with which men regard a great natural force, unswerving, unyielding, untiring, unpitying to individuals, yet on the whole working beneficially in nature's wide plan. When such a force appears in history in the form of an indomitable human will-especially when controlled, as in Bismarck's case, not by meanness nor selfishness but by a devoted and conscientious patriotism, and guided by a penetrating and far-seeing though not philosophically profound intellect, and applying itself not to petty interests but to a broad continental scope-then let all artificial men, kings or what not, and all artificial institutions as well, make haste to stand from under. One other wonder about this man is that, though belonging in the sixteenth century, he is one of the three or four chiefs of men in the nineteenth century. This may advertise us to succeeding centuries, so that they shall say of us:-These men filled all the air with continual boasting of themselves as moderns who had cast off all ancient shams and figments; but see how much mediævalism must still have run in their blood.

It should be added that this generally haughty, unbending man is, in his domestic life and with those whom he receives as guests or whom he accepts as entitled to be his friends, frank, courteous, simple in manner, a companion to be admired.

Prince Bismarck's son, Count Herbert von BismarckSchönhausen, was born at Berlin, December 28, 1849. He is a major in the German army, has served the empire in various diplomatic offices, and was secretary of the embassy at London, and minister at the Hague. He was appointed head of the foreign office in 1886, and retired in 1890 with his father.

For a full account of Bismarck's career, see Historical Bio. graphy, by C. Lowe (London, 2d ed *888). For anecdotes, etc., see Bismarck Intime (French, 1890).

THE HAWAIIAN QUESTION.

THE first year of the Hawaiian provisional government closed during the quarter now under review. The "obscure outlook in the islands," which marked the close of 1893, (vol. 3, p. 682) has been cleared by the later arrival of ocean steamships; and the intelligence is ample and full from both ends of the long line of public concern in two nations-from Honolulu as well as Washington. No decisive event can be considered as occurring in either country during the opening months of the present year; yet the narrative and especially the situation in which the close of the quarter leaves the pending questions, are replete with interest. We group the principal facts, rather than attempt a closely chronological statement reaching all the theaters of action.

At the Islands.-The earliest advices received after the close of our record for 1893 indicated that all was quiet at the Hawaiian capital, and that no local outbreaks were feared during the pendency of deliberations in the congress of the United States, to which President Cleveland had referred the questions involved. The provisional government was maintaining a firm and resolute attitude, as it has continued since to do, and was prepared to meet by force of arms any violent attempt to restore the queen. The palace occupied by the government was strongly fortified, and other buildings were searched for concealed arms. The health of Liliuokalani was seriously threatened by the terrible strains of the year, and she was reported liable to die of heart disease at a moment's warning. She was not allowed to see visitors, and every precaution was taken against undue excitements. Threats against her life, although probably not very serious or numerous, were thought to be an element of danger to her health.

On December 16, 1893, some alarm was reawakened by the receipt by the British minister at Honolulu of permission from his government to land marines from the English warship in the harbor, when it might be deemed necessary for the protection of British interests; but nothing serious has yet come of it, as no troops have been landed under the authorization. Some time afterwards,

the presence of a number of strangers of doubtful demeanor and without ostensible occupation gave apparent color to rumors that a filibustering expedition for service in Hawaii in the interest of the queen had been

organized in British Columbia; but so far neither the conduct of the men nor authentic advices from Victoria, the capital of the province, have tended to confirm the rumors, which are almost certainly baseless.

On December 27, 1893, an important letter appeared in the Hawaiian Star, written by the Prince A. K. Kunuiakea and signifying his conversion to the cause of annexation of the islands to the United States. wrote:

He

"Permit me, as the last representative of the Kamehameha line, to say that the course of your paper is in the best interests of the Hawaiian people, and that I am with you heart and soul for annexation. My name will be added to the roll of the Annexation club at once, and in case of trouble I will join your forces with a rifle."

On the next day an editorial article in the Royalist organ, the Hawaii Honohua, hinted a formidable reaction from the enthusiastic support before given the queen by many of the native leaders. An important passage is the following:

"That the queen should have hesitated in accepting the conditions of President Cleveland, when he offered to restore her government, has been a painful surprise to her supporters. A spirit of revenge has never been dominating among her true friends. Her advisers, whoever they may be, deserve no thanks for their foolish advice."

