The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-01-02
THE CAROLINE ISLANDS.
WHAT ONE OF rHn MISSIONARIES SAYS.

WHhi oNb of THE MISSIONARIES SAYS,
Following is letter addressed to
the Secretary of the Hawaiian Board
of Missions, and received by last
mail from Queensland. 1t will be
read with no little interest, after all
that has already been published
relative to the Caroline Islands dis
pute, and the reference of the ques-
ton by Prince Bismarck to the
Pope's mediation
PoNAPE, Oct. 10th, 1885.
DEAR BROTHER PLEASE excuse
hasty note. You will want to hear
the news. Germany, in the person
of Captain Puddeman, commanding
the war vessel Albatross, is now in
port, and has just taken Ponapc.
The imperial flag has been raised
ashore, fifty marines assisting. A
treaty was made with all the Kings,
five of them to surrender, so far as
each one could, his rights to Ponape.
Emperor William takes full posses
sion. The ostensible reason offered
is to protect German commerce.
But this protection of German inter-
ests will also include all native and
foreign rights. Lands held by any
foreigner will be secured to him; so
will all of our mission interests,
lands, schools, teaching, preaching
and churches. These are the gem
eral terms of the treaty. No doubt
in time some official will be appoint
ed to work up laws, put the land in
severalty to the people, and set
them to tax paying which will in
clude not a. little work for and by
them. But Ponape is not alone
taken. So are the Pelew Island,
zap, Udeai and Ruk. The vessel
leaves here for Kusaie in day or
two, when that will be taken. Then
will have been taken the whole of
the Caroline Islands. The vessel
did not 'call at the Mortlocks, be-
cause of gale, but she is to return
to take possession there. While the
vessel was at zap, she found there
Spanish vessel from Manila, with
priests, troops. governor, and
much material imported for dwell
ings. The purpose of the Spaniard
was to take zap, but, on arriving,
that was not formally done. The
German vessel was little sharper,
hosting her flag denoting sover-
eighty before the Spaniard, thus
taking possession first, which, WHEN
the Spanish vessel saw, she made
the best of it, and backed out, leav-
ing Germany master of the field.
Somewhere in the European Coun-
ellis, Germany having said she meant
to take the Carolines, Spain replied,
she held them by the priority of dis
covery. Germany replied she had nc
respect for such ownership, posses
sion was the only true way of hold
ing them. Immediately she sent
out her war vessel to take the islands,
if not possessed by any other power,
and she has possessed them. This
is little hard for the natives, but
the feeble must succumb to the
stronger. 1t would have been futile
for us to have protested. The only
way was to make it as plain to the
natives first as possible. We die
this, and then advised them to sub
nit to the inevitable. 1t came hare
for them, but they did it with NJ
show of refusal, though l know some
of the Kings disliked it very much
No doubt in the end it will be thu
best thing for the people. And
am inclined to think that it will no
be many years before q German
Colony will be along, mainly to cul
tivate the land. And this may cal
for some changes in our missionar.
work. But we shall borrow nj
trouble till it comes. 1 have givel
you hasty account of the events o
these days. Men of ideas are tn
men to rule. May it all rebound t.
the glory of God and the extension
of Christ's Kingdom. l have jus
made visit around the island, ant
found much TO encourage and muc
to weep over. | purpose to do
large amount of work in visiting
this year. The girls school is NOV
ing on admirably. The little pupils
by sewing, have donated, last yeal
$4,000. This is well done TO: thes
daughters so recently in dark hea
then homes.
Yours faithfully,
+. Il. DoANE.