The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-01-02
AN ISLAND REPUBLIC.

x
Republic is slipping away without
any results. All the more important
small islands in the Pacific Ocean a
few degrees north and south of the
Equator, where there is consider
able population, have had great
deal of missionary work done in the
way of civilizing and christianizing
the native population. IL was
surprise to many to learn recently
of the great number of churches
and church members of the group
known as the Caroline Islands. The
Hawaiian Islands are the most i'm
portant centers of missionary oper-
ations in behalf of the small islands
beyond. The Gilbert, Marshall and
Caroline Islands have been civilized
through the efforts, principally, of
missionaries who have been sent out
from the Hawaiian Islands.
On all islands where American
missionaries have been the chief in
struments IN bringing about the
civilization of the natives, there has
been strong disposition to regard
such islands as so much under
American influence, that other ma
tions have not cared to interfere, or
at least to assert any claim of sover-
eighty. 1t is true the French did,
some years ago, hoist the flag of that
nation as an emblem of sovereignty
at Honolulu; but it was quickly
taken down again. That freak of
attempted sovereignty gave great
offense; but by the sudden with
drawal of all claims, the affair passed
nearly out of sight. When Germany
and Spain put in counter claims to
the Caroline Islands, it was found
that the only work of civilization
which had ever been wrought there
was that of American missionaries
who never heard of any Spanish
claim to sovereignty, and it was
quite certain that the natives had
never heard of any. AS a matter
of equity the strongest claim to
sovereignty would have been that
Of the United States, or, rather,
perhaps, that of the Hawaiian King
dom, because most of the mission
aries and teachers had gone from
that Kingdom to those outposts.
The Federal Government of this
country has never shown any strong
desire to acquire sovereignty over
any part of the island world. 1t
could have taken possession of the
Hawaiian Islands long ago. That is
hardly now secret. 1t refused to
sanction the purchase of San Do
mingo. In short, its policy has
been one compact territory. These
outlying islands in the Pacific, there.
fore, are not likely to be organized
into = Republic by any policy
adopted by the United States. But
there is the Hawaiian Kingdom which
has been civilized and christianized
through the long and patient work
of American missionaries. This
small Kingdom might have been
made the nucleus of great island
nation. 1t could have asserted
sovereignty over d thousand islands,
and it is probable that claim would
never have been seriously disputed.
AS for the natives of most of these
islands, they do not care baublC
who governs them, so they are left
to follow their own ways. The Ha
waiian Kingdom will miss the great
opportunity for the consolidation o.
great island nation, which coul(
have been effected without violence
simply because there is not force
enough in the native population tt
accomplish anything in that way
Moreover, any plan Of annexation
! would depend largely for its success
on the missionaries who exert al
their influence in these small islands
Now these missionaries know tina
the Hawaiian Government for som,
years has not been very friendly tt
missionary influence in that King
dom. That influence has never APP
:. proved of many of the lax way
which have crept into the Admins
tration. 1t has never been satisfied
with the lack of character in som
of the men who have been in tn
Cabinet. In short the missionar,
traditions have all been on the sid
: of incorruptible men and incorrupti
9 BILE government.
r The missionary party just no,
a has not great deal of confidence il
the Administration. 1t has bee
| quite the fashion for those who ap
7 proved of the recent drift of tn
Hawaiian Government to designat
). the opposition as the missionary
4 party. 1t is noted also that tn
i disappearance Of the native popula
n ton in the Hawaiian Islands
I rapid. With this decadence Their
, will also be a commensurate dis
= appearance of native influence
n Seine day the native Government
8 will cease from sheer inability t
a maintain it. A great native sovel