The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-10-14
RECIPROCITY WITH THE HaWAnANS.
Vice Consul Hastings Tells WhatlIt
Has Done.
islands Whore American interests
Strongly PredomInate.
Sentiment Generally In Favor Of the
- New Treaty.

Among the visitors In the city Saturday
was Mr.. Frank p Hastings, formerly Of
Calais. and since 1877 United States vice con-
sui at Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands. Mr..
Hastings, in the twelve years that he has
spent on the islands, has gained an intimate
knowledge Of their affairs and Of the interest
OF citizens Of the United States there. For
time he was charge de Gfdires at the
United States Legation, and has also acted
as consul at Honolulu. Americans have
made the Hawaiian Islands what they are"
said he to a representative Of the PRESS.
"From the time Of Captain Cook to 1920 they
| were the obscure homes Of unenterprising
and rarely disturbed heathen. In 1920 the
American Board Of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions sent out its first mission
aries and began their most successful work
there. Commerce followed Christianity, and
about 1928 and 1880 commercial houses be-
gan to be established with dealings with
New York and Boston. About 1895 the
whaling industry Of the Pacific began to
flourish, and Honolulu became great fitting
out place. This industry made business on
the islands until about 1865, when the depre-
dations OF the Confederate cruiser Shenan-
doah and disasters in Arctic ice greatly d.
minished the feet. From this time until 1874
and '75 business declined. and in the latter
year the total valuation Of real estate and
personal property on the eight islands Of the
group was probably not over nine million
"But in 1876 the reciprocity treaty was ne
gotiated with the United States, and this has
been the commercial salvation Of the Islands.
Ihis treaty allowed Hawaiian articles, such
as sugar, rice, bananas and hides to come In
TO the United States free Of duty, and In re-
turn lumber, coal, iron and manufactured
articles were admitted into Hawaii. Since
then the islands have prospered greatly.
sugar planting has greatly Increased until
an the available land Is occupied by sugar or
rice plantations. The treaty was for seven
years, but was continued by mutual consent
alter the expiration OF that time, and a few
years ago was extended, hawaiian ceding at
tnat time to the United States Pearl River
Harbor, the best harbor in the islands, and
position that will be Of great value to our
North Pacific.
''The new treaty just negotiated, and over
Wnicn there has been so much stir upon the
Islands, makes commercial relations with
the United States more reciprocal than ever,
besides making the United States formally
what 1t has been for long time. the big
brother Of the Hawaiian government. This
treaty will. have no doubt be acceptable 10
the majority Of the people on the islands
The English and Germans, and the Portu-
gese, perhaps, may not like II, as they feel
Jealous Of the interests Of the United States.
But as will show you presently, their in
terests are not sufficient to entiIle them to
much influence beyond what they can exer-
else BY more or less covert Intrigue.
There Is no reason why America should
not stand In this relation. The trade of the
United States has built up the Islands. Four
ffths, OF the commerce Is with the United
States, and nine-tenths Of IL goes In Amer
lean bottoms. On the Islands the interests
OF Americans have continually increased
until now should say that they control one
half OF the thirty-hye millions or more of
property on the Islands.
"The population Of the Island Is about SO,-
900, Of whom about $4,000 are natives, 1900
the remainder English, German and French.
Ihe Portuguese are laborers. So are the
Chinese largely, although great numbers OF
them have built up small interests Of their
are many OF them well educated, some OF
them being graduates Of New England coll
leges, Some OF them are Christians, and
there Is In Honolulu church OF Christian
Chinamen. The Chinese are peaceful and
industrious under all disturbances Of govern
ment. The Germans and English are, like
the Americans, leaders In the commercial
and social interests Of the Islands, as we'll as
In affairs OF government.
Why other foreigners should object to
closer relations with the United States Is
difficult for me to see But for the United
States the Hawaiian Islands would not have
attained to anything like their
present prosperity. Besides, the
affairs of government and public
order can never be on very stable basis IN
so little and so isolated Kingdom. Tie ad-
vantages Of the sollcitous friendship Of a ma
tion like the United States are many. espec-
Tally In these times when all unprotected
Islands in the Pacific are being gobbled up.
II cannot say that the people on the Island
want annexation. III they should awake to-
morrow morning and ind themselves unfer
the folds of Uncle Sans flag / think they
would be greatly pleased; but they would
dread the long agitation necessary to bring
such result about They are prospering
raising their sugar and rice; and don't like
the Idea OF being disturbed.
Among the Americans there are some
prominent natives Of Maine. l recall the
names OF few Of them: Colonel w. +. Al
len, formerly OF Bangor, ex-cOlect0r general
OF customs, and now large property own
er. Samuel @. Allen, Knox county native,
one OF the largest lumber and coal dealers,
and a prominent ship owner. Lawrence
McCHlly, associate justice Of the supreme
Court and vice chancellor of the Kingdom,
Is a native Of New York, but lived for long
time In Maine. He Is a brother Of Rev. @.
g. McCully OF Calais. DR.. Kimball. the gov
ernment physician at Honolulu, Is from
DrfHukNn