The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-07-11
THE UNITED STATES AND HAWAII.
(Gen. S. G. Armstrong, in the n. Y. In
dependent of May 3o.)

(Gen. :. G. Armstrong, in the n. Y. In
dependent of May 800
The recent difficulties in Samoa
lend a fresh interest to the situation
in the Hawaiian Islands, where the
complications are, at the moment,
quite as serious IL not actually as |
apparent as those which have given
such disastrous renown to the now
but too well-known harbor of Apia.
The conditions in the two groups are
substantially similar. In each exists
q native race of some ability and
much attraetiveness, lacking how
ever both in physical energy and
moral stamina, to whom have been
presented nearly every temptation
which civilization can offer. In
themselves they find neither check
nor stimulus, and that, sooner or
later, they must in fact if not of
name come under the control in
some one Of the dominant nations Of
the earth, goes without saying.
A marked feature in the develop
ment Of the Hawaiian Islands has
been the ascendency OF the mission.
airy element, which from 1919 to
1860 was represented there by men
of unusual strength, who were forced,
in the nature of things, not only to
convert their docile pupils to Chris
tianity, but to establish and MAIN
tain for them native government.
AS these men asked nothing for
themselves, and nothing but the best
for the people whom they hoped to
train into manhood, the system which
they adopted worked excellently so
long as they were the power behind
the throne and practically ruled the
Kings councils, as they did the
churches which they built up from
one end to the other of this strange
little Kingdom. But when, by the
action of the American Board, they
were called upon partially to surren-
der the headship of the churches into
native hands, their influence in other
directions weakened, and as, one by
one, they passed out of sight, new
forces swept in, to whose mercy they
had perforce to leave their uncom-
pleted work. Time has shown US
that the native character is less
strong than they believed it; these
tropical children have fallen before
the onset of civilization, sinking I'M
der its vices before they were able
to comprehend its high ambitions !;
and the nation which owes its exist
ence to the energy and devotion of a
handful of American missionaries, is
to-day on the verge of crisis,
which, if not averted, means possibly
revolution and period Of aparchy.
Less than two years have passed
since the better part of the foreign
population revolted against the cor
rupt intrigues of which the King
and his prime minister Gibson were
the head and front, Gibson being a
clever adventurer who had obtained
such ascendency over the King that
no improvement was possible so long
as he retained his position. His dis
missal, and such pledges from the
King as should secure honest meth,
DDS of government for the future
were demanded, literally at the polnt
OF the bayonet, and to this pressure
the King succumbed, deceiving hi:
subjects for few months into be
lieving they had obtained substan
tial victory. But promise after prom
, Use has been broken'or evaded, weak
ness, as it often will, has lapsed int
viciousness, and the King and hi
chosen advisers have once NOR,
touched the danger-line.
r The results of the next legislativ,
election are threatening, uncertain
and the numerous American resi-
| dents of the Islands, many of then
descendants of missionaries, ar
once more facing the possibility of
; great disaster. AS colony the,
have kept close connection wit
e the mother country, and have be
8 lieved always that, in the event of
, serious revolution, she would stan
by them. But so terrible china
is not inevitable, and, as recent ad
e vices show, there is now stron
=. feeling that the power of the Unite
v States Government can, probably
be so used as to control the cours
of events without actual interior
ence.
# What is asked for is that ther
It shall be sent out as United State
g Minister to Hawaii a man of force
experience and uprightness sufiicier
to make him virtually master of til
/ situation. Presider
n Harrison, if he will study the situs
n ton and make suitable appoint
n ment, will earn the gratitude ne
only of the Americans in Hawaii, br
J of all the better class of foreign res
= dents, who have an equal intere'
It with their American fellow-c citizen
in the preservation of peace and tn
maintenance of good government.
: man of the right kind, placed ther
as representative of the Unite
States, can probably so far inauenc
t the current of Hawaiian political al