The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-10-17
THE DAILY
ANOTHER VIEW OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

It is seldom that a more impor-
tant statement of Hawaiian affairs
gets into American papers than the
following which appeared in the
New York Tribune of Sept. 10th.
It was written by Mr.. G. D. Gilman
of Boston, who resided here from
1874 to 1860. Hawaii has no frmer
friend abroad than Mr.. G:
"It is too true, as "Andover" says
in the Tribune of August Dist, that
there has been rapid decrease in
the native population of the Hawaii
an Islands, which has made indis-
pensable an introduction of foreign
ers of all nationalities to carry for
ward the material interests of the
islands. The pursuits of the people
are agricultural, and for this labor
was a necessity. The native had
the first opportunity, and could not
only have been assured of good
living, but could have been cul-
tivator on his own account. With
all their sunny disposition, their easy
habits, their invariable good nature,
the Hawaiians are not a work-lOving
nation, any more than are other resi-
dents of the tropics. The inhabi-
tants of the rural districts were all
too willing to leave the country and
herd in the city, where play and
pleasure were more enjoyable if not
profitable.
Mr.. Gibson, whom "Andover" calls
''the friend of the natives" was him
self an active promoter of immigra
ton, and to further this was one Of
the avowed purposes of the Kings
tour around the world. It is a we'll
known fact that to large extent the
natives have sold their kalo patches
to the Chinese, who turn them into
rice fields. AS a result, about 450,-
900 pounds of rice, valued at over
$4,000, was shipped to San Fran
cisco last July. Had the Hawaiian
will he could have done this as
we'll as the Chinaman.
The present Administration, which
"Andover" calls ''justly unpopular"
came in, he says, ''by revolution
and represents a set of young men,
ambitious schemers,, but ignorant of
government, devoted to white in
terests'" Now, who are the Admin
istration?
The Minister of Finance is the
Hon. Samuel M. Damon, who was
born in Honolulu, son of that be-
loved world-known Father Damon u
was educated there and for twenty
wears has been a member of the lead
ing banking house of Bishop & Co
He is a practical financier.
The Hon. L. A. Thurston is the
grandson of one of the noblest of the
Mission Band, Father Thurston, who
for more than fifty years labored
for the temporal and spiritual good
of the people among whom he early
cast his lot and spent his life. Born
and brought up among the people
an active member of the former leg
islature, Mr.. Thurston's interests, as
we'll as Mr.. Damon's, are closely
identified with those of the country
Wilcox and Boyd, the chief of the
late emeute, with his Italian uniform
on, leading few disconnected anC
easily influenced natives, were at one
time wards of the nation. Abou
$4,000 was expended in educating
them for the trade of war, and fol
which there was no use in Hawaii
These men were offered civic place!
suited to their ability, but they were
above such service, and have beer
plotters and dlsturbers of the peact
ever since their return to their native
land. Wilcox was one of the "lead
ers" i'll the secret political society
From a long residence at the isl
ands mot as missionary, an init
mate acquaintance with all classes
of the people, a familiarity with thu
language, and fair share of know
ledge of the working of the Govern
ment, [ do not hesitate to say tina
the Hawaiian's heart is by no means
full of bitterness and despair bu
accepts the situation as inevitable
He will sing his song, play his guitar
or 'taro patch fiddle live his cas-,
life, satisfied if he is we'll fed an(
cared for by the white man, from
whom he expects such dollars as ma,
come to him, and would not dream
of rebellion if left to himself. 1
} very large majority of the active an'
best-informed natives and foreigner
neither want republic nor do the,
want annexation to the United States
save as a last resort, to protect then
from any other Power.
The present Constitutional mon
archy-uniting the best elements O
all classes-is the best apapted t.
the islands, and receives the mos
cordial support of a majority of tn
Americans residing there. The Kin,
is man of marked ability and Cal
be great power for good. Unfor
tunately, in the opinion of his bes
friends, he has followed bad advis
ers. but has it in his power to b