The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 30, 1897, Page 2

Page views left: 0

You have reached the hourly page view limit. Unlock higher limit to our entire archive!

Subscribers enjoy higher page view limit, downloads, and exclusive features.

Text content (automatically generated)

[&] THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1897. “She was a schoolteacher,” I admitted. “Ah! I thought so. You see, th: Govern- ment will employ no one who doss not swear Even the schoolteachers—women, vou know—must take the oath. Why, take a private busir m. If a native goes into a store and asks for a clerk’s place, if he wants work—no matter what kind—if he will swear to 1 to this Government (a-Government he hates, which he has had no voice in making, which he hopes to see overthrown) he allegiance. 1 get work. If not, he must do without. He cannot get work. He cannot vote. Everything is closed against hir Think of it. Isn’t it a il sacrifice by a whole peopie ciple?” will the natives hold out? Fad here. The natives will never How about the exceptions? Do you others resent a man’s swearing allegiance?” “No. It—it isn’t quite the same—our s it was before. But they these poor people, who are d choice. And besides—"’ feeling for him—a a¥e to be pitied, given such a cod mpbell leaned forward now. She < in the large cane they do not swear v are with us. ernm=nt aliegiance. In their hearts Dc hink that the pi ative own pz. a question. Mrs. Campbeli’s ner had become almost energetic. It r | had gons down the stairs 2 ong cobble-stone walk, to foo! : e was st: z at the door in cool, loose white gown, the orange leis on her haughty head and el shoulders lixe a gorgeous stiing of deep flow: ng topaz; her e, soft wn hands were clasred, and her in a smiling farewel , dark eyes were lit up The Por 1 as soo nd ) expa d with a ently He shrugged > boy his l\]. “Judge Kalua, a Circuit Judge,” Mr. Richardson said, promptly. s.”? ““The native Hawaiians who favor annex- ation are of two classes: Those who are in the Government’s employ and dare not do other- wise, and those who have some personal grudge against the former Government; those who ex- pected more than they got. I believe you Americans call them soreheads.” We both laughed at this and then I asked him if he intended to sign the anti-annexation petition. “Certainly,” he answered. ““And how do the lower classes of the na- tives feel about it?” “Oh, they’re more obstinate than those who are better informed,” he said smiling. “They’ll never change.” ““And do you think your petition will be heeded?’ ““It should be. The United States can malke no pretense to friendliness for the native an, no pretense to honesty or fairness if are disregarded.” “Of course,” | said, “legally the present Government has the right to turn over the republic—"’ ““The republic! A strange republic where a handful of men are absolute and the great mass of people are disfranchised ; where soldiers are on guard before the executive building and the guns stand ready in the basement to be trained upon the people.” “What is the sentiment of the natives on Maui?” “What is it all over the islands? No na- tive not in the Government employ is reconciled to annexation. And if the United States cared’encugh to have a secret ballot taken to find out the sentiment of the Hawaiians, not twenty natives would vote for annexation.” PR T At Honolulu 1 met Mr. James Kaulia, the presid:nt of the Hawaiian League. Mr. Kaulia is a thoughtful-looking man, with a brown mustache and very serious, k eves. Duting our interview on the hotel veranda he smiled only once, and that was when he spoke of a man as a “P. G.” “P G.,” I reg ated, wondering what in this land of vowels the term might mean. “Yes, P. G.—Provisional Government— you understand? We call those natives who take the oath of allegiance P. G’s.” “ And you peopie feel bitterly toward the An American told me thata nts anything.” Hawaiian never r U ,/,/,"A \’f L MISS MIRIAM MICHELSON, Special Correspondent of “The Call” at Honolulu. Shoulders. Every nationality has the trick of some other nation in this mince-pie of peoples. “Yez—I know,” he saii at last. “ But what ma’am think going to come of the coun- try? | guess they’re”’—he nodded toward the hotel where some United States Congressmen had been delivering speeches to all Hilo—*I guess they’re going to take this country. An’ ma’am (he turned squarely around now while the horse plunged along through the muddy town), what ma’am think ’bout these natives? P’m sorry these poor natives. They got. no money. hey got no land. They can’ do nothing. 