The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 30, 1897, Page 1

3OARD STEAMSHIP AUSTRAL Now that' the Australia h of the harbor of Honolu v deep rainbow-colored ailed away at wonder- and see on t h grows f the islands of sea ins, veiled in tenderest tto the ocean’s , the silver water tum- 1 down into tk rk blue of ce of foliage Those gre apd of flowers, lava-created hi. in ‘the d wide mounta alter mc 2tful transformation bsvond which rises it is all like a won- cene, where splendor toliows splendor till one is satiated with loveli- ness. Where every 1ty man is vil n who Australia’s deck. gentleman Islander, inction be- e me on thi articularly to the Hawaiian made any di v But his quota- n the present instance. e in Hawaii, the best beloved, the most richly endowed of all Mother Nature’s beautiful family, the old, old struggle for Anglo-Saxon going on. s-old tragedy i mac being repeat- s time a re ’s role. on’s life with of an old-time has not asked for annexation. o people on the islands. Of cent have declared for annexa- es the loss of nationality is —the w man against t right; strength intellect and art d a and simplicity. ing from an acute attack of annex- ‘‘you might as well walk and attempt to push back the t r two uplifted hands sival of the fi 1w I have of the isl- ith tne hall of the Salvation memory rafters Is are relieved tions jn English and of to-morrow.” is no salvation.” a women’s meetin ; men present. T Mot Hubbards of sailor hats—waite e in coats and trousers of handsome ns of black crep wore black kid gloves straw with black feath- the two—a very queen in ore nodding red roses in her neck and falling to the necklace e flowers, with deiicate iems of closely struag, n Pz the secret riotic of It was almost pitiful to note the reception of these two leaders—the dumb, almost adoring tondness in the women’s eyes; the absorbed, close interest in the men’s dark heavy faces. After the enthusiasm had subsided the min- ister of the Hawaiian church arose. He is tall, bionde, fair faced, threc-quarters white, as they say nere. Clasping his ds in front and looking down over the bowed dark heads be- fore him he made the short opening praver, He helid himself well, his sentences were short and his manner ¥ simple. There is something wonderfully effective in earnest praver deliversd in an ancient language with which one is untamiliar. One hears not but topes. His feelir d to. Fr gs, not his reason, limiting effects agination supplies nd the Ladn the s to touch the primitive the sense. H jian ton sources of one’s nature, to strip away the com- plicated armor ation and leave the instrument, a ep murmuring e followed. . Emma Nawat ““Amen’ I wat i curiously as people. | have never lic in quite the Would this Haw same way. man be embarrassed or timid, or self-conscious or assertive? No: any of these. Her manner had tha simple girectness that made Charlotte Perkins Stetson, two years ago, the most interesting speaker ¢f the Woman’s Congress. But Mrs, Stetson’s pose is the most artistic of poses—a pretense ol simplicity. This Hawaiian woman’s thoughts 'vere of her subjsct, not of herself. There was an interesting impersonality about her delivery that kept my eyes fastened upon her while the interpreter at my side whispered CISCO, THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 30, 189 PRICE FIVE CENTS. STRANGLING HANDS UPON A NATION'S any Thousands of Native Hawaiians Sign a Protest to the United States Government Against Annexation. Will the Great American Republic Aid in Consummating the Infamy Projected by the Dole Government?—Miriam Michelson Pens a Stirring Appeal on Behalf of the Islanders. ses, h his translation in short, detached phr tating now for a word, sometimes completing the t ht with esture. “We are wealk people, we Hawaiians, and ‘ ss we stand together,” read ntly raising her eyes from forgetting it a land of lib- Let us em that as they love their cou it up, ving ur Haw ray that th “Our shoulder tc shot of the peo great cou ay. d on so they must } *“In this petition, whic signature to- n of Haw a chance to spea The tion will be sent on by the men’s ciub as soon as the loyal men of Hor ned it. we offer fi oluiu have sig Sign this peti- How patience. Our time will come. tion—those of you who love Hawaii. many—how many will sign?”’ She held up a gloved hand as she spoke, and in a moment the palms of hundreds of hands were tur toward her. They were eioquent, those deep lined, bro. dark hands, with their short fingers and worn nails. They told of poverty, of work, of contact with the soil they claim. The woman who presided had said a few words to the peo- le, when all at once | saw a thousand curiobs eyes turned upon me. “What is it?” 1 asked the interpreter. ““What did she say?” He laughed. ‘ ‘A reporter is here,” sne She says to the people, ‘Tell how you Then the Americans will know. Then they may listen.””’ A remarkable scene followed. One by one men and women rose and in a sentence or two in the rolling, broad voweled Hawaiian made a fervent profi on of faith. ““My feeling,” declared a tali, broad-shoul- red man, whose dark eyes were alight with N > sf “If the great nations would be fair they would not take.away our country. Never will I consent to annexation !I”” ““Tell America I don’t want annexation. | want my Queen,” said the gentle voice of a woman. ““That speaker is such a good woman,” murmured the interpreter. ‘‘A good Christian, honest, kind and charitable.” n against annexation—myself and all » ““I speak for those behind me,” shouted a voice from far in the rear. ‘“‘They cannot come in—they cannot speak. They tell me to say, ‘No annexation. Never.”” ‘1 am Kauhi of Kalaoa. We call it Middle Hile. Our club has 300 members. They have sent me her: We aie all opposed to annexa- tion—al! X He was a young man. His open coat showed his loose dark shirt; his muscular body swayed with excitement. He wore boots that came above his knees. There was a large white handkerchief knotted about his brown sober, brown faces were all aglow with excited interest. 8 il I sat and watched and listenad. At Honolulu I had asked a prominent white man to give me some idea of the native Hawaiian’s character. “They won’t resent anything,” he said, contemptuously. “‘ They haven’t a grain of ambition. They can’t feel even envy. They care for nothing but easy and extremely simple living. They have no perseverance, no back- bone. They’re unfit.” Yet surely here was no evidence of apathy, of stupid forbearance, of characterless cringing. These men and women rose quickly one after another, one interrupting the other at times, and then standing expectantly waiting his turn—too simple, too sincere, it seemed to me, to feel self-conscious or to study for a mo- ment about the manner of his speech, so vital was the matter to be delivered. They stood as all other Hawaiians stand— with straight shoulders spiendidly thrown back and head proudly poised. Some held their The Voice of the Native— What are you going to do with ME? There is nothing underhand, nothing deceitful in —our onlv way—of fighting. Every- see and mav know of our petition. We have nothing to conceal. We have ri is ours—our Ha Shall we e This land il we lose our nationality? nexed to the United States? ole loa. Aole loa.” It didn’t require the interpreter’s word to make me understand the response. One could read negation, determination in every intent, dark : ““‘Never!” they say,” the man beside me muttered. ““‘Never!’ they say. ‘No! No! They say——" But the presiding officer, a woman, was introducing Mrs. Campbell to the people. Her large mouth parted in a pleased smile as the men and women stamped and shouted. She spoke only a few words, good-naturedly, hope- fully. Once it seemed as though ‘she were tak- ing them all in her confidence, so sincere and soft was her voice as she leaned forward. “‘Stand firm, my friends. Love of country means more to you and to me than anything else. Be brave; be strong, Have courage and enthusiasm. ““This is my feeling: [ love my country and | want to be independent—now and forever.” “And my feeling is the same,” cried a stout, bold-faced woman, rising in the middle of the hall. “‘Ilove this land. I don’t want to be annexed.” “This birthplace of mine I love as the Ameri- can loves his. Would he wish to be annexed to another, great:r land?”’ ““I am strongly opposed to annexation. How dare the people of the United States rob a peo- ple of their independence ?” “I want the American Government to do justice. America helpsd to dethronz Liliuo- kalani. She must be restored. Never shall we consent to annexation !”’ “My father is American; my mother is pure Hawaiian. It is my mother’s land 1 love. The American nation has been unjust. How couid we ever love America?” “‘Let them see their injustice and restore the monarchy !”’ cried an old, old woman, whose dark face framed in its white hair was working pathetically. throat, and his fine head, with its intelligent eves, rose from his shoulders with a grace that would have been deerlike were it not for its splendid strength. “I love my country and oppose annexa- tion,” said a heavy-set, gray-haired man with a good, clear profile. ‘‘ We look to America as our friend. Let her net be our en=my !”’ “Hekipi, a delegate from Molokai to the leagus, writes: ‘I honestly assert that the great majority of Hawaiians on Molokai are opposed to annexation. They fear that if they become annexed to the United States they will lose their lands. The foreigners will reap all the benefit and the Hawaiians will be placed in a worse position than they are to-day.’ ” “l am a mail-carrier. Come with me to my district.” A man who was sitting in the first row ros= and stretched out an appeaiing hand. ““Come to my district. 1 will show you 2000 Hawaiians against annexation.” ““I stand—we all stand to testify to our love of our country. No flag but the Hawaiian flag. Never the American !”” There was cheering at this, and the heavy, roughened, patient hands clasped, some bent and looked toward me, as though | were a sort of magical human telephone and phonograph combined. I might misunderstand a word or two of the interpreted message, but there was no mis- taking those earnest, brown faces and beseech- ing dark eyes, which seemed to try to brilge the distance my ignorance of their language and their slight acquaintance with mine created be- tween us. 1 verily believe that even the most virulent of annexationists would have thought these Hawaiians human ; almost worthy of considera- tion. e e The people rose now and sang the majestic Hawaiian National Hymn. It was sung fer- vently, a full, deep chorusof hundreds of voices. The music is beautifully characteristic, with its strong, deep bass chords to which the women’s plaintive, uncultivated voices answer. Then there was a benediction, and the people passed out into the muddy street. As I sat watching them, suddenly I heard a