The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-08-10
General MrrrlIaudise.
Our San Francisco Letter.

Newspaperdom hereabout asserts that they are
for sale, and the public, accustomed to depend
upon their editors for information as well as in
spiration-vhie wondering somewhat at the new
phase of your affairs are inclined to believe that
such is the case. Kingdoms are noteevery day
put upon the market, hence there is much curiosity
about the particulars-such who is the buyer
Has the bargain been really closed, and what's the
price Do the Islanders oppose the sale 4? Have
they any say in the matter ? What will the neigh
bors say do about it
What field of queries is opened on all points
connected with this matter, all at present, with
nebulous and misty surroundings, with nobody to
clear them up or to speak anthOritatiyey.
When citizen here exclaims you are to be
sold out; your King is in Europe concluding the
bargain''-what reply can be made except this
don't know anything about it-can write to the
Honolulu editors and ask them to give reliable in
formation. Their calling imposes upon them the
work of leading and instructing the public, and
urges them to be foremost in prying out State
secrets. 1t was believed there, that the King went
abroad to hunt up suitable immigrants in fact, to
HOoniE Ia LahH, and not 10 sell out those left at
home. These reports which are flying about must
be false, may be the result of change of mind,
whatever be the case, let US wait patiently until
the Honolulu editors have had chance"
This interesting theme appears to have been
started by the Near York Times, in which the fact
is thus terssly announced. well followed with
sigh of pity. What can DO more natural or
comp lssionate in ruler than with a wasting
people TO quickly and at once dispose of the
balance.
d" It is an open secret that Kalakaua, King of the
Hawaiian Islands is ON n voyage round the world
for the purpose of selling his Kingdom. Inc
native population of the islands is steadily de-
crossing in numbers, the half-castes increasing
more rapidly than does the pure foreign element.
rough estimate of the population of the King
dom puts the total at about 5000 Of which one
tenth is foreign and the remainder half-caste and
native. There is in the world no more pathetic
picture of peoples decay than the steady and
rapid wasting away of the native population of
the Sandwich Islands.
1t Is hard to understand the paradox, "Open
Secret, telling point of the paragraph, for it al
lows of infinite suspicion, both in those who really
don't know anything about it, and those who may
think they do Probably it is the equivalent of n
"h1rsted secret" which got into that condition
shJreiy after the arrival of the Royal party in
London. The correlation of the open Secret "
and the "arrival" justfes apparently. the Gre
dence given to the statement OF the Times. II is
true that the Hawaiian Minister at Washington
has entered rebutting statement, n denial upon
general grounds; but even no cannot make head
against the potential fact. Secret-now at length
opened and diyul ged. The public are mystifed.
IL might be so, or may not who knows?
1ue OdliIOTIul papers lake up tue mabter-naV-
ing found text, they enlarge and comment upon
it, wonder who is the buyer, and forthwith enter
protest on behalf of Uncle Sam, who is supposed
to be much interested, and therefore ready to in
terpose in neighborly way ir your future. They
hasten to outline what will be said ard done on
this side of the pond should this Tumor prove to
be true--and what is more unfortunate, do not
hesitate to wound the amour prOpre of the is
landers, that is if they have any.
Q1oth the BHtletiH /: " And now we have tur-
MOL on the same in the Hawaiian Islands. King
Kalaklua is endeavoring to sell his Kingdom to
some European power. He Is, at nobody knows
whose expense, travelling abroad for that purpose.
strange fellow he to be a potentate. But he will
hardly be able to dispose of it. Fortunately there
is a strong American element in the islands-an
industrious and influential class-that will see to
matters at home while he is attending to his own
affairs abroad The news from the islands is both
exciting and exhilarating. The United States has
aunsxiug friends there who appear TO be fully able
to hold their own, whether in the Kings presence
in the Kings absence. Whether this country
shall deem II advisable to favor annexation in the
event that proposition to that effect is rendered
is subject for contingent consideration but it is
not probable that our Government at Washington
would look with uncOneern upon the possession of
the important midway station between our Pacific
Coast and the coast of Asia by any acquisitive
power beyond the Atlantic. ="
There Is rather curious expose of the situation,
as seen from the editorial stand point and if all be
trus, merely shows that selling is a complicated
matter a point to be borne in mind by those who
have the selling in hand.
1t may be true says the same newspaper in a late
issue, that this rumor may not be correct that the
motive for travel may be only personal, yet are
not wholly convinced. We hear that the Hawaiian
Minister at Washington, Elisha Ii. Allen processes
to know all about 1t. According to his idea the
sale of the Kingdom is as ahorrent to His Majesty
as a similar thought would be to any sovereign in
Europe. The Royal travels are for patriotic pur-
poses, and intended to be a great benefit for his
people. He is a self-constituted Commissioner of
Immigration from the Government of which he is
head "a rnla fiction in the xuav Of an in
eoyHifo, much affected by peregrination royalty.
There is no denying that many European Gov
eminent would be glad enough to acquire sway
over the important territory but it may be as
sumed that King Kalakaua is powerless to make
such transfer of it with the United States in the
full vgor of its jealous faculties"
and so annexation comes to the front, to be
discussed and looked Mt as one of the questions of
the future arising on the strength of a rumor from
abroad. Probably all this talk will not disturb
You HonOlulans, you are used to rumOrs and sur
misses as to what is going to happen; but what if
some fine morning. when least on the look out, you
should wake up and find yourselves a sold people
CHINESE.
You are looked upon as being menaced by |
another danger. The Chinese Emperor needs your /
islands-the sprouting horns of its commercial
ambition which now seeks to control, or at least |
absorb this Pacific Ocean transit need for develop
ment potential possession of your country. Hence |
either by flooding you with Chinese emigrants or 4
by negotiation. or some hook or crook this con- \
will be made by you your governing powers or /
any efforts be put forth to avert your ABSORPTION
into the Flowery Empire, especially If sufficient I
money inducements shall be offered, does not
form any component part of popular belief here.
YOu are classed among those helpless victims of
circumstances who cannot avert or even modify
fate If it be true, it is argued that your sover-
eighty is upon the market-what's the difference
who Is the buyer, or why should sentiment or a
prejudice interfere with bargain
You may deny, Mr. Editor, that there is no coca
sion for fear from that quarter that your native
and foreign population have prudent dread of
the Acknowledged race, and that transference of
your political power to them cannot happen.
That the fact of Chinese steamer on route to
S IN Francisco, touching at Honolulu,-or the in
hux of a few thousand Chinese laborers, all of
whom have found ready employment. does not in
die ite any danger to Hawaiian Independence or
fOreshadows new necessities in the shape Of new
political combinations.
The last few months the Chinese steamers have
brought to this city, unusually full loads of
Chinese passengers. 1t is amusing 20 see the ex
press wagons piled up with their baggage and
them, to such repletion that one the
other tumble to the cobbles frequently
piss along the streets from the wharf to China
town. The street comments are rot compli-
mentary to the arrivals, they do not receive
any welcome, on the contrary-the Chinese
question looms up again, and citizens inquire
When are We to begin keeping them out.
Senator Miller has Just arrived from Washing
ton has taen irterxeyved and has erfvau