The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-08-01

! through the superior force of it's arms
saw its prospective spoil snatched from
its grasp within plain view of the Of
ficers who stood upon the bridges of its
battleships.
cit is interesting to note,' continues
Mr.. Hosmer, "that the commanding of.
ficer of the japanese squadron, the man
whom Japan had sent to Hawaii to be
the leader in this important enterprise,
was no less a person than that then
rising genius of its navy, Commander
Togo"
Jap Plot Began with Revolution.
With the advent of February, when
the Hawaiian Government had been in
the hands of the revolutionists for
about two weeks, the japanese "peril, -
as it was called, commenced to assume
proportions that caused no end of
alarm. AS member of the advisory
council to the President, Mr.. Hosmer
says he was in a position to learn
through the daily reports of the spies
eminent Just how grave the situation
really was. According to his story
the japanese had left the plantations
and fiocked into Honolulu, and the revo-
in the employ of the Provisional Gov.
lutionists Immediately discovered that
arms were awaited from Japan and
would arrive, it was expected, in short
order The foreign element in Hawaii
had always known that the outbreak Of
a revolution in the islands, such as had
already occurred, was to be Japan g
cue in it's scheme to occupy Hawaii,
and it was now brought home to this
faction with considerable force that the
Japanese would outnumber them by a
ratio of nearly ten to one.
"United States Minister Stevens, -
continues Mr.. Hosmer chad maintained
a position of the strictest neutrality.
The fact that more than half of the
forces under the arms of the Provision
al Government of Hawaii were Amer
leans and that the newly formed gov
eminent had gone so far as to petit
ton the United States for annexation
had thus far not changed his policy to-
ward the revolutionists.'
When it was found that the Japanese
battleships were outside the harbor the
discovery brought with it no shock OF
surprise, but the revolutionists knew
that at last they were face to face with
the real crisis of the revolution. The
news of the arrival of the japanese
squadron sped swiftly through the city
and left terror in its wake. But at the
last, when all seemed lost, says Mr..
Hosmer, it was United States Minister
Stevens who stepped into the breach
with the American flag. His solution
of the difficulty was simple enough
brilliant, indeed, in its plicity-but
tremendously daring in the possibility
that it involved of plunging the Uni
ted States into war with Japan.
Stevens Hosts Stars and Stripes.
As Mr. Hosmer came from the palace
on special summons to the Office of
the President that day he found
crowd collected in Palace Square. A
of United States marines was
drawn up in front of the Government
building. Beyond, on the steps, was
small group of men, in the midst Of
whom he recognized the American Min
lister, Mr.. Stevens. The latter appear
ed to be reading a proclamation Of
some sort.
Mr.. Hosmer's eyes followed the gaze
Of the mob to the flagstaff that topped
the government building The Hawai-.
ian flag was slowly being lowered to
the roof He looked back once more
to the little group on the steps. Minis
ter Stevens had stopped reading and
an officer of marines signalled, with a
wave of his hand. A bugle call sound
ed from across the square and he saw
the Stars and Stripes rise upon the
1alyards A gasp of establishment |
swept over the crowd, and then it let
Dose its enthusiasm in a roar of cheers. !
The duty devolved upon President |
Dole, of the Provisional Government of
Hawaii, to extend to the commander of /
he japanese squadron in his visit to |
Hawaii the official welcome of his gov
and the United States. When /
Mr.. Hosmer reached the office of Presi-
lent Dole in the government building
lie was informed that it was the desire !
f the President that he should form
me of the party which was to make the
'ficial visit to the japanese flagship.
There were seven or eight in Presi-
lent Dole s party, all in citizens dress
With the exception of Col. Soper, who
commanded the revolutionist forces and
wore the Hawaiian uniform of his rank.
When President Dole and his party
topped into a ,tugboat secured for this
ccasion and flying the Stars and
stripes of the United States, the quays
nd commanding positions along the
were crowded with Japa-
ese and natives.
Chilly Reception on Naniwa.
The reception extended to the repre-
of the Provisional Govern
lent on the Naniwa was in strict &C.
ordance with the rules and regulations
rescribed by naval etiquette, with the
rdinary accessory Of cordiality notice
bly, absent But there was a frigidity,
avs Mr. Hosmer, in the atmosphere
7ithin the zone of the white flag with
he red sun and the f1aring rays-the
Gikado s naval ensign. There was also I
omething sinister in the smile on the
aces of the japanese commander of
GERS when they met the Hawaiians as
hey clambered up the side. The SEX :
slleneies' in their proper order were
uIy presented to the japanese officers
-ho led the way aft. :
eff the first reception was chilly,
AVS Mr. Hosmer. "the second had all
ne hygienic effects of cold BATH
Commander Togo's was not an i'm. {
osing figure. In stature he stood not