The Hawaiian Patriotic league, however, continued to exhibit considerable activity in antagonism to the Annexation club; and a number of prominent members made their way to the United States and to Washington, in the hope of influencing American public opinion in behalf of the royal reinstatement. A memorial from the league to the American congress was also forwarded in

January.

Early in 1894, confident statements were made that the provisional government, despairing of annexation to the United States, was preparing to institute the Hawaiian republic. The well informed Honolulu correspondent of the New York Tribune wrote to his paper:

"The general outline of the new government is modelled after that of the United States. The only marked difference is in the franchise for the lower house. An educational and property qualification is to be placed on the votes for president, vice-president, and senators. The franchise for election of members of the lower house will be without other qualification than ability to read and write English. This would let in the Hawaiians, Portuguese, and most of the Japanese. The power is to be invested in the executive; and the cabinet is to act in connection with the upper house or senate, in case the lower house should refuse to enact necessary Vol. 4.-2.

legislation, or in case of a deadlock or the attempted passage of obnoxious or special legislation."

Even a flag has been chosen, solid blue, with a large white star in the left corner.

A waiting the action of congress, however, no open action toward the formation of a republic has been taken by the provisional authorities.

Some embarrassment of the government finances was feared from the stoppage of the sale of bonds during the threatening attitude of Minister Willis; but the temporary loss was more than made good by successful tax collections, and the cash balances in the treasury increased instead of diminishing.

About the 6th of January Vice-president Hatch resigned from the provisional government,

under the necessity of going beyond the limits of the country," and Mr. The min

W. C. Wilder was elected to the vacancy. istry of foreign affairs was at the same time separated from the presidency of the executive council.

The 17th of January was celebrated as "Abrogation Day," being the first anniversary of the abrogation of monarchy in the islands-that is, of the Hawaiian revolu

tion of last year. The observance at Honolulu was marked by imposing demonstrations, but passed without disorder. A huge American flag, 60 by 30 feet, was raised by the American league. An artillery salute was fired at noon, and the military forces of the government paraded. A crowded and enthusiastic reception was given by the authorities in the executive building, and a great mass meeting in maintenance of the government and the cause of annexation, with illuminations and fireworks, closed the day. No salute, however, was fired by the American war vessels in the harbor, and the crews of all warships were carefully kept on board. The declination of Mr. Willis and other ministers to attend

the official reception also excited much indignation and unfavorable comment.

About the middle of February the Annexation club resolved upon the regular formation of a political party in support of the government and of annexation, independent of all other organizations. On the 8th the Portuguese at the capital, who are practically a unit in their sympathy with these purposes, met in mass meeting and pledged their support in any political transformation demanded by changing circumstances, and also voted a strong protest against further Asiatic immigration into the islands. A plank in the proposed platform of the new party favors the immigration of Portuguese and other whites instead of Asiatics. Washington's birthday was quite generally observed at Honolulu, the government officials closing their departments on the invitation of Minister Willis to join in honoring the day. Salutes were fired by the war vessels and public exercises held before a great audience in the drill-shed, where the American minister and the Hawaiian president sat together in apparently cordial friendship. minister was especially marked in his commendations of the speakers who represented the government.

66

The

News of the passage by our house of representatives of the McCreary resolutions renewed the agitation at the capital about the 1st of March. Special guards were placed in dangerous parts of the city, and the mounted. police enlarged. The rapid arrival of revolutionary suspects" from Canada, to the total number of about 200, so excited the fears of the executive council that a law similar to the United States statute of 1891 was passed, regulating the landing of aliens and suspected persons in Hawaii. On the 3d the five cases of criminal libel brought by ex-Marshal Wilson against the editor of the Honolulu Star were dismissed, presumably because the queen had not been restored to her throne, and so could be compelled by the defense to testify to his defalcations and illicit relations with her as alleged by the Star. All similar suits by the Royalists against its editor were similarly dropped. A few days later the provisional leaders and their following were much encouraged by receipt of the majority report from the American senate's committee on foreign relations, of the result of its investigation into Hawaiian affairs. The sugar planters were reported as in great straits for laborers, as the contracts of several thousand Japanese were expiring, and they were returning home.