The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-01-20
PAST KINGDOM
IS REMEMBERED
Late President Harrlson's Ideas
Are Told by Judge Elan, His
Law Partner.
from Wednesday . AdvertisoT.l

tF'rOm Wednesdays Advertisog.l
Eighteen years ago yesterday the
Kingdom of Hawaii ceased to exist,
and yesterday Judge John B. ELAN had
a talk with The Advertiser.
There doesn't seem much connection
between these two statements at FIRST
sight, but when the facts are known
the presence of the Judge in Honolulu
at this time is Of the greatest interest
For Eve years he was the law partner
of the late President Benjamin Har-
rson to whom was left, Immediately
after the overthrow, the choice of Ha-
wall IS future. The latter never made
the ultimate decision as he was de-
feated by Cleveland at the elections
which were held about that time and
the matter passed out of his hands,
but 1t will show the trend of feeling
towards the island kingdom at that
time when it is known that the only
reference the President made about the
matter to Judge Elan was to the effect
that II would be good thing for the
United States if the Islands could be
annexed 'in proper manner.''
Judge and President.
Judge Elan was horn at Spring Valley,
Ohio, on December 10, 1S45. After be-
ing graduated in his law course he mar
ried Miss Emma Lee of oxford in the
same State and then later served dur
ing the Civil War with the 10th Ohio
Volunteers, He was in several battles
and finally was admitted to the bar in
1879. Later on again he became the
law partner OF Benjamin Harrison and
was so whom the latter was elected to
the presidency.
Speaking about the matter of the
Hawaiian trouble which came up before
President Harrison for decision, he
said: "After he was elected President
lie went to Washington and l looked
after the interest Of the business. Ere
auently, however, he came to us to look
np authorities and to see to other mat
ters for him, and 1t was on these oc-
casions that | saw him. / do not re-
member him ever saying much about
the Hawaiian question except once
when was out walking with him in
Washington, and the matter cropped
up. He then expressed the opinion that
it would be good thing for the Uni
ted States if the Islands could be an
nexed in proper manner, and there
the matter dropped. 1 know that he
had a great idea of some of the men
he met from down here, however, and
was well impressed with the men who
were governing the country. Judge
Dole was a man for whom he had the
greatest respect and spoke of as a
straight, honest man. AT that time you
must remember Hawaii was not as i'm
portant as it is now, and consequently
the President would not be likely to
make more than passing reference
to it, there being other matters Of
greater Importance which he had to
deal with The most notable of all
these was the Venezuela question,
which was left him for decision after
the matter had been discussed by the
whole of the European powers.
A Straight, Honest Man.
"The President wis man, - con
tinued the judge, "of the highest in
tegrity and one who had the greatest
respect for others. with the same char
acteristics. He worked hard during his
term and had done so all his life. After
he was defeated at the next election
he returned to his law work"
"Did he ever say what it felt like
to be a President, Judgeq"
"Well, / think he was just little
disappointed, most of us are when we
get what we want. Part of the work
he liked, but there were other parts
of il that he did not like. These were
mainly the decisions that he had to
make as to whom he should run with
and whom he should be against. 1t
meant the making of enemies The
hours we're long and arduons, but this
he didn't mind, although he would
have been glad, | think, at times to
have real vacation. He went for
trips several times during his term, but
the business always went along with
him, and he never really got rest
He would have liked to have been
elected again, | think, il only for the
sake of those who were backing him
and lust for the same reason as
the runner always likes to win the
race il he can. When he heard that
he was defeated IL did not seem to
affect him much, although it hurt him
Just for two or three days. After that,
however, he was just the same as ever
and enjoyed the remaining years Of his
life. !"
Judge Elan is paying his first visit
to the Islands and the trip is purely
one Of pleasure He only arrived on
the Mongolia on Sunday and the wet
weather has prevented him getting
about much, but what he has seen he
is very pleased with. According to his
present plans he will return home on
the Manchuria on February II.
About the town yesterday some of
those who still have a soft spot in their
hearts for the old monarchy thought
Of the day and old memories flashed
through their minds, but to the general
public the day was just as any other
nAI ,ropuiA cEnnun