Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-06-09
rRoM AN ON FRIEND.



country, replied, "a sword, guitar, and
bishps staff. There are many people in Cali
fornia who, when they ask person from the
Hawaiian Islands 10 name the leading insti.
buttons Of the country. expect 10 hear in an
sweri "Lcprosy, slavery, and volcanoes. The
people Of the Pacific Coast are better posted
concerning Hawaiian affairs than those Of any
other section Of the country, and yet the aver
age person who has never been in the islands
Is lamentably ignorant regarding them, not,
outstanding all that has been published about
them in books and newspapers. This must
be the fault principally Of cor cspondents, who,
as a rule, write only Of things as seen on the
surface, pictunng that which IS mos, pleasing
OF displca,ing TO the eye, making their com.
munications TO papers abroad highly entertain
ing 10 readers, but not so instructive As they
might he. People are always interested in
knowing some Of the "boitom facts" about
country, and II they do no, know them II is
not always from lack Of reading. When 4
piece Of information becomes stale with a cor.
respondent he, too, often allows 1t 10 slip his
mind, taking It for granted that it would in.
tercst no one else.
Perhaps this is why people have extavagant
ideas Of the few things that have impressed
them most. Perhaps this is why they ask
such questions ass "Is it true that all kanakas
arc lcpersf Is 1t possible to remain any
length Of time in the islands without contract.
ing the disease 2" "Do the whites have it as
much as the natives and Chinese Z" as il as
contagious as small pox2n care these reports
about slavery in the islands true p ''Why do
people submit to such treatment from planta.
ton owners p "Why does our government
continue treaty which is only increasing the
wealth of monopolists and keeping laborers in
a state OF scrfdo;n ?" GLOW many volcanoes
b.. 81. Il 4 n IT.
in danger from the frequent eruptionsl'
might mention others, but these will suffice.
One thing is apparent: The articles Of at least
one paper have been read by nearly every one
and taken, evidently, with very few grains of
allowance; and comparatively little has been
said by other journals to contfover, the false OF
exaggerated statements
Some people think Of the Hawaiian group
as paradise, and OF Honolulu as the most
charming spot in 1t. Others, again, think il
to be oppressively no, and sickly at all times,
even positively dangerous to health. One very
well informed gentleman, speaking to me
about leprosy ard disease. said; suppose
all OF the worst diseases that mankind is heir
to prevail there at all seasons, and that small
pox and some others have become endemic. +"
IL is often asked II there are many whites
there; II the natives are a rough people, and II
there be danger in residing among them; il
they have any laws there resembling our own;
and Others of a similar nature. II must be
said, however, that more questions OF this kind
have been asked in the country towns than in
San Francisco; and few have been met who
are well posted in regard to the islands. Very
lew know the number Of islands or have any
idea OF the area or population. Some have
been of the opinion that there is only one
island, Hawaii, and one port, Honolulu. The
has .TD Ill
estimated at all figures from 1900 to 10000.
The idea seems to be generally prevalent thai
kalakaua IS an unconstitutional king. Every
body who has ever heard of the Islands has
heard OF Queen Emma, and yet not one in a
thousand knows Just what relation she bears or
has borne to the throne
But II is not surprising that people are not
better posted. 1t is only comparatively re-
Gently that the islands have doomed into signi.
hcance as sugar and rice. producing country
The export is large for the amount of land
cultivated, but is small proportion of the
total amount consumed in the United States.
II the supply should fall off entirely the mass
OF the people on the Pacific Coast would give
little thought to the matter. 1t would only
affect those materially who are engaged in the
trade. There is little to bring the group to
inc attention OF the people of the interior
ihefe is little reason for them TO desire TO
study them. The population of the archipel-
ago could be lost in the streets of a single
large city. 1t is impossible for them to he
considered of much importance in themselves
by those no, interested there in some way.
The opinion Of California regarding the islands,
one would think from what is said and written,
is the opinion Of the whole civilized world, the
correctness decreasing as the distance increases.
but continued commercial intercourse with the
kingdom and the frequent visits of travellers 10
us shores must in time, make people more en-
hghtened than a, present. First impressions
are always most lasting. The mention of the
Sandwich Islands will bring more wildly to
the minds OF most people the earlier accounts
oil them than the more recen, newspaper cor.
rcspondencc, Just as many intelligent people in
the eastern states gauge the society OF the
california OF to-day by that of the California
OF pioneer days. These remarks do no, refer
to statesmen, journalists, manufacturers and
merchants, but to the mass of the people-,o
which, by the way, nobody claims TO belong.
No question that can be asked about the
Islands affords the least surprise now, bu,
many. like some OF those given above, do not
iaii to amuse. A few days ago the writer
called on friend and Glanced TO meet A mum.
Der OF former acquaintance together, and OF
course was asked the usual questions about the
group. As soon as the bombardment ceased,
one OF the number, a German, stepped up and
asked' where is this place, Halleujah, that
you were speaking OFF"
"Hallelujah, informed him, was in the
Hawaiian Islands.
Sin foAai island p he asked.
"Sandwieh Islands"
''Yes In which island1'
Sandwich Islands" informed him AGAIN.
oh, the Sandwich Island p he repeated
alter me, his wondering eyes still filed with
interrogation points; but noticing his little
audience In smiles he pressed his Questioning
no further.
shortly alter, I met young mana boy
when saw him las,--on a street CROSSING
when the following brief dialogue took place:
49," Hello, George, is tina, you' Shake /
Whereye you been all this time !"
In Honolulu"
Tia, sop How d'you like it up northp"
Splendidiy ] always like a cool climate.
Good place, ehi Believe l must take
spin up tina, way some Of these fine days.
Well, ad'ss an,sVi I'm in huryl" And The
yoan. man, with his vas, geographical knowl.
edge, was gone.
II seems tina, nearly every one have met
Samong the men folks) are possessed with the
same thoughts, otter the same greeting, and
ask the same questions. II Is said that people
surrounded by the same influences will think
much the same; believe il. Among those
whom have seen since my return there are
3uI hundred souls With but single ,hosghi;
Our hundred mouths that speak as one.
My hrt greeting was, swell, George, old
BOY. how are your How d you like the Islands,
What Kind OF place is Honolulu Got the
ieprosyF My next greeting was substantially
the same. ! don't know how many times
have heard the same since same words and in
The same order. Ihaye replied to them 40 often
that have my answer mentally electIotyped and
use II inyoluntaIily ON all occasions. When
one OF TulaIe's large listed +" sand .lappers !"
local name ior people Of the soiD seiaes my
hand nov to shake" smile sweeuy while
my arm Is being worked like pump, handle,
anil. n <.lon NJ. mouth