Evening star., 1943-12-19
Fifty Years Ago

F11ty years ago Hawaii was in the
forefront Of the news and a subject of
intense, and even violent,
HowoiIon discussion in Congress. 1t
Question generally was understood
that the islands were due
for annexation by the United States,
but the exact means and time were
issues in dispute Just how republic
should absorb a monarchy with the
least friction was not clear. President
Clevelands efforts to arbitrate per-
sonally were not pleasing to some Con-
gressmen, as evidenced in The Star OF
December 20, 1893 The Democrats
have practically adopted a policy OF
avoidance in the Hawaiian matter
There are very few who feel that they
could make a successful defense of the
action of Mr.. Cleveland in ignoring Con-
gress and arrogating to himself the right
to interfere in the affairs of a friendly
foreign government. The excuse for his
instructions to Mr.. Willis is that
he took this action under the impression
that both the queen Liliuokalann and
the provisional government had referred
the question of which should possess the
government for decision by the Presi-
dent of the United States as an arbi-
traitor"
Congress also was disturbed over the
full-slze revolution going on in Brazil in
which the insurgents were
Revolution having so much success
in BroziI hat it became fair ques-
ton whether or not they
should be recognized. According to The
Star of December lS. 1898: Minister
Thompson at Rio has asked for instruc-
tions on this point, in view of the prob
ability of such action on the part of the
other foreign representatives The
ground on which the foreign diplomats
base their contemplated new stand is
that the revolutionary forces already
have foothold on land in the southern
part OF Brazil, which. they argue. gives
the insurgents a reasonable claim for
recognition Rebels under Admiral
Mello already had destroyed Nictheroy.
in Rio Bay.
Congress further was liveped by dis
cussion of good roads-rather a rarity
in those days. In The
Good Roods Star of December 20,
Wanted 1898, 1t was said: Mr..
Hoar presented a monster
petition on the subject of common roads.
He stated that the petition asked for
the establishment of a department of
roads as an executive department. The
petitioners had caused very thorough
investigation to be made, and had ascer-
tanned that enormous savings might be
had in the transaction of domestic and
interstate commerce by improved high
roads. He suggested its reference to the
Committee on Interstate Commerce"
Most Congressman were in favor of good
roads, though not all wanted special
department. Some classified the petit
ton as the result of bicycle manu-
facturer's lobby; others, conceding this,
made the 1898 retort equivalent to the
modern 80 what?", claiming that the
results were 50 desirable that the motive
behind them did not matter.
-
Not all storms of the week were po-
litical. Furious gales are reported on
the Atlantic" read The
Storms in the Star Of December 10,
Atlantic 1893. "The Cunard
steamer Aurania, due
Gin New York; yesterday morning, was
not reported up to II o'clock today "''
The H. H. Meyer of the North German
Lloyd company is now four days over
due - The British steamship Olympia.
commanded by Capt. Coleman, arrived
this morning. Her appearance was that
of vessel that had been mixed up in
a cyclone of the coast of Greenland"
The captain said that 1t had been the
toughest voyage in his entire career.
Several other ships reported equally
severe weather.