The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-08-25

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HONOLULU, May %, 1869.
The principal topic of conversation, and in
fact the only one which excites much inter
est, is the anticipated visit of his Royal
Highness Prince Alfred to these islands.
The question which now agitates those most
interested is as whose guest be is TO be. 1t
is thought that being member Of the Royal
Family of Great Britain he is properly
guest of His Majesty, and upon this basis ar
engagements are being made for his reception.
Fears have been entertained by some that
His Majesty might need relief from the cares
OF State about the time the Prince was eX-
pected, and step on board his yacht for a
trip to his country residence on Molokai.
1t will be remembered that this was his
course when the United States Steamship
Vanderbilt was expected with Queen Emma,
on her return from visit to the United
States and Europe.
have no doubt that his Majesty will strain
point to give the Prince a reception in
keeping with his rank and position. The
British Residents will not be behind band in
honoring the son of their beloved Queen.
They have ere this determined, in spite of
the prostration of trade, to spend of their
substance freely. l have not heard of any
programme having been arranged for the dis
position of the term of his stay, although
balls, parties and native feasts and dances
will be the order of the day and night. l am
told that some of his fair count.y-women
who reside here are already planning for the
honor of becoming his partner at the first
state ball. somebody will be disappointed.
The Reciprocity Treaty has again been a
matter OF discussion by planters and others
interested in its passage. Hopes have been
entertained that Congress would relent and
grant this Kingdom the boon which it seeks,
and for which it has striven with all the en-
ergy of which it is capable. The most san
nf its bali hat
as soon as Grant became President the treaty
would become fact, and the doings of Con-
gress during its recent session have been ca
gerly read, but only to disappoint. The
news at last reaches US that the treaty has
been laid over until the next meeting of
Congress, after vote which gives us but
little to hope for. 1t had been better for the
interests of the United States if the question
had been settled definitely. His Majesty's
Ministry will still hold out the prospect of
the passage of the treaty as a sop to quiet
the restless American element of our popula-
ton, and will doubtless use it to good effect
with the planters at the next election of rep
resentatives to the Assembly.
After conversing with some of the sugar
planters l am satisfied that there is wide
difference of opinion in regard to the policy
of annexation to the United States. This
may, doubtless will, surprise many, as the
impression has been that all would support
it. The objection to the measure, urged by
those who oppose it, is that it would over
turn the whole labor system of the Kingdom
and thus ruin the sugar interest. There is
doubtless some basis for their fears. Slavery,
or in fact any approach to it, is distasteful to
Americans of the right stamp, and will never
find Judgement OH United States territory.
Mr.. Harris, late Pleinpotentionary to Wash
ington, has been very busy since his return
in endeavoring to conceal the fact that our
coolie system has any features in common
with the system of slavery and may have
succeeded with some parties. 1t is said that
when informed that the Chancellor of the
Kingdom had become the purchaser of the
" Princeville" sugar estate, and that part of
the purchase consisted of the contracts of COO
lies employed on the estate, he promptly and
enphatically pronounced the sale of the con-
tracts, or, more correctly, the coolies, as a
violation of the laws of the Kingdom How
ever, when the Levers sugar estate was put
up at auction, and it was evident that money
could be made by the purchase, the same
Mr.. Harris in company with another govern
ment official, became the purchasers of the
estate, together with the Chinese and Japa-
nese coolies employed, and still bold them
under the contracts made with its former
proprietor. "0hl consistency &c.
In order to show the feeling engendered
by discussion of the peculiar institution"
l note the fact that Minister of the Gospel
felt called upon to warn his flock of the dan
ger of trifing with the institution" not
presuming to go into a discussion of its
wrongs, and in less than week became
aware that he was under ban of part of
his congregation. Strange to say, his most
positive and stubborn opposers were New
England men; ay, born in Massachusetts, in
the Hub" itself Those who oppose the
"eoolie" or bonded labor system do not
claim that the laborers are abused, such in
stances being rare as yet, although rumors
exist that fogging is more common than it
used to be; but they claim that the neces-
sites OF planters and Others have led to en-
croachments which should be resisted, lest
the history of the slave system of America
should be repeated on these fair islands.
Kaona, who led the late rebellion on Haw-
ali, and several of his followers have been
sent to that island for trial. At last ac-
counts no decision had been arrived at 1t
is feared that Kaona will escape punishment,
owing to the influence which he and his fol-
lowers have upon a majority of the natives
from whom jury will be drawn. 1t is a
singular fact that the Hon. D. Kalakaua, q
petty chief and member of the House of No
bles is assisting in their defence, although
not known as lawyer.
Leprosy is still spreading on these islands.
1t is a sad sight to see groups of the victims
on their way down to the vessel which con-
veys them to the leper settlement on Molo-
kai, there to remain until death claims them.
This scourge attacks old, middle aged and
young of both sexes. In one group may be
seen an aged woman, stalwart man in the
prime Of life, the girl in her teens, the school
boy and the child of four years of age all
bearing the distinctive and never to be for
gotten marks of leprosy. The ears Of one
are swollen; another's hands are deformed,
the fingers being drawn into the palms of
the hand and one or more joints gone from
each finger, while anothers face is SO swollen
and disfgured that his own friends find it
hard to recognize him late reports from
the Marquesas Islands give fearful account
of the ravages of this diseaseupon the
island Of Tahuata. Out of population Of
over ], 600 but 200 survive at thistime, and
out of this number but few are free of
disease. What with leprosy, other diseases
and rum, the Polynesian race seems doomed
to rapid extinction.
The man John Brown, who was arrested
for firing the ship King Philip, and who was
convicted of the offence on trial before the
Supreme Court, is now free. His counsel
danandad new trial r1n0u the Orouud of