HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 93, 21 April 1893, Page 3

HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

NEWS FROM HONOLULU.

THE AMERICAN FLAG LOWERED.

Under date of the 4th insb., Honolulu files to hand by the K.M.s. Alameda to-day contain the following :—" The American flag was removed from the Government Building last Saturday, and the sailors and marines returned to the 6hip. While we believe that there are a number of sound reasons for keeping the flag where it was, its withdrawal need alarm no one. The cause of annexation is going ahead just the same and gathering in fresh adherents every day, and the Government was never stronger than it is at present. The protectorate established by Minister Stevens was purely temporary. The withdrawal of the flag does not imply any digavowal of Minister Stevens' course, nor any unfriendliness on the parb of the new administration toward the Provisional Government. The United States will brook no interference on the parb of foreign powers, and its troops will be landed at a momenb'e notice in case of any order."

Another Honolulu paper, of the 4th instanb, say3:—"The temporary protectorate is dissolved, but the Provisional Government still lives and flourishes. The removal of the flag lias afforded a freßh proof of the strength of the Government and its abundant ability to take care of itself and its enemies too. There is no feeline of discouragement, but, on the contrary, one of steady determination to carry to a successful issue a movement which promises the country more prosperity and better hope than anything which has happened these fifty years, and which is gaining in strength every day. It is impossible to do more than speculate on the precise significance of Commissioner Blount's action, bufs the i3sue of its cannob be doubted. It will Bhow him thab seveneighths of the wealth and intelligence and brain and sinew of this country are on the sida of annexation."

This journal further says :—" When the Star 3 and Stripes came down everybody was silent, and even the natives did nob make any demonstration. In a few seconds the Hawaiian flag waa raised. Ife was received with a military Balute of ' Present Arms.' The departure of the American guards then left the Government with its own ample forces ab hand. At the Government building there were three companies. The whole battalion waa commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Fisher. During the day there had been several rumors afloat; the most important one was to the effect that the captain of the Japanese cruiser Naniwa was to land his men in the afternoon with the intention of restoring the ex-Queen to the palace. The rumor could not be verified and as the Japanese Consul-General has denied it, it proves to be only a royalist yarn."