1 like see this country belong the natives—it their country. What ma’am think ?” But ma’am had come 20co miles to find out other people’s opinions ; not to express her own. % i The most interesting native Hawaiian 1 met on the islands is John Richardson, a law- yer. He came on the Claudine at Wailuku, when the little steamer was on the return trip from Hilo, whither she had gone specially so that Uncle Sam’s representatives might see the volcano, the plantations—in short, all the sights, in a short time. Mr. Richardson is of medium height, heavily * built. He is very dark, and his black side whiskers are slightly gray. His eyes meet one squarely, his chin is strong and decided, his English is excellent and his manner is serious and courteous. He is quick at getting the drift of one’s questions, and my short talk with him, while we were sailing away from Maui and past Moiokai, interested me more than any other interview 1 had (for business purposes) on the islands. “l met a man, Mr. Richardson, a native Hawaiian, at Kalului, I think it was. It was something beginning with a *’k,” anyway, He was in favor of annexation.” Mr. Kaulia’s face looked forbidding for.a moment. We 1 guess—I guess he don’t know us. Hawaiians hate (the word was pronounced with such deliberation as to give it extrzordinary emphasis), we hate the P. G.’s when they are— are really in favor of the Government. But there are very few—very few, who are not really with us. Take the police now, who have sworn allegiance, of course. Some of them have signed our petition against annexation. Not th: head man, you understand.” ““Isn’t that rather unwise ?* ““On, the Government will not find it out.” ““But if I should publish the fact?”’ “The Government will say it is not true.” “Oh!—Well, tell me, how many Ha- waiians, natives, will sign your peti ion?” ““Thirty thousand, inciuding boys over 15.” “There aren’t many more than that in the islands.” ““Not one thousand more.” “Will any white men sign?” “Some. Yes. But of course a white man must exp:ct to suffer in his business, and—and in society, you understand what | mean—if he takes sides against the Government.”” ““And if the United States annexes despite your petition?” “Then it will be a seizure. That is all, Here! There are 2800 voters registered for the next election—the end of this month. Of those 2800, 1000, according to the Government’s own figures, are what we call the Citizens’ Guard; 200 votes more are the soldiers’ votes and 1200 more are the Government officials. That leaves only 400 outside votes. You see?” Mr. Kaulia opened his hands wide. The native Hawaiian has not a very mobile face, but his gestures are as expressive—particularly when his English is not fluent—as a French- man’s. e e e N e = VAR 1 %‘A\Ml | Meeting of Natives at Hilo, Island of Hawaii, Thursday, September 16, 1897, to “Tell me about your league.” “In every district—all over the islands— there are meetings, one a month. Once a year in Novemter delegates from every district meet here in Honolulu.” “How many signatures have you to your petition?” **Seven thousand.” “And how long has it been in circulation?” “‘Since last Thursday, Septemter 16.” ““And are you confident that all natives feel as you do?” “I am sure. Kaena to Hilo.” Which translated means from the Sierras to the sea. The feeling is the same from s = = So here’s a people pleading for grace at the hands of a great republic. Here’s a tiny drop of mercury begging forbearance of the enor- mous globule that threatens to absorb it. Poor Hawaii! She seems like a supplicat- ing dusky maiden holding out beseeching hands to a great, swaggering brother nation. ““l believe I'll take your land, Hawaii,” blusters the United States, like a big bully. “l pray vou, Brother Jonathan, let me keep it ; it is mine.” e e It has been said that there is no hospitality in these degensrate modern money-making days like that of the white people on these islands. Social life, 1 am told, is delightful here. Busi- ness hours are short. The climate forbids the exercise of and gradually saps one’s energy. Men have leisure for social intercourse, and the comparative scarcity of pleasurable occupation in this i-olated place induces a readiness to make the most of society—that refuge of the un- fortunate leisure class, Everybody who is anybody in Hawaii knows everybody clse. The small white popu- lation, cut off frcm the rest of the world, ing in the midst of the most conglomerate assort- ment of races, controliing the wealth, all offi- cial and social positions, with a superfluity of service in the black man or the brown or the yellow (or any combination and all shades of these colors), has evolved a civilization delight. fully luxurious, exquisitely refined. Many things are dear in Hawaii, but human labor is not one of them. Some of the bungalows in and around Hono- Iuiu are modelsof cultured taste, almost perfect specimens of what may be accomp! d in the art of living—given a tropical climate and a swarm of inferior buman workers. There are estates here, a traveler tells me, which are rivaled in beauty, iuxury and com- pleteness of appliances for bodily comfort only by the homes of the Haytian planters.