The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-02

RumOr that He VIII Recommend the Pur-
chase of tho Sandwich Islands.

RumOr that He VIII Recommend the Pur-
chase of the Sandwich Islands,
Washin gton Special to Detroit Tribune
Upon tho reassembling of the Senate Presi-
dent Cleveland will have an important surprise
to lay before it to be acted upon in secret ses-
sion. 1t is nothing less than the offer of kala-
kaua to sell his kingdom of Hawaii to the United
States.
1t is known that the Sandwich Islands have
been IN the market for number of years. and
when King Kalakaua visited Japan in 1881, he
made an informal offer of his dominion, but the
Mikado would not then consider it. Since then,
however, Japan has sent over 2, 900 colonsts to
Hawaii to work upon the sugar plantations for
the purpose of determining if those islands were
suitable place of residence for. portion of its
people
This offer of sale Is not mere rumor, for the
German Official Gazette contained an item, a few
weeks ago, limiting at the same scheme. And
only last week his Excellency J. M. Kapena, the
Finance Minister of King Kalakaua was in
Washington and had several long interviews
with President Cleveland and the Secretary of
State. Governor Kapena as he is called, was
seen by your correspondent and Intercepted
concerning the proposed sale of Hawaii, and was
dumfOunded that the scheme had leaked out to a
newspaper man. He was very reticent, and DO
litely declined to confirm the rumor but from
the significant hints which he dropped it was
plainly seen that his mission here was of the
highest Importance as affecting the future of the
Sandwich Islands He is now en- route homo
via San Francisco.
1t is understood that the money, in case of a
trade being consummated, would be distributed
as follows: Half ambition dollars to each of the
thirteen members of the Hawaiian House of No
bles and one million to each of the royal family
viz: King Kalakaua. the Queen, the Princess
Lillinokalani, Princess Lilkelike, and the Dow
ager Queen Emma. In addition to the money
King Kalakaua demands plantation of 5000
acres of land, as nearly in compact body as
possible, in the southern portion Of California,
and to be free from taxation forever for himself
and descendants He would then desire to be-
come citizen of the United States
The painful fact has been patent for several
years that King Kalakaua is not popular SOW
ereign at home, and of course his people are en-
tirely ignorant of any proposition for selling
them out. Perhaps the King could not deliver
the goods but it is we'll known that the 60, 900,
all told. in his dominion would gladly hail an
nexation to the United States Bonfres would
be lighted on every hill to celebrate the glorious
event. The dominion could be governed as a
Territory, and each of the eight islands could
send delegate to the United States Congress
Hawaii is 2100 miles from San Francisco
American gold coin is used mostly as currency.
it already being legal teLder there. and the ex-
ports aggregate value of So 900, 900 annually,
the chief products being sugar and rice. The
United States has for years controlled nearly
all the Hawaiian trade, and American merchants
are located all over the dominion.