The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-05-15


ummssI1u ilis instructions fccite'
90 iourtn tnt we've We nave seen ai
puIy expressed. Hls mission was de-
tubad az one ut friendship and tuur
icsy from one Iolyuesian monarch q.
another As gifts. Bush was tO have
been the bearer. bat the insiEna was De-
layed. OF the Grand Cross ~ the Rpya
order uf the star uf Occanicl. an urdc
specially instituted Co decorate th'
kings and chiefs uf Polynesia. and thnr'
who may have contributed 60 The vel
. fare and Advancement uf fulyucsiai
communltics Bush VAS also O. pfcscn
the Samoan monarch with Carrias'
and pair OF horses.
Bush was instructed u. after consid
Grafton OF existing circumstances, h'
found this expedient to express 10 Ma
letoa regret that any portion OF his
subjects should be In rebellion against
him. and also the solicitude with which
II NJ. regards the recent Intervention OF
foreign powers in the affairs OF Samoa
''He was cautioned to have II under
stood by the expressions that they in
volye no pledges on the part of II. NJ. S
government to render any assistance
and then followed tie important point.
! IL. however, in response to these pri-
vate and confidential assurances of His
Majesty's sympathy, any advances or
proposals should come from King Ma
lietoa pointing to such an alliance be-
tween Hawaii and Samoa as would give
to the former right to speak authorl-
tatively to foreign powers on behalf OF
the independence of Samoa, you are to
express your belief that such an alliance
or confederation of the two countries,
If made close enough to render them
buC one state in their relations to Tor
eign powers, will meet with acceptance
here, and you will please encourage the
Government of Samoa to make such
proposition directly to II. NJ. through
you or by an envoy from King Malietoa,
and you are also at liberty to do all in
your power to assist In formulating
such proposition privately, but not Of
ficially." The question of the extent or
the rebellion was one of the utmost i'm
portance, and Bush was advised to de-
vote much attention and some portion
Of the funds of the mission to it's unrav-
elment. 1t was suggested that he might
act as a peacemaker This whole ques-
ton was treated with the skill of a mas
ter hand. 1t was indeed a subject which
required delicate treatment both in the
lnSIlUGLlDHS anu Dll lIt SpOb' VI ~
was well known that Germany was be-
hind Tamasese. and it would not do to
offend so great power by inquiring in
to her official conduct. On the other
hand, such inquiry must not give rise
to suspicion on Malietoa's part that
the friendly and outspoken recognition
which King Kalakaua has given him is
in the slightest degree hesitating or in
sincere"
Bush's further course was to depend
on the result of the Samoan mission.
His instructions were. 1t will be seen,
we'll framed for the purpose he had in
view, and certainly beyond criticism in
| temper and tone.
/ Gibson Wants Gunboat.
GIBSON had wisely dispatched his en-
voy before the gathering storm clouds
burst, and meanwhile he was conduct
ing negotiations for the purchase of a
vessel to follow him. 1t appears that it
was hoped such a vessel might be OBJ
tained as a gift On the 10th of Janu-
airy, 1887 Gibson writes to Hoffnung,
Charge at London, that II. NJ. had writ
ten to Lord Charles Beresford propos-
ing the purchase of a British gunboat
of the Satellite class, "a hope is enter
tanned that His Lordship and other
members of the British Admiralty may
see in the royal request an opportunity
to assist the Government of Hawaii
with a Serviceable vessel at a nominal
cost or as a gift to His Hawaiian Maj
esty." A month later Gibson notifies
Bush of the purchase of the Explorer
to be fitted out as a training ship for
the Reformatory School boys, to carry
six guns and two gatling guns. Her es-
tablishment was to consist of SO officers
and men. On the same date Gibson also
writes that H. NJ. proposes to send
church and school house to Samoa, and
a Hawaiian teacher and preacher. The
United States Minister at Honolulu was
informed that the total expense of the
vessel when ready for sea, including
the original cost, $4,000, would amount
to $4,000. AS a matter of fact, this 10
ton vessel Cot $4,000 before she got
out of port.
Bush in With Malietoa.
On his arrival at Apia, Bush proceed
ed energetically to his task, and was
able to report officially cordial recep-
ton by Maietoa. and soon after even
his willingness to favorably consider a
plan for confederation with material as
sistance to King Malietoa, If such plan
seemed desirable to the Samoans." Pri-
vately Bush writes to his sovereign in
a way that casts an interesting side
light on the negotiations. Under date
of Jan. 27, 1887, he writes:
"a week after we had removed into
our new quarters, we had the honor of
entertaining ii. NJ. Malietoa and his
cabinet and officials. This affair was,
under the circumstances, a success,
although. as Your Majesty is fully
aware from your own experience
abroad, expensive. After our
menu had been disposed of, we settled
down to wine and speeches, and point
ed out the advantages of confederation,
and | ventured to put forward that l
firmly believed Your Majesty's Govern
ment could be induced to assist him pc
cuniarily with a salary of $4,000 to S6,-
600 a year" These negotiations were
brought to n successful conclusion on
the nth of February and the treaty
was ratified and proclaimed at Honolulu