Morning journal and courier., 1893-02-02
FAR OFF HAWAII.


Mr.. sperry Favors Its Annexation at
Once-Ready to Fall Like n fsipe APP
PIE into the Hands of Our Country
"Reminiscences of HonOlulu-OId
Connecticut Whaling Days.
Postmaster Sperry was asked yester-
day his opinion on the Hawaiian annexa-
ton question. Mr.. Sperry said the late
peaceful revolution in that country and
the situation of affairs there spoke most
plainly that the time had come for the an
nexation of the islands to the United
States. They want to bs annexed and
come under the protecting folds of the
star spangled banner and share in the bless
ings which flow from free and enlight-
ened form of government.
"a high commission has been appointed
by the new Hawaiian government to make
terms for such annexation and are now on
their way to Washington for the purpose
of making it as complete ss 1t is possible
for them SO to do. The time, in my opin-
ion, is fully ripe for such annexation, and
our government should loose no time to
properly consummate annexation. All the
governments save one have recognized the
new Hawaiian government.
"The whole territory seems to fall into
our hands like ripe spple, and 1t should
be properly garnered by US. The import
ance of those islands to the United States
is of the greatest value in many ways.
will not recite the advantages, for they
must be obvious to all. am glad to see
that Senator Plat, whose mind is always
~ 10 NJ 10 ofrnno1v in,
favor of annexation.
"Our legislature at Hartford, 1 am glad
to see, has taken a decided stand in favor
of annexation.
1--WE should not as a nation, in view of
the circumstances, allow this matter to es-
cape from US.
"Whst sort of government shall be in
sti.uted there, whether territorial, state or
a protectory is a matter for the president
and congress TO determine. But immediate
action is necessary"
Thirty years ago New London was full
of men who knew Honolulu as we'll as they
did their native town from the Ramrod
district to the Town Mill. The New Lon
don Day in an interesting article on those
days and on the islanders says: "They were
whal-Inen who had made voyages into the
Pacific and away north To the Okhotsk and
Kamschatks seas and between seasons went
to Honolulu to recruit. Ships from all
whaling ports would be there and Honolulu
was really and truly ''lulu" place for the
time being.
After the dangers, privations and hard
ships of whaling cruise the whalemen
would strike the land with the joy of a
schooIhoy at the commencement of the
long vacation, and being free from the re-
straints of civilization it Is said they made
it lively for every body, including the kikos,
a. the native policemen We're called.
When the whslemen first began visiting
Honolulu the Hawaii.ns were noble race
physically. and gentle and hospitabie in
their ways. The doubtful benefits of civ
ilization have decimated the race and their
moral condition has declined steadily sll
agree. Many New Londoners have been
in business in Honolnlu, and all, wbatever
the object of their visit, their advantage
stay, are Unanimous in praising the lowell
ness and sslnhrity Of the climate "
Captain Orrin Chapman, janitor of thz
city hall and a faithful attache of the Day
Office for nun Der of are, lived at Hon
oluu and enjoyed the acquaintance of sew,
| eral members of the royal family, whom he
| describes as very kind and affable and no!
| above accepting John Rodgers jackknift
| or some such trif9 as q token of regard
| while they were generous to fault with
| such fruits and other things grateful to 6
sick man that they might possess. CAPITA I
| Chapman was wounded aboard ship wher
a boy and was cared for in Honolulu viii {
recovering from his wound. He was very
kindly treated by the brother of the kinl
and much that he learned of the history Of
the island came from him."
"HonoIulu is situated in Oahu, the
| principal island commercially of the group
1t is on the southwest side of the Island
| aud has a magnificent harbor with twelve
| fatboms of water, where eighty or one
hundred vessels can safely moor. The
barrier to the harbor is coral resi- with s
gateway through which vessels make theil
entrance. OF late years many improvs
| ments have been made about the place, snc
the foreign residents have greatly increas e:
in numbers, and trade has assumed grea
proportions.
In the old times the king lived in simple
state and was not above familiar acquaint
snce with the sovereigns of the United
States who were visiting to his dominions
A revolution used to be not an infre
quent occurrence, but they were of shor
duration and never succeeded in overturn
| ing the government, which, from its very
simplicity, might be temporarily keeled
over, but could be righted and bailed Out
| Will comparative c6bo 4uo HALVES WSIe
always friendly and put no obstacle in the
way of thoae who came to take up theil
residence on the island and engage in
trade. Stores of various kinds multiplied
ss time went on and the ships enriched the
merchants.
The natural agricultural wealth of the
islands is great. Sugar cane grows spon.
taneously, and many fruits; and fish
abound in the waters, go that the cost OF
living was not high. For good many
years the Sandwich ielands have been re
garded as rich plum, and the United
States for many reasons has regarded its
own rights there a. paramount to those of
other nations. Queen Emma, who visited
this country several years ago, was very
pretty and accomplished woman, who was
quite capable of enjoying and appreciating
the blunder of the leader of tbs orchestra
of the Drury Lane theater, who being in
structed to play the Hawaiian national air
upon her entrance to the theater, struck
up "Wiokey, Wankey Pankey Pa, King Of
l 49, H. I~n1T H. J.