The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-05-26
"a HAWAIIAN 81 Anrs.

TIE HAWAIIAN LANDS.
As these islauds are giving ,occu-
patton to the great daiiies, and the
politicians at present, it might not be
amiss to give to our readers a short
sketch of their location and impor-
lance, There are eight of them
inhabited, better known as the Sand
wich islands. They are out in the
Pacific Ocean, on the highway be-
tween America, China and Japan,
2,1O0 miles from San Francisco; 4, 260 |
miles from Nicaragua where the ship |
canal will be cut to open navigation
between the Atlantic and Pacific,
1880 from Victoria, 3. C. On tho
other side they are distant from
Yokohama 3,440 miles; from Hong
Kong 1890; from Sidney, Australia
1890. Thus it will be seen that they
are the chief stopping place with good
harbors within thousands of miles.
Honolulu is the largest, and within
moderate expense an excellent harbor
can be made which would hold
hundreds of the largest steamers.
This halfway house is necessary for
coaling and other supplies, on this
great highway Of nations.
These islands were discovered by
captain Cook in 1879, they We're
colored canibals, and if our memory
serves us rightly they made feast of
him later on. He then estimated the
population at nearly 100000, but now
they are less than 100000. They
were christianized by English and
Americans missionaries. The govern
ment is a monarchy with two houses
of the legislature of twent-four
members each; the lower house
elected by all citizens who can read
and write, the upper house elected by
all having an income Of 5000 per year.
The royal line is still held by the
original native race, though the
cabinet and legislature are well
mixed with whites, English and
Americans) The country is very
much mixed in race having English,
American, German and Portuguese,
but the Americans idea predominates,
the English coming next. The
American system Of high schools has
been in existance for the past fifty
years with native and white teachers.
The English language is taught in
the schools.
Training schools are established to
teach the duties and habits of civilized
life; two thirds of these are under
American Professionals, the remainder
under the English and Catholics.
The prevailing church denomination
is the Congregational.
Politically the islands are little less
than state Of the Union; though
Americans influence is jealousy
watched by Canada. In 1876 a
reciprocity treaty was made between
the United States and Hawaii which
gave many advantages to the islands.
In 1897, during Mr.. Cleveland S
administration supplementary pro-
visions were made to the treaty
whereby the treaty was extended and
duties RENTED on a larger number Of
articles, in return for which Kalakaua
cededsto the United States the ex-
elusive right to establish and fortify g
naval station on the island. In 1888
Mr.. Reciprocity Blaine seeing things
in the same light as Mr.. Bayard
wanted better and more permanent
treaty, asked too much and was
defeated through Canadian jealousy
The Attorney General being q
Canadian.
There is no question but the
United States can take possession Of
the islands whenever they may chose
and they cannot afford to let any
other great power have them; but will
the other great powers allow the
United State to keep them? The
great majority Of the trade with them
is in English ships, and when the
Nicaragua canal is opened the English
preponderance will still be greater
And while these islands are on the
direct line between San Francisco and
Asia they are also on the direct line
between British Columbia and
Australia. The French and Germans
are also deeply interested, as they
have large. commerce in the Pacific
Ocean. If the United States cannot
get peacable possession Of the country
we think protectorate Of the great
nations would be the best mode of
settling the question. Ia this country
there is strong feeling against
acquiring territory so far from home.
RendsVIiie.
Mr.. VanHorn was thrown from q