* The visiting Congressmen from the United States speak celightedly of the gracious hospi- tality of the people of the islands. They are charmed by the bountiful provisions made for their entertainment, by the generousspirit which anticipates every desire and completes every un- spoken wish. “There isn’t a man among them who doesn’t consider himself responsible for the weather, for the condition of the roads, for the success of the sflnu—wha(ever'it may be.” It is all very pretty. There is a charm about life here which sootlhes the senses and dulls the spirit. It is easy not to think, not to struggle. It must be very pleasant to drift with the tide of bouhomie (especially when rowing against it is 50 aisastrous), to become a member of this small class of cultured, wealth y men and gracious idle women. In the Bouth before the war, in France be- fore the Revolution, society attained its highest development, of which this island society is an inferior copy 1n miniature. But this perfection of civilization is a flower—a sort of century plant—that blooms but rarely and for very brief periods. It is a brilliant, marvelously shaped parasite which twines about and kills the piant that nourishes it. It requires conditions which take years 1o buila up, and which, in the very nature of things, cannot endure. For it means the subjugation of the many by the few; it means the enjoyment of the concentrated es- sence of life’s pleasures by a small minority, Material enjoyment, too, is a commodity. The supply is limited. And that a hundred may live as un aristocracy, tens of thousands must be denied pleastre and profit and liberty. * * = One’s memory of these beautiful islands de- pends a great deal upon what side of Hawaiian life one has seen. *If you come to Honolulu for a short visit to a friena, say (and your friend, oi course, be- longs to the smart set) you will carry back with you the happiest memory, the prettiest picture of the place and the people. You will retain a series of vividly colored impressions of moun- tains, sea, shaded sireets and cool, spacious, charmingly decorated salons. You will not soon forget how beautiful a scene is a great garden of tall tropical treees, covered with drooping sprays of crimson flowers, where the electric- lights look like other flowers of diamonds, The men in white duck and the women in lace- “trimmed diaphanous gowns walk about and talk and laugh and Jisten to the sweet strains of the native music, and the soft evening airis a caress and the plasbing of the Southern Sea accom- panies it all like the bass chant of a full-toned chorus. But if you go to the islands as I did—if you see and hear what I did—behind and above this victure you will see another, as if the photograe Protest Against Annexation. pher bad taken two impressions on oue plate. It is the face of the native Hawailian that looks through the enchanting scene—a dark red- brown, sphinx-like face. The large head is set finely wpon a sirong, fult neck, The forehead is broad, with projecting brows. There is an oriestal width seross the cheek bones, a wide- nos'ried, straight nose, a large, thick-lipped de- termine! mouth, that is not loose, and 2 full, broad chin, The expression is bold, but wistful, and in he dark, somber, well-opened eves there is a question: “What are you gzoing to do with ME?” MIRIAM MICHELSON. S NS IT MAY NOT BE JUSTICE, BUT--- Views of Members of the Con- gressional Party Who Favor Annexation. Defend Their Position on the Assump- tion That Brute Strength Maketh All Things Right. HONOLULU, Hawarr, Sept. 22.—*It make Jne laugh,’” said one of the ladies of the Congres- sionai party, “tb see Low seriously peopie take this Congressional outing. Why, we hadn’tthe vaguest idea of coming to Hawaii till we arrived in San Francisco. This is anything but official business. These men are out here to enjoy themselves; that’s all.” “Well, they seem rather interested in the subjeet,” I said. *'0b, I've been on too many junketing trips; you can’t tell me anything about Congressional excursions.”’ I haven’t had the lady’s experience, so my simplicity may have led me to judge incorrectly, At any rate, it seemed to me that wherever these four men went—and in a week they saw more of the islands than most people see in & year—they questioned closely and pertinently, and they ac- quired a store o/ information. On the Australia coming down we had an- nexation and anti-annexation for breakfast, lunch and dinner. People read books on Ha- waii, looked at Hawaiian views, made more or less successful attempts at Hawaiian pronuncia- tion. Whils the women lying in the steamer chairs discussed the subject lazily, tentatively, indifferently, the sound of men’s voices raised in excited argument came tumbling down from the hurricane deck or mounting from the salon below. For this question of annexation, I find, is not one which nden can discuss calmly. If an- annexationist suspects one of being opposed to his scheme of tnings, he attributes to one all the graces and cbharms with which an ardent seces- sionist endowed the abolitionist in 1861. In Hawaii the question has broken up families, es- tranged old friends, and given to society a pecu- liar tender susceptibility which makes a disa- greement upon island politics the preliminary to social and business failure. I had talked with the representatives from the United States at various stages of their Hawaiian experience. But it was principaily off the coast of the island of Hawali, the beau- tiful, that they spoke to what Mr. Cannon of Iilinois calls *'the newspaper ear.” Mr. Tawny of Minnesota walked bravely up to Inquisition Point—as the littie passageway in the fore part of the Claudine came to be called, from the numerous newspaper inter- views held there. By the way, I would strongly recommend this particular spot to the interviewer, for oniy two or three people can find room to stand here—an important fact, because Hawaiians are so deeply interested in the ennexation question that to their ears the sound of a discussion on this topic is like a bugle to a warhorse. So the Hon. Mr. Tawny, the Hon. Mr. Loudenslager of New Jersey and myse!f stood and gazed at the wonderful panorama, and talked politics. “In the first place, why are you in favor of annexation, Mr. Tawny ?" ‘‘Because of the commercial and military advantages to the United States” answered handsome Mr. Tawny, pushing back his cap, an evidence of interest on his part. “We are going to be benefited 1mmenseiy, for every year will aad to the commercial wealth of the islands. Leaving the sugar industry out of the question, I consider that the produetion of coffee hers ultimately is assured, and will be as profitable as is the wheat crop of Minnesota. And—"" “‘And I don’t agree with you,” interrupted Mr. Loudenslager’s good-natured voice. *‘Oh, you—you don’t agree with anybody, Jersey,’’ laughed the Congressman from Minne- ota. *‘But do you mean tosay”—Mr Loudenslager leaned over the railing and pulled his cap for- ward, which is his way of showing that heis interested—*'Do you mean to tell me—'" “1 wasn’ttelling you anything, Loudensla- ” T, “That's all right, isn’t 1t?” inquired Mr. Lou- denslager, turning to me. “Very well, then. Now, Tawny, when you say that the coffee crop in Hawail is as assured as the wheat crop in Minn—" ¥ *I didn’t say that.”” Mr. Tawny’s very dark face would have looked pugnacious §f it hadn’t been for his smiling dark eyes, “Ididn’tsay ge! that,” he repeated. *I said—now listen, Lou- denslager, and you may just chance to get a thing straight for once—I said that there is no question in my mind that ultimately coffee will be raised as successfully on these isiunds as wheat is now in Minnesota. If you're not sure that you quite urderstand, Harry, I'll go over it again.” But the Congressman from New Jersey, with an opera bouffe gesture, referred Mr. Tawny to me. “Now, then,” continued the Minnesotan, “'there are other products, many others. This = -y S S =S SSUES Ney R - S-S — uy SN 45\; = — S oo X, I s = S SR G N 0!” I repeated. it a minute; thisis what I mean: So, nation is bound to annex the islands, T can’t exist independent They (the nativey should be permitted tosay to what nation they preer to be annexed. But I tell you they can’t exist as they are.” “But you haven’t answered the question— the real question,” said Mr. Loudensiager with a chuckle, “Oh, that New Jersev man,” exclaimed Mr. Tawny, wrathfully. “We'll have it out,”’ he said to me as he walked away, “when you're through with him.” Mr. Loudenslazer 1aughed like a boy; but he grew sober Immediately when I turned to nim and said: “Now, Mr. Loudenslager, ‘’s your tarn.” The Congressman fiom New Jersey lit a cigar and pulled at it thoughtfully for a moment. “Well, I don’t know. I'm not preparsd really to give my views on annexation. 