The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-02-25

without any religion. In 1926 the
ten commandments were adopted
as law by the government. The
first missionaries reduced the lam
guage to q written form, with an al
phabet of twelve letters, a, Q, j, o,
u, h, k, |, m, n, p, ". Whether the
limited alphabet has anything to
do with it may be a matter of sur
mise, but the population is said to
be on the average less illiterate
than that of New York City or
Pennsylvania, It is claimed that
they have well settled American
society, comparable to anything in
the States. The general feeling on
the island is said to be opposed to
Great Britain.
Last autumn the San Francisco
Examiner had a poll taken of the
Hawaiian parliament on the sub
ject Of annexation. The sentiment
then was strongly in favor of
independence. The queens lean
ing toward absolutism is largely
responsible for the revolution and
presumable change of views Of the
leading men on annexation. Prob
ably the sugar question is one of
the factors at the bottom Of it. At
one time the sugar plantations
paid return of some so per cent on
the investment. This state of things
has been done away with by free
West India sugar, so that far
smaller profit is made. The hopes
Of bounty per ton of sugar is one
element making the sugar planters
anxious for annexation.
Practically Hawaii draws upon
San Francisco for her supplies. In
1891 the tonnage of American ships
entering the harbor of Honolulu
was over three times that of Eng
lish ships, or 1881 tons. Amer
lean imports aggregated SIS, 5,924,277,
as against 81 POI ,329 of British i'm.
ports. The sugar production is
now 100000 pounds per annum
The leper colony on the island o1
Molokai, the scene of the heroic ex.
ertions of Father Damien, casts a
shadow over a picture where there
is so much that is fair. But Can.
ada and Louisiana both have had
lepers for many years; so in lepro'
sy we would have no new acquaint
ance. The varied climate enables
any form of vegetation to be raised
that can be grown in temperate
or tropical climate. The islands
are but six days from San Francis
CO, and by fast steamers could bt
brought much closer. Under proper
conditions, they might attract and
should attract many tourists. The
fact that America is by far the near
est mainland seems to bring the isl
ands within the operation of th'
Monroe doctrine, and goes to for
bid the establishments there of 8
European power. The purchase o
Alaska, under the advice of Seward
when United States Secretary o
State, has proved an excellent op
Grafton for this government. Th'
annexation of Hawaii, it may b.
believed, would prove in its degree
equally good for US, and, it is to b.
hoped, would be good for the inhab
itants also. AS a touching poin
for ships, its value cannot be over
estimated. In war the importance
it would acquire, as strategetica
point, and as depot for coal ant
supplies for war ships, is obvious
We already possess by treaty, right
in a species of harbor or coral la
goon, Pearl Harbor by name, whicl
requires dredging before it will bt
available for ships of war. The bay
of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu
is the principal harbor. It has %
feet ofwater. Good harbors amonl
the islands are very few.
| The islands now have a debt o
So, 100000. The necessary assump
ton of this debt is one of the prin
cipal reasons cited against annexa
ton. It would virtually represen
the price paid for the islands.