Some Historical Moments from 1898, just prior to the August 12, 1898 "Annexation" :
(taken from The Pacific Commercial Advertiser newspaper, forerunner of today's Honolulu Advertiser)
The morning session of the House began with the reading of protest from the Beckley Estate, submitted by Emma M. Nakuina:
"As trustee and one of the heirs of the F.W. Beckley estate, I must protest to your honorable body at the action of the minister of the interior in declaring to you that the harbor of Honomuni on Molokai is a Government harbor and landing. I hereby solemnly protest at any seizure by the government without compensation of our private property. The Ahupua'a of Honomuni comprises from mountain to sea to the breakers as awarded to us by Land Commission Award 8.525 has been surveyed, including the same harbor and passed on by a commissioner of boundaries. The harbor in question constitutes a large & valuable fishing right and we most strenuously object to its being declared a government one as government sea rights are free to all for fishing."
The letter of protest continues on to explain that the harbor has never been used as a public harbor and landing although small boats have entered from time to time to drop off freight or passengers for the Beckley family. While the family has no objection to the government USING the harbor & putting in improvements for shipping purposes, the letter stresses that…….
"We must decidedly object to any action that would curtail or interfere with our fishing privilege as an infringement of our private rights and contrary to the spirit of the Constitution."
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Also today ……..
The Hawaiian News Company, Ltd. reported receiving a shipment of books entitled "Hawaii's Story" written by Liliuokalani which would be offered for sale at $2.00 each.
It is reported in the Advertiser that the Annexationists feel confident of victory, estimating that not more than 28 senators will vote in the negative.
It is said that enough senators have declared themselves in favor of Hawaiian annexation to insure ratification of the treaty if it could be brought before the senate AGAIN and a vote pressed. Senators who opposed acquisition of territory by joint resolution and will therefore vote AGAINST the pending proposition would vote in favor of ratifying a convention which proposes to accomplish the same purpose by different means.
Senator White of California made a 3 hour speech on 6/21, continued his argument on 6/22 for 2 more hours and then yielded the floor to Senator Pettigrew. White made citations from various authorities to show that annexation MUST be by TREATY and NOT by legislative act. He concluded with a statement of the questions of the need of holding the islands as a military outpost and he ridiculed the idea that they were needed as a halfway station to Manila. He said that if the United States held the islands, it would be necessary to surround them with a tremendous naval power to keep them.
Senator Pettigrew held that the United States ought not to enter into competition with the great European powers either in supporting a great navy or in the acquisition of territory.
Another senator, Harris of Kansas, announced that even though he had previously been opposed to annexation, he will vote in favor of the house resolution.
Careful estimates have been made by friends and opponents of the measure and it is apparent that while the resolution will not be passed as soon as was expected, it will reach the President with the endorsement of both Houses before the end of the month.
A copy of the "extra edition" of the Hawaii Shinpo, a Japanese language newspaper in Honolulu, was featured in today's Advertiser with the belief that it would appeal to the "usual run of readers and to the paper making fraternity at home & abroad as something of a novelty." The extra edition was published in regular rush style on a steamer day after the Hawaii Shinpo had been published. The Shinpo is the daily of which Mr. Takahashi is editor and his wife is business manager .
The fact that this leaflet was put forth shows that the Japanese press is quite up to the times in one feature at least and that the members of the Japanese colony are interested in the liveliest question of the day.
The Shinpo headline read "Annexation Bill Passed the House and goes on to say that a vote was taken on June 15th in the House and it stood at 209 for and 91 against annexation.
It was also mentioned in the Japanese paper that the U.S.S. Philadelphia has been ordered to Honolulu and will leave shortly. She will remain in Honolulu until the flag of the United States has been raised.
Also quoted today were verses which had been published in the New York Sun. The verses were composed by Col. Archibald Hopkins, a leading member of Washington society. An excerpt follows:
…….. Above all other flags that float, we count it first and
best;
Then fling it wide in starry ride, above our sea girt town,
And none shall ever dare again to haul "Old Glory" down.
