The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-06-07
OUR LETTER FROM HILO.
"a. &. LIS" BRIGHT AND COSBY
MELANGE.
Agricultural Development Back Country
Characteristics-Po Politics Society
Doings

Hmo, June with the departure
Of the Kinau, Hilo relapses into its
normal condition Of broodlng quiet,
and in the interval proceeding the
steamers return as a rule but little
change stirs abroad beneath the plated
trellis work of boughs that overhang
its tempting streets. AT such a time
our lotus eating burgher pursues the
even tenor of his way with a proudly
quiet air already beholding in his
minds eye the time when his drilling
metropolis shall outrival Honolulu in
greatness, or in pursuit of which high
end he PAGES along with measured
tread, only pausing now and then to
give point to his remarks on the super
iority of Hilo, even to the nectarean
dews that now and then envelop his
town as in shroud, with the dignihed
flourish of his cane.
But for all that We like exceedingly
the weekly STRINGS which are given us
by the Kinau's return. They brush
off the saffron collected in the interval
Just at present the political arena is
covered with it and the gladiators who
are wont to pommel upon each other
the bruises that poison tIpt pens or the
cutting phillipics of the orator inhict,
now rest YEARLY upon their foils. All
turn to await the rising of the curtain
on the next act in the annexation
drama. Such at least is now the pur-
pose of the Aloha Alma confederation
on this Island, as was stated to me by
one of their leaders, and it is an in
teresting fact that up to fortnight ago
the names Of nearly IS 900 Hawaiian
women and 5000 males, among whom
were 1890 voters, had been submitted
to Mr.. Blount as representing the Ha-
walian sentiment opposed to annexa
ton, while with this statement was
coupled the further and deeply sug
gestive one, that, failing to secure the
ex-Queen's restoration, the majority Of
the Hawaiians would view with dis
favor the supremacy of British or any
other nationality other than American.
This is a very important straw showing
which way the wind blows, as is like
wise the acquisition to the annexation
cause of such men as Haaheo and Ka-
mau of Puma. Both these gentlemen
are educated and influential Hawaiians
and command considerable following
in that hotbed of haole antagonism,
that has ever been relied upon by the
stirrers-up of race hatred, to roll up the
overwhelming majorities against good
government in the face of which the
Hilo Vote was nowhere If then, such
men of their own free will request that
their names be enrolled on the annexa-
ton list, and when Furthermore native
Hawalians from the extreme end of the
Hilo district are found willing to have
the hardships of long journey on the
same Grand, it shows that no cause
can safely rely on its growing popular
ity, nor heed the slurs and taunts of its
opponents.
While it is true that the sentiment in
favor of annexation among the sugar
men on this Island is not of that unan
unity one would suppose should exist,
it is only fair to add that this feeling is
confined mainly to the Spreckels plan
tations, and probably only in an official
capacity at that. The uncertainties in
the labor problem appear to act as de
terring factors, and in this regard the
STARS readers will not fail to admire
the pluck and sterling honesty of that
Kohala planter who, though not an
American by birth, replied 81 will
take my chances under the Stars and
Stripes, labor or no labor, for there are
other things besides the Almighty dol
lar"
The petition asking that an election
be held on the 23d of June, further
particulars of which have already been
given to your readers, seem to have
fallen fat. The Hawaiian version
which was submitted at the last Aloha
Alma meeting in Hlo, was laid on the
table and will probably remain there ;
the Discrimination to act on them is
caused by the TACT, 50 one OIL the ON
Gals says, that they were suggested by
the Civil Rights League, between whom
and the Aloha Alma crowd no fratern-
ization exists.
Just now the Puma district is pos
sessed with ambitious desires to honors
and prominence. This land of bleak,
barren desoate wastes of lava, lying
side by side with vast tracts of land
capable of immense agricultural de-
velopment, is as yet terra incognita to
all but a few, as the open sesame of
good roads has not yet been spoken.
One of these days your correspondent
will invite the STARS readers to ambulate
with him in fancy through this interest
ing region where once the latent fires
did so intensely glow
The laudable desire for recognition,
as before stated, owes its conception to
the wonderful cures now being per
formed by new Kahuna, or sorceress,
that has just appeared on the horizon,
or more strictly speaking, the rocks
A.. 1 d, Il