish this holiday, in view of it's
proximity to Thanksgiving, and in
view of the comparative lack of inter
Sst in the day. Celebration of the in
dependence of a nation that has ceas-
ed to exist is naturally not much of
a cause for enthusiasm.
On the 2Sth of November, 1843, the
kingdom of Hawaii was recognized by
both France and England as a nation
admitted to diplomatic intercourse
with the rest of the world, and both
England and France agreed never to
attempt to annex the islands. This
only came after a series of remarkable
and exciting events, in which the
Sandwich Islands were seized by
Great Britain and again given freedom
in very unusual way.
Lord George Paulet, of the British
frigate CarySport secured a cesSion of
the islands to Great Britain, during the
reign of the third Kamehameha. He
made a number of eXtravagant de-
mands upon the Hawaiian monarch in
connection with some pending disputes,
and cleared his vessel for lombard
ment of Honolulu if his demands were
not met On February 25 1S43, the
king, acting under advice of DR.. Judd,
made temporary cessiOn of the islands
under appeal to London, by way of
forestalling Paulet's seizure.
When the appeal reached England
the British government decided against
Lord Paulet and in favor of the Ha-
waiian king on every point excepting
the matter of a land dispute, and on
July 25 the British flagship Dublin ar
rived at Honolulu, in command of
Rear Admiral Thomas, to restore the
independence of the islands
The ceremony of the restoration of the
flag took place on what is now Thomas
square. The plot of ground was dedi-
Gated by Admiral Thomas ITO Hawaiian
independence forever" and in gratitude
to Admiral Thomas his name was CIV
en- to the square.
During the interim Lord George
NPaulet had run things with high
hand, evidently regarding the islands
as permanently British territory. He
had taken pains to destroy every Ha-
waiian flag he could find.
Admiral Thomas undid all Paulets
work and replaced the king upon the
throne. 1t was upon this occasion that
the Hawaiian national motto was born.
In his address upon being restored by
Great Britain, which does not seem to
have lived up to it's territory grabbing
reputation in this matter, the king
spoke the words "Ua mau Ike ca ka
alma i ka pono, the life of the land
is preserved by righteousness. This
has been the national motto ever since.
The treaty between ENGLAND and
France on the 2Sth of the following
November finally settled the matter,
and put an end to any danger of an
neXation of the islands by either of
these two powers. The joint agreement
provided that Her majesty the queen
of Great Britain and Ireland and his
majesty the king of the French taking
into consideration the existence in the
Sandwich Islands of a government
capable of providing for the regularity
of it's relations with foreign nations,
have thought it right to engage reci-
procally to consider the Sandwich ISL
ands as an Independent state and never
to take possession either directly or un-
der title of a protectorate or under
any other form, of any part of the ter
ritory of which they are composed"
This settled Hawaiian independence
for the next fifty years. The United
States by the appointment of COM
missioner had already recognized the
nation, and the monarchy lasted with
out serious dangers until it fell less
than decade ago
The 2Sth of November was made a
legal holiday by the Hawaiian legisla-
ture but it's observance is falling off
The holiday seems to be one that has
outliVed the conditions for which it was
created, and the people in Hawaii to-
day may be enjoying the last genera
celebration of Admiral Thomas almost
unmatched doings.
"
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