(From an editorial by W.N. Armstrong, publisher of the Advertiser)
(Colonel Parker and Mrs. Parker, educators from the United States are visiting.)
Colonel Parker and Mrs. Parker require no introduction to this community. Those who are directly engaged in the education of youth on these islands know of them too well to require any comments from us on the character of their splendid work in the United States. We, therefore, say only that it is fortunate for us & most creditable to the enterprising spirit of our officials in the department of Public Instruction that their services have been secured for the Summer School.
Colonel Parker has been quoted as being of the opinion that the first step in the civilization of a race, through an exterior influence, was to study and master the native racial habit of thought in all things. This knowledge would reveal the weakness and the strength of the native character and indicate the special kinds of education needed.
We believe that this view should be taken, in proposing and creating the most valuable system of education for the large proportion of children here who are alien to the Anglo-Saxon race but are now under its influences.
Minister of public instruction, Mr. Cooper says that the present teaching force is composed of 289 teachers holding certificates classed as foreign, first class, normal, second class and third class. This number also includes 50 teachers without any type of certificate.
Students include 5,330 Hawaiian, 2,479 part Hawaiian, 3,815 Portuguese but
only 484 American, along with a few hundred more of other nationalities.
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Mr. Armstrong also editorialized about the criticism of the Honolulu Library
and complaints that books that are wanted are not to be found there. He stated
that attacks of this character are always made on every public library.
There was one party of annexation celebrants who had a specially great time. The party was made up of George R. Carter, A. W. Pearson, E.A. Mott-Smith, Clarence H. Cooke, E.R. Adams, C.M. Cooke, Jr. , Harry Waterhouse, T.W. Hobron and Armstrong Smith. They formed a procession and marched to the grounds of the Pacific Tennis Club where fireworks were set off.
A suggestion to raise "Old Glory" on the so-called Executive Building was enthusiastically received. The boys formed a line and marched over. Minister Cooper thought they were coming to offer their congratulations and met them at the landing of the stairs. This delayed matters for a few minutes but the boys finally slipped by and clambered up the stairway to the roof. They did not wish to intercept any official prerogatives by using the State staff in the center, so they hoisted an American flag on each of the poles at the sides.
The flags were lowered by soldiers, along with the Hawaiian colors, at 6:30 PM.
In the evening, the young men were received at the home of Mr. & Mrs. E.A. Mott-Smith.
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The day previous it had been reported in the Advertiser that immense schools of Alalauwa, a small red fish, had come into the harbor just at sunset. These so-called "Hoodoo Fish" are famous for always appearing when some dire event was about to happen to the rulers of Hawaii in times past.
Some items of interest to the town were listed today:
July 19, 1898 ...................
It was announced today that conditional pardons for the "Political Offenders of 1895" would be granted. Prior to this, the only full pardons issued were to Liliuokalani, Robert Wilcox and 3 others.
All of the 1895 political prisoners not formerly freed of political or civil rights disabilities were extended full and complete pardons and are at liberty to vote, hold office and to come and go as they like. None of these persons is in prison.
Among those pardoned and the lengths of their parole:
Sam Kanahele, 5 yrs
William Kanakaole, 5 yrs
Solomon Kupihea, 5 yrs
Lot Lane and his sons, James, Patrick &
William, 5 yrs each
Samuel Nowlein, 35 years
Thomas Poole, 10 yrs
William Seward, 35 yrs
Carl Wideman, 30 yrs
Volney Ashford, 1 yr
Jonah Kalanianaole, 1 yr
John Lane, 5 mos
H. F. Bertleman, 35 yrs
C. T. Gulick, 35 yrs
The men who were supposed to be the ringleaders in the uprising were fined $10,000 each and other sums from $5,000 down to $50. One fine of $5,000 was paid by J. A. Cummins.
also appearing on July 19, 1898 was this notice........................
