The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-06-29
JOHN {, BUSH
PASSES AWAY
DEATH OF A HAWAIIAN YnSTER-
DAY WHO HAD HAD DISTIN-
GUISHED CAREER

terday evening, from congestion of the
brain and partial paralysis, with which
he had been suffering for about a week
He was unconscious all yesterday
The deceased was born on February
10. 1912 in Honolulu, where the public
library now stands. In early youth
he entered the old Polynesian printing
Office and became a printer. Then he
went to sea and after returning re-
sumed his work in the printing office,
becoming foreman. He became a clerk
in the Interior office and was later APP
pointed governor of Kauai, an office
which few but high chiefs have ever
held. He was appointed Minister of
the Interior on August IA, 1880, in the
Moreno administration and on August
10 Of the same year he was Minister
of Foreign Affairs He became Minis
ter of Finance on May 20, 1882 and again
Minister of the Interior on August s,
1882.
It was largely through John f. Bush
that the treaty between Hawaii and
Japan was negotiated.
In 1856, King Kalakaua appointed
-
representing the monarch in the fa-
nous expedition by which Kalakaua
sought to establish his supremacy over
the Pacific. Bush was also high COM
missioner to other chiefs of Polynesia.
The British steamer Explorer was pur-
chased and named the Kaimiloa and
fitted up as a warship and sent to Sa-
moa on a mission to establish Kala-
kaua's general sovereignty.
Bush bore as a gift to the King of
Samoa the Grand Cross of the Royal
Order of Oceanica," an order especially
instituted for Polynesian kings and
chiefs. He was also to present the
Samoan king with a carriage and span
of horses. He was to express to Ma
lietoa the regret of Kalakaua that any
of his subjects should be in rebellion
against him. The ambassador was eau
toned to say that no expressions of
regret or sympathy from the Hawaiian
monarch were intended to mean any as
sistance on the part of Hawaii in case
of future trouble. Premier Gibson de-
sired that Bush should go to Samoa in
state and looked about for a suitable
vessel until he negotiated the purchase
Of the Explorer. The boat was man
ned by boys from the Reform School as
sailors and marines, and she carried
six guns and two gatlings.
on arrival at Apia by mail steamer
in advance of the Kaimiloa, Ambassa-
dor Bush proceeded with his task and
received a cordial reception from Ma
lietoa. and soon after that he reported
III 4 q
plan for confederation with material
assistance to King Malietoa, if such
plan seemed desirable to the Samoans.
Under date of January 81, 1887, Bush
reported:
"a week after we had removed into
our new quarters, we had the honor of
entertaining H. NJ Malietoa and his
cabinet and officials. This affair was,
under the circumstances, a success, al
though, as your Majesty is fully aware
from your own experience abroad, eX-
pensive. After our menu had been dis
posed of, we settled down to wine and
speeches, and I pointed out the advan-
tages of confederation and l ventured
to put forward that I firmly believed
your Maiesty's government could be
induced to assist him pecuniarily with
a salary of from $4,000 to $4,000 a year"
These negotiations were brought to a
successful close on February II and the
treaty was ratified and proclaimed at
Honolulu on March 81, 1887.
BY this treaty Malietoa freely and
voluntarily bound himself otto enter
into a political confederation with II.
NJ. Kalakaua, etc" Copies of the docu-
ment were forwarded to Washington
to the Hawaiian Minister, H. A. P. Car
ter, for the information of the United
States and Germany
The Kaimiloa and the Embassy were
recalled just before the revolution of
1887 but the vessel did not sail from
Apia for Honolulu until August. She
called at Page Page on the way here.
Malietoa had intended coming to Ho-
nolulu on the Kaimiloa, but conditions
in Samoa did not permit him to leave
his own troubled country. The treaty
was never consummated in the desired
union of the two countries.
The deceased was always active in
politics. 1t was largely due to his eff
forts as Minister of the Interior that
Portuguese immigration to Hawaii was
started. When the Territory was or
gauized he became a Democrat. Dur
ing later years he was a Republican.
Bush was one of the best masters Of
both English and Hawaiian, i'm the
islands, at the time of his death. He
was an interpreter in either the House |
or Senate in all of the Territorial legis-
latures, and up to a few weeks ago
was one of the interpreters of the first I,
circuit court After resigning he |
did his last work, as interpreter in the .
court Of United States Judge Dole.
The funeral is from the house, Hotel /
near Punchbowl street, at 3 o'clock ,
this afternoon, interment in MakilSi |
cemetery. Elder Williams, of the |
Seventh Day Adventists oficiates. The |
deceased was a prominent member Of |
the Seventh Day Adventists commu-
Mon for many years.