New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-21

lean remember when the Medici
Mere driven from Florence; longer still ago
The final wars Of Ghibeline and Guelf.
Florence adorns me with her jewelry;
And when think that Michael Angelo
Hath leaned on me, glory in myself
Atlantic Monthly.
The Sandwich Islands.
The recent visit Of the ruler of the Ha
waiian kiDgdO:a to the United Statet
naturally incites in us a fresh interest con
corning the remarkable group Of islands
forming his domain hence few facts
about them may form tiAely article.
The group lies north Of the equator, just
within the limits OF the tOrFid zone, neal
the middle of the Pacific ocesn, far from
any other land, about half thu distance
from San Francisco that they Are from
Canton in China, or Melbourne in Australia
They are ten in number, tho largest
Hawaii, containing 1000 square miles, and
the smallest about sixty square miles. To
gether their area is little less than that OF
Massachusetts, or between five and six
times greater than that of Rhode
Island. The group forms one OF the
grandest volcanic centres in the world, the
extinct, being found here. Indeed, the
islands are but a mass of volcanic rocks
iringed by coral reefs. Upon Hawaii are
two volcanic peaks, each $4,000 feet in
height. The islands in places present bold
sea faces from 1000 feet to 5000 feet high.
But there are valleys and plains of remark
able fertility and beauty. The disintegrated
materials from the mountain regions, as it
is washed down by the abundant rains
of the islands, forms most productive
soil, which, in this tropical climate, grows
great variety of luscious fruits and other
valuable plants. The sugar cane, banana,
plantain, cOacoanut, various palms and the
taro are among the indigenous products.
The latter is an aruDa, resembling in appear
ance our own armm t,iphylltm, Jack in
the pulpit" having a nutritious, succulent
root, used by the natives as food, formerly
more than now, and go fruitful is it that q
spot forty feet square will grow enough Of
II to support one person.
Coffee grows luxuriantly, and equal in
quality to the Mocha. This finds ready
market on the Pacific shores of America
Bread fruit, tamarinds and lines also thrive
well there. In short, the agricultural re-
sources of the islands are sufficient to sup.
port millions OF people and furnish large
quantities of material for expectation be.
sides.
The climate does not present that extreme
OF heat that continental lands in the same
latitude do. 1t is very uniform and temperate.
The natives having no occasion to speak of
for it. The extremes are from $50 to 800.
Cattle, horses and sheep flourish upon the
sweet grasses which grow there, and need
no protection. Cattle and sheep are in de-
mand for supplies for whalers and other
vessels visiting the islands. Horses are great
favorites with the natives; they will part
with almost anything to obtain a horse that
suits the fancy. The only quadrupeds origin
ally found on these islands were a small
species of hogs, dogs, and kind of rat.
There are NO poisonous reptiles except the
centipede, but birds of beautiful plumage
are numerous.
But for all their natural advantages for
the sustenance and residence of dense
population, there has been steady decrease
IN numbers for many years. When the
islands were discovered BY the great navi-
gator, Captain Cook. in IT'S, there were, by
his estimate, 400, 900 people inhabiting the
group. Other early navigators recorded
similar estimate. But during the present
century the number has fallen to about
6O,O00, the highest estimate we have seen
for the present population being only $4,000.
What are the causes of this decline is an
interesting chronological question. The
islands have become essentially Christ
ianized by the sacrificing labOrs of the
American missionaries chiefly, whe began
their work in 1920. Captain Cook found the
natives an inoffensive people, although
somewhat addicted to cannibalsm. He
treated them cruelty and met his death
there in consequence. They were heather
truths of the Gospel readily when
presented. 1t seems that they should in
crease in numbers and prosperity as well as
advance in civilization. Their location is
the 'half-way house, between two great
continents, between which commerce is
rapidly increasing. The ports Of this group
are the most convenient of any for supply
stations and place of rendezvous for the
north Pacific whalers. All that can be
raised upon their fertile fields, of coffee,
sugar, mOlasses, rice, tobacco, indigo, silk,
% merchant vessels visiting their ports
Cotton is easily raised and the vine fiou-
fishes well. The natives, however, are
winding away, to give place, perhaps, to
b harder or more energetic race.
Honolulu is the principal port, situated at
he southeastern point of the island of Oahu
t is the largest and wealthiest town of the |
,rOup, and is one of the best harbors in the |
Pacific Ocean. Two hundred ships can an
hor there at once, a massive coral reef |
orming sea wall Of protection. The coral |
eefforms valuable building stone, readily |
btained at low tide, and easily wrought. |
his and other ports of the islands would |
Drm valuable place Of supply and refuge |
a time OF peace tor any nation traversing |
be Pacific waters, and would be an impor- |
ant military station in time of war. The |
cquisitiOn of such port is thing strongly |
D tempt any commercial nation, and it is |
OF to be wondered at that advocates for its
to the United States should |
ress their views in Congress and elsewhere
he United States has, perhaps, a greater
N a on %nff hasu
geographical relation to the country, than
ny other nation, and no country could
resent stronger reasons than this for an
exatiOn. The friendly visit of King Kali
kaua will probably revive the feeling in
avor of the project which was advocated
weDty years ago. Mr.. Washburne, of
laine. was one of its friends and most able
dvocates. He then said, after expressing
is disapprobation Of the many schemes
II territorial aggrandizement: "Yet, when
case occurs where it manifestly may be
nployed as means to the noblest ends,
nd humanity demands it, and our national
nd domestic interests will be served by it,
nd justice waits upon 1t, I shall not hest
lte to yield it the best advocacy of nv
ind, as it will compel that of my heart.
The question Of annexation is one
necessity, OF time and of justice"
However desirable or advisable it may be
negotiate for port in this group for the
and accommodation OF our YES
is on the Pacific seas, we do hope that it
not part of our manifest duty" to as
Imefhe government, civilization and pro-
ctioh of groups of islands scattered in the
as, thousands of miles from our coasts.
,posed TO the war ships of every untriend-
nation on the glObe.-Proridence Jour-
u.
The Sumner Memorial Volume.
The memorial volume printed by the
sgislature of Massachusetts in honor OF
e late Charles Sumner, and skillfully COM