Published by authority, this joint resolution:
Whereas, heretofore under the monarchy the government conducted a museum of curiosities and eventually terminated the conduct thereof and loaned the curiosities remaining in such museum to the Trustees of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum for exhibition therein; and
Whereas, subsequent to the abrogation of the monarchy, the Government has loaned to the Trustees of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum for exhibition several articles of antiquarian and historical interest, to wit: coconut drum, four fish hooks, wooden bowl inlaid with human teeth, malo, two feather capes, feather helmet and feather lei; and
Whereas the Trustees of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum desire to procure such of said articles as are valuable for exhibition;
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic
of Hawaii;
That the Minister of the Interior is hereby authorized to transfer the ownership
of all of the said articles heretofore loaned to the said Trustees as aforesaid
to such Trustees absolutely for the purposes of the said Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Museum and without pecuniary consideration.
And the said Minister is hereby further authorized with the approval of the Executive Council, to transfer to the said Trustees absolutely any of the said articles in his possession known as relics of royalty which may be desired by them for the purposes of the said Museum, and without pecuniary consideration.
Approved this 7th day of July, 1898
Sanford B. Dole,
President of the Republic of Hawaii
The two citizens of Hawaii who have directly had more to do with bringing about annexation returned from the United States by the Oceanic S.S. Alameda. Minister Francis M. Hatch and Lorrin A. Thurston are here now to stay. The Hawaiian Legation at Washington is practically an institution of the past. James B. Castle, the secretary, has been home for some weeks. He departed as soon as there was positive assurance of favorable action by Congress. Minister Hatch remained at his post for consummation of the Alliance. Special Commissioner Thurston, after being in the heat of the campaign night and day for a year and a half, saw the happy ending of the long drawn and hard fought issue.
Hatch & Thurston were the conspicuous men at the wharf when the Alameda came alongside. Greetings were shouted to them from shore and they were evidently much pleased to be in Hawaii again and to know that there was warmest appreciation of their successful labors.
Both the Minister & Mr. Thurston propose returning to law practice at once. Mr. Thurston said he is simply delighted to be home again though he had found the activity and interest of the contest most engrossing.
Also on board the Alameda when it docked was cargo including Cherries, Peaches, Apricots, Plums, Oranges, Lemons, Bartlett Pears, Onions, New Potatoes, Oysters, Salmon, nuts & raisins.
It was announced in an afternoon paper yesterday that the Princess Kaiulani expected soon to leave Hawaii forever to take up her permanent residence in England.
The Advertiser was informed by the Hon. A.S. Cleghorn last evening that the Princess has no such intentions whatever and that the statement was wholly unauthorized. The Princess will remain in Hawaii. Her interests are all here. She has a deep love for the land of her birth and a sincere affection for her people.
For several months the Princess has been in very poor health and feels the need of a change of climate for this reason will go to the country place of Mr. Samuel Parker at Mana on the island of Hawaii early in August for a stay of several months.
The consummation of annexation has not induced the Princess to make these plans. She has had them in mind for some time but has delayed her departure to await the arrival of her aunt, ex-Queen Liliuokalani, whom she has seen but once in nearly 10 years and then only for a few hours.
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Princess Kaiulani finally took this trip to Mana in December of 1898, took a fateful horseback ride in the rain and became very ill in January of 1899. She died 2 months later at the very young age of only 23.
Caesar De Freitas is the Portuguese youngster whose name will be handed down to posterity as the boy who climbed the pole that held the halyards that hoisted the flag that flew on Annexation day.
He made an ascent of the pole on the so-called Executive building yesterday morning, being watched with breathless interest by the men about the place, and reefed an extra halyard for the flag raising next Friday. Tomorrow morning at 8:00 he will go up again and attach guy ropes to the top of the flag pole, which will extend mauka on the roof of the building so as to relieve the strain from the hard pull on the staff as the flags are being lowered and hoisted clear from the ground in front of the building. It was finally decided that this must be done in order that an "apple pie order" shall be maintained about the matter.
It was feared that the flag might drag against the iron balustrade on the top of the building and be damaged but men will be stationed at various points to prevent this.
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The wooden flagpole that was climbed by Caesar has been replaced and so has
the American flag that was the cause of all his hard work. Today, another pole
stands in that same place and proudly flies the Hawaiian flag ……….
Over 'Iolani Palace.