1 wiil say, though, that 'm more in favor of it now than I was when 1 came. Tie veople seem really American in spirit, and I'm amazed at the fertility, the productiveness of the island I had no idea of the extent of productive land.” “Do you think annexation will came?” “Ye-es. Everything at present points that way. Of course, this point must be taken inio consid« ration—the annexationists have bcen Jouder in their expression of séntiment than the aunti-annexationists have, That gives one the jmpression that the partyin favor oi anpexa- tion is stronger than that which is against, ¥he time will come when both sides must be heard in aebate.” “How do you think the United States will be benefited by annexation?”’ “There is no Lenefit so far as commerce is concerned. In my opinion, the only benefit will be in the possession of a strategic point—an im- portant naval station. Buteven then I question whether the cost of it all will not exceed the gain to the United States. It involves a decided change in Governmental policy. If the next step is to be Cuba I should be whoily opposed.” “Do you believe with Mr. Tawny that if the United Siates does not annex the islands same other nation wil o, Idon’t.” *fhen, if the islands could remain as they are—"" “In that case, if the United States could: bs assured that things would remain as they are— that no nation likely to become inimical woula have the islands—it would be better; in my judgment, not fo have annexation; better for us and better for Hawaii, toc. There’s. Berry. Do you want Berry?'’ Berry was wanted. The Congressman from Kentucky, with his gray head bent to permiit h:s 6 feet 7 inciies to find standing-room between decks, approached, and Jr. Luudenslager walkea off, saying: W N\ SR MRS. KUAIHELANI CAMPBELL, President Hawaiian Women’s Patriotic League. climate, this wonderfully rich soil is capable of proiucing unlimited quantities of widely differ- ent foodstuffs. Asto the military advantages, now. If wedon’t take these islands Japan will within ten years. Or England may—" “England can’t and England won’t,” de- clared Mr. Loudenslager. “Now, look here, Loudenslager, if you jump in again. " “The gentleman from Minnesota has the floor,” remarked the interviewer. “Thank you. We need this post, in my judg- ment, as much to prevent other nations from forbidding our coaling here as for any otber reason. In case of war ail our commerce on the Pacific Coast would be at the enemy’s merey, and this commerce grows daily more vaiuabie. These islands are of vast importance—they are the key to the commerce of the Pacific. There is no valid reason for our hesitating. Why, if we could get Caba without war with Spain—if Cuba were to ask for annexation, I'd say yes to that, toe,” “Then, if you alone had to decide this ques- tion, vou wonla annex the islands?” “Undoubiedly.” ‘‘And the feeling of the natives in the mat- ter—aren’t they to be considered 2"’ “On, yes, yes; but I believe the natives favor annexation,”” “That hasn’t been my experience,” I said. “Personally 1 bave spoken to perbaps 100 na- tives on the various istands. Indirectiy I have ascertained the sentiment of thousands. Now suppose il Were proven to you that they are stiongly opposed to annexation, would that change vour views?'’ “No.” Mr. Tawny’s pleasant voice had a decided ring, " see how the administration can “I’ll leave you alone with Berry. It's notso much fun teasing him as it is an earnest fellow like ' g I asked Mr. Berry, who is on the House Com- mittee on Foreign Relations, whether he thought the islands would be annexed. “Yes, I believe s0,” he answered. the administration is bent upon it. And let me tell you something: No matter what these men may say to you, you'll find every Republican of them march up like a little man and give his vote for annexation when the administration de- cides upon iis policy. It doésn’t matter what they may happen to think, of course.”” The Congressman from Kentucky is the one Democrat in the party. He'sa man of enor- mous strength, of unfailing good-nature, ex- ceedingly kind and generous and with a youth. iul heartthat makes his crisp white bair and beard seem out of keeping. “*Are you in favor of it?" I asked. “That depends. If Japan were to try to take these islands I'd shout ‘Hands off!’ But that isn’t the main point. The thingisthis: Idon’t ignore the wishes of the natives. I tell you, my sympa- thies are with these poor people. They are such a fine race, and here they are practically dispos- sessed of their property and threatened with an- nihilation. *Of course, I'll admit that the pativesare not fit to make the best use of the isiands. But it’s this way: Smith, say, owns a farm neat me. I go to him—bemng a big fellow—(Mr. Berry's Rray eyes twinkled) and say, ‘Smith; you're not Tunning your place us it should berun. Ican do more with it—make more money out of it. On the whole, I believe I'll take it away from von.! 1 “I think

Other pages from this issue: