The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-11-05
THE CAROLINE ISLANDS.

Ni' - VI mum ndN BiNCIl 10 TIC
use of letter from Rev. E. T. Doane,
dated Ponape, August a, 1886, giving
some particulars of the annexation of
the Caroline Islands by Spain. A little
more than week previously Spanish
ironclad gunboat arrived with fifty
marines to take Ponape. Dropping
anchor, word was at once issued to all
kings, chiefs and rulers of Ponape to as
semble on board. The command was
we'll understood, for the same thing was
enacted year before by the German
man-of-war Albatross. Although some
chiefs demurred at first, yet they we're
convinced that refusal would be useless.
They all therefore signed away their
lands, kingdoms, houses, titles, in fact
all their possessions, acknowledging
Dona Maria Christena of Spain as the ir
sovereign. Although the submission
was made perfunctorily and mechani-
cally, Mr.. Doane believes that those
natives will be the most loyal of that
rulers subjects" "If she could only
rule her home Spanish subjects as she
will be able to rule these" he writes,
"she would be the most happy Of mon
archs." The chiefs signed the paper,
left the ship, struck for home, but there
were no cheers Or vivas for Dona Maria.
Hearts we're sad and heavy.
AS to the future government, Mr..
Doane was informed by the commander
that in two months two steamships
would come, bringing governor, 5oor
100 soldiers as body guard, some
Catholic priests, perhaps 50 workmen,
cattle, material for large buildings and
dwellings, and so on. The port was to
be taxed, but word had already been
given cut, "No land is to be sold till
the arrival of the governor" Existing
deeds were, however, to be respected.
The writer of the letter believes that
the acquisition of the group by Spain
cannot but be good thing for all that
island realm. 1t would bring in good
government, much to be desired, af-
fording protection to life and property
which does not now obtain, although
thus far it is true, Mr.. Doane says,
that there has been but little outlawry.
"The natives of the islands, re-
acted on by Christian influence, have
mellowed and sobered down wonder
fully. Kusaie, at which island four
whalers at least have been cut off, now,
through Christian instruction, is the
safest place almost in the Pacific Ocean
to live in" He considers, however,
that the reign of order and peace is
liable at any time to be broken up.
Tramps and freebooters might drift
along at any time and sack any trading
house they chose. But if Spain is
only true to the spirit of the age, she
will govern both for her own and the
merchants good. There is not yet
much to invite the merchant. The
island Of Ponape is poorly cultivated,
but the soil is good. Manila hemp,
coffee, cotton, sugar cane and all such
commodities can be grown with ease SO
far as the soil is concerned, it being
rich.
The Spanish vessel was going thence
to Strong's Island, simply to raise the
Spanish flag. She had been at Truk,
and at Yap had recently landed gov
ernor, 50 soldiers, six priests, laborers
and building material. The natives
there are Simon Pure heather, with
great repugnance to clothing, the marc
being their only 2 dress, certainly on
Yap, as one stipulation, in treaty
negotiated with them for lands by the
vessel, was that the people were never
to be compelled to don the white mans
dress But on Ponape and
Kusaie clothing is all the rage, the finer
and winter the better.
Mr.. Doane was very fayorably inn
pressed with the demeanor of the
Spanish officers, which was pleasant to
foreigners and mild to natives. He
says; ''May there never be such
cruelty exercised here over the natives
as had been seen on the Ladrone Isl
ands This is the third attempt to
bring the Catholic religion into the
Carolines. About two hundred years
since it was attempted, the company