National Republican., 1883-01-24
on TIE AVENUE.
smnn Talk Ahout a1cn and nreasu

Small Talk About Men and Measures.
1t is whispered that Mr.. Sprecklcs, the San
Francisco sugar monopolist, is quietly engi-
neering a scheme for the ccssion of the Ia.
waiian islands TO the United States, should
congress determine to abrogate the reciprocity
treaty, which IL will probably do in the near
future. Mr.. SprecSles is in receipt Of gov
ernmental gift of $3,000,0O0 or $l,000000
yearly through the operation of this treaty,
and If it should continue the gratuity
will increase from year to year. Tho
abrogation of the treaty will impose
heavy tax on him, which will amount
in the course of few years to $10,000000,
or $15,000,000 annually. He can well afford
TO pension King Kalakaua and all his uncles,
cousins, aunts, and other relatives of remote
degree in more magnificence than they ever
dreamed of to get them out of the way and
save such an amount of money. American
influence already dominates in the little in
sular kingdom, and as the monarch is not in
receipt of colossal income it would not take
moro than cord of gold to charm him
from his throne. Tho total revenues
of tho kingdom only amount to about
100000 u year, and as tho government is
patterned after the older nations Kalakaua is
obliged to do business on ashamcfully narrow
margin for a real king. To put it briefly and
plainly, he is in straitened circumstances for
the head of a royal family, and as his native
subjects are dying Off with leprosy ho will
soon have nobody but foreigners to rule. Mr..
Sprocklcs and his associates already own the
best of the sugar lands, and they arc slowly
but surely absorbing what is left. They
really own about all that is val
uable in the kingdom, and they feel
that they ought to have the right to an
mex their property to any country they want
to. The annexation of the Hawaiian islands
to this country would, Of course, at once settle
the vexed question which is now creating
such STIR
Mr.. Sprcckles's dominions consist Of eight
islands, having combined area of about
100000 acres, and q population of 10000, of
whom $4,000 arc natives. A hundred
years ago the native population was
100000. Volcanoes, leprosy, sugar, rice, and
wool are the only productions. Hawaii is the
largest island of the group, and is, in fact,
larger than all the others combined. Maui,
Oahu, and Kauai are near in size. Mr..
spreclsles's kingdom is considerably nearer
the United States than any other country,
being only 2,100 miles from San Francisco.
Japan is $500 miles distant from Honolulu,
Mr.. SprcclSles is said to be worth $25,000,0OO
or $3O,00O,O0O Four years ago he was rated
at $2,5OO,OO0.
W@e
Postm aster Gen. Howe began at the bottom
of the postoflice ladder, and although he i;
now seated firmly on tho top rung he takes
no little satisfaction in looking back through
the dim vista of years to the time he ran G
village postofico away down in Maine. In
looking through the musty records of the de
partment tho other day one Of the clerks
come across tho following entry:
REDFiELD, KENNEDEc COUNTY, MET. o
| Howe, appointed postmaster June II, 1911.
Removed July l, 1913, and James Lambert ap'
pointed rs his successor
Mr.. Howe was bounced, by President Tylel
for the crime of holding political views no
in accord with those of the ruling dynasty.
90
Senator Salisbury has returned to hi
small-sized state to celebrate his recollection Il
the United States senate. "Do you think III
will give dinner" apxiously inquired
member of one of the senator's chums. "No
l think not. If he could have dinner TO
members of the legislature only he would
probably indulge in the extravaganza
but as he would have to invite al
tho state officers, and pretty mucl
tho entire population, and then rul
tho risk of offending constituent
by overlooking him, he will abstainthis time
And then, besides, the senator don't bcliev
in encouraging wine drinking, and he couldn'
we'll give dinner without something to was
down the torrapin. The ten or dozen mem
bers of the Delaware legislature will have
treat themselves this time, am afraid. Som
other time the senator may give blow out"