timid voice murmur: “You will tek this from me?” THROAT A girl stood beside my chair, her gent'e face with its dark liquid eves smiling down upon me. She had slipped a rope—a lei, she called it—of gorgeous red and yellow flowers, strung thick and close, over my head. “But,” | protested, ““I don’t see why. I can’t do anything, you know, except repeat what you say.” “It—it is that.” She hesitated, and then plunged bravely on with her broken English, she continued: ‘‘No one comes to—to ask us. No one listens. No one cares. Your paper will speak for us—us Hawaiians. Our voice wil be heard, too. We are poor—you un’stan? And we cannot talk vour language ver’ well. The white men have ever’thing on their side. Eut we are right and they are wrong.” P * “They are not heathens—not cannibals, you see,” said a voice behind me as | stepped out upon the veranda of the pretty new notel at Hilo. It was Henry West, a half-white, whom I had seen at the meeting. “Of course not,”” | answered. they were.” “Why, a Boston paper—ijust lately said so. Have vou met Mr. Keakolo?” David Kealkolo and | exchanged bows. He is verv dark and his hair and mustache are gray. He has a prominent nose and large, dark, s. | had noted him particularly at the meeting, for he was the one man present in a dress suit and he spoke often and anima- tedly. He smiled now, and said, with a profu- sion of gestures: “l—am so s I can un’stan’.” “Yes,” went on Mr. West. “They call us savages—all kinds of names. We are not. We read and write. Yes, more of us—compar- ing, know—read and write than in Senator Morgan’s own birth State—Alabama, is it? | am so sorry Senator Morgan did not come to Hilo with your party. If he would come here as a judge—if he would hear both sides—we would benefit from it. Your country has wronged us cruelly. Cleveland himself s0. What could we do when the United States sol- diers were landed in our streets four years ago? Let the United States right the wrong now—let her not do more wrong.” “Would you prefer the present government to annexation ?” I asked. “The present government cannot They know that themselves.” ““But in time, supposing the islands are not annexzad, don’t you think that the natives will become reconciled and—and take the oath et *“Never.” And a quick-spoken Hawaiian word and a glance from Keakolo’s black eyes emphasized the negative. They turned to leave. “We are sorry that you are going back so soon,” Mr. West said with pathetic courtesy. “We should like to show you the country.”’ I'lcoked after the two men as they walked down the tree-bordered path with an aching sort of svmpathy. They are so weak; their op- ponents are so strong. * “Who said expressive eye I—cannot speak Ingli’. last. o« I had to wait a short time in Mrs. Na- wahi’s little drawing-room, where | had gone to see Mrs. Campbell. The president of the Women’s League, by the way,is the wife of that James Campbell, the wealthy Honolulu planter, who was kidnaped by Oliver Winthrop (now in San Quentin) and held for ransom in San Francisco last year. Every door and window of the room where I sat was curtained freshly in white. - The mat- ting floor was brightened by a large square of a checkered pattern, with broad shining plaits. And this is really all I noticed, for Mrs. Camp- bell entered, and I cared to look at nothing else. Imagine a very tall woman, a full com- manding figure dressed in the sheerest of lace- trimmed white lawn. The wreath of orange- flowers on her black hair and the orange lei about her neck were exquisitely becoming, and the loose gown’s graceful flow and full train gave a charming feminine touch te this woman whose sympathies have placed her in so uncon- ventional a position. But Mrs. Campbell is anything but a new woman. “Do you women expect,” I asked her, “to be rewarded for all your work? Do you look forward to being permitted to vote ?”’ The president of the Women’s Patriotic League laughed outright. “Why, we never thought of that. Iam working for my people. That is all. When they are righted, when they are content, I shall be satisfied. You were at the meeting to-day. Did it not interest you? There are such meet- ings all over ths islands. The natives are far apart. It is hard for them to get together. But they all think alike.” Her voice is exquisitely low and full and lazily deep. She speaks slowly, but without a trace of accent. Her manner is gracious and her face is soft, creamy, brown-tinted, with proud lips and languid eves. She looks Ha- waiian, but hers is an idealized type. “Tell me, does your husband approve of your work ? “Oh,” she answered, smiling, ““I could—I would do nothing without approval.” ‘“Are all families—native families—united on this annexation question?” ““Yes ; I think so. “‘Suppose a Hawa favor of anne: “It is un . “Well, if it wers <o, would she continue to work in vour league? C uld she oppose an- nexation openlv and actively ?” “Oh !’ Mrs. Campbell leaned her head upon her large, shapely hand, upon which the diamonds glistened. “‘Oh, that would be very hard. But—if | were the woman—yes, I should work for my people anyway,” said Mrs. Camp- bell, decidedly and with pretty inconsistence. “You see, they arz so poor, so helpless.. Thay need help so badly.” “And are thers no native Hawaiians in favor of ann=xation?” She shook her head slowly. ““I met a woman at Hana, on the island of Maui. She was.” “Wasn’t she in the ploy 2’ i Mrs. Campbell spoke quickly for the first me. Government’s em-