The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-15
AFFAIRS AT HAWAII
Views of an American Resident of
the Islands ON the Situation.
BlOunt's Queer Treatment of His Fell
INSTRUMENTATION Went
Down with the Flag

J. G. Rowe had as a guest at his residence.
on Elk street, last night, a gentleman who
has just returned from the Hawaiian Islands,
where he spent two years, employed as
chief engineer on the Morning Star steamer,
plying between the islands of the South Pa
cific ocean. To a Journal reporter last night
he gave an entertaining account of the time
spent in the islands which have lately been
so much before the American public. The
civilization Of the islands, he says, is Ameri-
can, as is the business of the country, and
the people desire either annexation or a pro-
tectorate established by this country. Hon.
olulu is a city Of about thirty thousand in
h~abitants, and is thoroughly modern in all
save it's streets. The business of this city.
as of that of nearly every other city on the
islands, is almost entirely conducted by
Americans who have been on the islands
for years., a number of them having been
born there of American parents. About
30 per cent of the business is transacted by
Americans, who naturally look to the parent
country for a protection which the home
government has not been able to afford in
the past. There are several schools in the
islands, all of them located at Honolulu,
one of which was endowed by Queen Ella,
the corps of teachers in all Of them being
N-A A1cNAA aC<L HAC Gl III
them. In some of the schools the pupils are
permitted to talk in the native tongue one
day Of each week. The language is one that
is difficult to learn, and few Americans
ever go to the trouble of learning it. 1t is
meager and inexpensive, the Hawaiian al
phabet having originally contained but elev-
en- letters. In Honolulu there are three daily.
two weekly and a monthly paper, besides
one paper published in the native language.
The natives are a shiftless people, with
no ambition, and are perfectly con-
tented to have the affairs of the govern
ment managed by the foreigners. The
Islands contain an area of about seven thou
sand square miles and a population OF
ABOUT eighty thousand. The people are al
most entirely devoted to agriculture, which
Is not carried on by the natives, but the
English and Americans who have estab-
Isned themselves upon the islands. The
work upon the plantations is carried on by
the coolies or lowest type of Chinese
laborers, of which there are a large num-
Der on the islands. The products are prin-
clpally sugar, rice. coffee and bananas, and
shipped fdea to SPs U5tlI %ra1 OF the products Nr pon are
guest was at Honolulu when COMMISSIONS
Blount arrived at that port, and described
the scene OF the landing. He says the Queen
sent an escort of about $50 women TO meet
the commissioner rs he came ashore. These
women were arranged in lines along the
wharf where the commissioner landed, and
as ne adVanced with his wife their pathway
was strewn with flowers and they themselves
were showered with fragrant blossoms.
he says the Americans on the island had
hoped for much good from the mission of
Blount. but were Sorely disappointed in
their hopes, as he showed no disposition to
consider the wishes or interests of the
American residents In any way. He seemed
TO have been prepOSseSSed in the Queens
favor, and did not care to have any inter-
course with American residents, and
sCmed to believe that he WAS there TO look
after the interests of Americans where they
were in danger.
The American residents of the island
understood that Blount was coming to the
islands for the purpose of making an i'm
fairs existing there, but instead of this
found that his true mission was to undo
all that had been done, and to side with
the Queen, who was allied with the English
and favored British subjects whenever she
had opportunity. Without having made
any investigation into the condition of af-
fairs upon the islands, he says, Commits
sioner Blount ordered the American flag
lowered, n with it went the hopes Of the
American residents upon the islands. The
people of the islands all respected Min
lister Stephens, and considered him q man
Of ability and integrity. and resented the
treatment of Stephens by Blount, who in
suited the fOrme almost the first thing
he did after arriving in Honolulu. Mr..
this country understood the situation in the
Hawaiian Islands they would be more
anxious for annexation, or at least the eS-
adjustment OF a protectorate.