The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-03-23
PRICE 5 CENTS.
THE FUTURE OF THE SANDWICH
81 ISLANDS.
From the North American Review for
march,

lrrom the North american Review for
March,
The death of King Kalakaua has
aroused public interest in Hawaiian If.
fairs. 1t WAS generally understood that
the prime object of Kalakaua's visit to
this country was 10 promote closer rela-
tons with the United States. His death
while negotiations we're pending Was
somewhat unfortunate, because il IL not
absolutely certain that the policy OF the
Hawaiian Government under his sue.
cessor will run on precisely the esme
lines. But while there is room for doubt
on this head, there is also a reasonable
probability that Kalakaua's death will
not materially change the drift OF public
policy.
The Hawaiian Islands are American
in sentiment and sympathy. vi-itos
from the United States to Honolulu feel
themselves at home the moment they
land from the steamer. There il moth.
ing in the social condition to remind
them that they are on foreign soil. Ho-
tells and stores are conducted on the
American plan. American money In the
circulating medium. Outdoor sports
anc popular anus. ments are fashioned
on the American pattern, and the
Fourth OF July il g national holiday.
nversely, when Hawaiian resident
Visits America. he finds himself at homo
in San Fra' cisco OF anywhere elee in the
United States.
The native Hawaiian pc, pie look to
America AS their best friend. They
received their civilization from II, and
they have constant intercourse with Il.
In other words. they know that their
material prosperity depends upon the
friendship o. the United States. But
they are impressionable and easily led.
This as the weak point in Hawaiian af-
fairs. 1t has been the cause of tho 70.
cent trouble in the islands. and vi, CON.
tinue to be a source Of uncertainty and
weakness while the Hawaiian natives
continue to he Influenced BY their old
traditions and cust.m
here il y small hut influential ele.
ment on The islands which, H not exactly
ahtipathttic, IL not inclined 10 be fav-
orably isposed to American spcend-
ancy This element ma, be yr. uped a
representing British and herman re- MI.
n,nt, while the Portuguese. by rrapon
of their numbers and thrift, are fast
acquiring poli,hal and commercial I'm.
poltance. At present the leaning OF the
P'riuRuese is TOW ard America. hut the
sentiment is not yer, pronounced The
Japanese are likely to make their influ-
ence felt thr ugh their government,
which, it has been limited, would p.oh.
ably d. mand the ruff age for such Of it,
people domiciled on the islands as may
be able 10 comply with the REQUIREMENTS
Of The el. ction law; bur there is no
danger Of all, interference fr m Toxic in
the reign relations OF Hawaii With the
United States or any other country.
Should the japanese receive the fran.
rhise, possibilities would be opened,
however, for political combinations OF
various kinds, some of which might be
inimical to American influence.
The Chinese form the remaining ele.
ment in the Hawaiian Kingdom which
might possibly bec me hostile to Ameri-
can supremacy. But the Chinese do not
take any part in public affairs as rule,
alth h they took an opportunity OF ex-
hibiting their strength when it was pro-
posed by the late Reform government to
initiate stringent anti-Chinese legisla-
ton. They assembled in public meeting
and pronounced against the proposed
}. legislation, and as a consequence il was
quietly dropped. This incident gave the
: Chinese confidence in themselves, and
they are not at all likely to abate ono
particle OF their importance or preten.
sions. But Cinnamon look upon all for
eign countries with the same feelings Of
aversion, and Therefore may be regarded
as passive on any question that might
. arise in Hawaii between the United
! States and either England or Germany.
. am inclined to think. all other things
being equal that the Chinese in Hawaii
would give the preference to the United
States. However, 1t must be remem-
bered that the Chinese are people who
do not permit sentiment to influence
them, and may therefore he expected
to favor that which they think would pay
best.
This brief statement of conflicting ma.
tional sentiment on the Hawaiian Isl
, ands is necessary TO proper understand.
ing of the situation there. 1t will be
observed that the only potent factors, ex-
elusive Of native Hawaians, are the
American, British and German national.
tiles. ] have grouped the last two to.
gether for convenience, although they
are very far from pursuing a common
aim outside OF business. As have said,
however, American influence greatly
preponderates in every department oil
government and branch of il dustry.
The banks OF the kingdom are conducted
n by Americans. OF The capital invested
| III sugar uifiIb, tttltDAt
ed al 500, 665 900 in 1889, $22, 1877 PIC
belonged To Americans, 5000. $50 Il
british, l,756.300 to Germans. and the
balance to native Hawaiians and other
naiionali,es. Tie carr, ing trade Of The
islands Is in American hands, and the
Pacific Coast is the consuming and sup
rlv market for the entire Hawaiian
S group.
IL Ia only natural, from consideration
of these facts. that American citizenl
- should take deep interest in Hawaiian
affairs, and that the death OF king Kals
kama at San Francisco, 70 soon after
native uprising i his capital, ahoult
, cause anxious specula'ions as to III,
- future. The late revolutionary move
ment, which resulted in the pro,,ls me
ton OF All amended constitution, might
# under favoring circumstances, be- surcess
fully initiated by the reactionary party
although Wilcox failed in his attempt
Is in that case how would American inveel
ments he affrctedr And would III
United States government retain IL II
fluence over Hawaiian sffairs? Thes
W " questions have bren ak. frequently
Al late; and while il in not my purpose I
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