The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-05-01
KALUA AS HE is.
A Correspondent Writes of an Interesting
Personality.

personality.
EDITOR SrAR;--John W. Kalua,
Maui's leading delegate to the annexa
ton convention is nothing if not
forclble. He was overheard the other
day laboring with a fellow native in the
cause of annexation In a pause after |
one of his periods, his countryman
plaintively asked, "But, what will be
come of us poor natives" "Why, you
damn fool" said Kalua, looking his
auditor over with disdain, "you will
become a mantle first time in your
life you ever had a chance of becoming
one" By the way, speaking of Kalua:
we think he has never been fairly un-
derstood by the foreigners of this coun.
try. He has generally been put down
simply as an eloquent, but unsCrupu-
lous demagogue. Perhaps this does
describe him, but only in part. He
has certain rare qualities for a Ha-
waiian which place him peculiarly by
himself among the leaders This people
In the first place he is not and never
was a place hunter, time server, or
otfice-seeker--a thing So very rare
among Hawaiian politicians as to be
sufficient in itself to command a second
look at him. Beyond time honored
place in the Legislature and perhaps a
notary's billet we doubt whether he
ever held any office under the Govern
ment, though he has had chances
thrown at his head time without num-
ber-and has as steadily thrown them
away. Thetruth is monarchy and money
power never have been able to handle
him. Attracted by his eloquence and
brilliant executive ability both have
tried TO control him and use him; but
he has always kicked out of the traces
in short order and made off to the
Crowd" his stamping ground and
where alone he is at hcme. He has
not that passive obedience and appre-
citation of a good thing" which has
characterized the Hawaiian political
supporter of the crown.
He has time and again thrown away
what are called good chances" and
has snapped his finger alternately in
the face of the government and the
plantations.
And yet Kaaua has often opposed
the apparent popular will. He worked
with great daring against the Gibson
regime when it was at the height of its
power among the native people and
was controlling the Legislatures with
ever increasing majoritieS. And this
he did as we believe because he felt
that while the throne had the apparent
overwhelming support of the people,
it was in fact merely the support Of
compact oligarchy of leading Hawaii
an families fattening on patronage and
trading eff of the rights and needs of
the common native who was helpless
to see it or help himself and therefore
Kalua raised a kick, when almost every
voice among Hawaiian leaders had been
effectually smothered
Kalua may be fooling his annexation
friends. He sometimes does such
things. If so, he will soon show his
hand, for he cannot play possum very
long; but we believe that he has sized
up the situation with his usual keen
ness and realized that the Hawaiian
leaders who are using the timidity OF
the native to create a solid anti-anneX.
alton sentiment, are doing 50 mainly to
preserve their cinCh on governmental
spols, and that to-day these patriots
are trying to tempt the plantations
away from their loyalty to annexation
offering TO trade off an unlimited sup.
ply of AsiatiC labor in return for royal
ty and the "good old times" We be
lieve Kalua feels that there is not the
shadow Of mercy, patriotism or honor
in such a compact, but only heartless
surrender of the common natives last
hope and that it is high time for the
kanaka to take refuge in the wake o.
the great Republic
, If so, Kalua will tell the kanaka SC
! in a style peculiarly his own. 1t vii
, be finish fight in which he will Ger
tainly have no apologies to offer for hi
position, and in which most of The
> fighting will be done On tie enemy
! ground. II.