davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1893-03-09

by more modern and comfortable seat. In
truth the old throne chair is anything but
comfortable to man of modern stature.
There were giants in those days." and the
Kamehamehas were among them. They
were all men of commanding and unusual
stature and majestic prOportions-a race set
apart to rule and h0nOred by the people as
their suCR ssors have never been.
Thrown over a railing, in the basement,
was the famous feather cloak of Kane
hameha !, the same that hangs from the royal
shoulders in the old picture of this monarch.
This feather cloak, robe of state. was
valued during kalakaua's reign at 100000
The groundwork is a fine netting of olOna
or native hemp, to which the small delicate
feathers of bright yellow color are attached,
so as to overlap each other, forming a per-
fectly smooth surface. The birds which
produced these feathers were hOneysuckers.
living on the nectar Of the flowers of the
0hia. banana and the larger lobeias. They
were caught by means of branches smeared
with sticky papala gum and well baited
with their favorite flowers. As these birds
were very rare, and each had but one little
tuft of the yellow feathers under each wing
the mamo or feather clOaks were cos ,ly and
rare, and long in the process of manufac-
is said to have occupied nine generation
of kings in its construction. l picked the
poor discarded insignia of royalty up and
threw it over the shoulders of a splendid
| looking native who was mailing no some
| boxes, and by means of signs asked him to
| stand up while | got a Snapshot" at him.
| Some one picked up the handle of feather
banner that lay on the floor and thrusting it
into his hand showed him where to pose,
and the result was very striking. after
ward took another shot at him al a fine
! specimen of his race.
The thToneroom and library we're very
little dsarranged. the furnishings being
mainly Government property. but the cham
bers of the departed Queen and her mmed-
ate family presented Il sad appearance of
dismantlement. 1 sat in the seat of royalty,
upon the throne, and found it very COM
| Portable chair. The late Wee -Chamber
! lain. half-white native and a loyal ad-
herent Of the XQueen, accompanied me in
my rounds. What he may have felt at see
ing his national lares and penates thus cast
down by ruthless hands was not apparent
in single look or gesture. Gentle, intelli-
| gent, courteous, kind, he opened every
door. answered every question, explained
| every decoration. and was very thoughtful
in calling my attention to the various beau
tiful views from the palace windows, and
in opening for me number of cases con-
tanning jewels, swords and pipes belonging
to the late King, but he volunteered no re-
marks, and remained seduiously in the
The morning call., 1893-03-09

during the trip than she had of these Of
England during the four years of her stay
there. Like the eX-Minister Of the Interior.
Colonel Cleghorn was inclined to regard the
matter very philosophieally. In fact even
the stanchest adherents of the ex-Oueen
begin to realize that the Hawaiian goose
has been by her pretty thoroughly cooked.
About the best summary l have yet
heard of the whole situation a native gave
me. 'Pm sorry for her," he said. Sorry;
but 1t looks to me SO: She know perfectly
well the United States people want to get
control of this Government and she open
the gate wide and say Walk right in
They had to do it." There is not states
man In either country who could have put
it more clearly. The ex-Queen knew, If she
knew anything. that neither she nor her
brother has ever really had the sympathy
or allegiance Of the natives. She was well
aware, could she but have profited by her
knowledge, that no detrimental inter-
ference on her part would be tolerated by
those who had the progress and peace Of
the kingdom at heart. She seems to have
The morning call., 1893-03-09

Tar Flat family, the relics of departing
royalty presented a touching spectacle.
There were jeweled swords from India and
Japan, gold bound jars and boxes from
France and Spain, collection of curious
and costly pipes, books, rare curios and
bric-a-brac of every nature lying in car eless
heaps in every corner and even upon the
steps Of the palace pavement. The sacred
tabu stick of the royal house, with its
golden bail bearing the royal arms.
stood like a captive monarch amid
a pile OF rubbish in the basement,
and piled up in room near it
were the bags Of sand that had been used
as barricade by the defenders of the pal
ace in the last revolution but one. Outside,
in one truck, marble Venus gazed sadly
down upon a great urn of polished wood,
mounted in gold that had been presented to
King halakaua by one the crowned heads
of Europe. On cushion in a corner. upon
its side, lay the duplicate of the crown with
a curiOusly carved staff across it where it
had been thrown by some careless hand. A
wOrkingman's jumper hung upon the back of
the throne chair of the Kamehamehas. This
chair is now in one of the recsption-rooms.
it having been superseded in the throneroom
The morning call., 1893-03-09

baling it in curious little hand presses. Only
the native ponies and cattle will eat this
stuff; horses brought from the States will
not touch it. nor do they do well on the
green pasturage, so all the hay used in the
stables here is brought from California,
and sells for S2S ton. There seems little
use in expecting that the natives will ever
attempt TO develop the agricultural re-
sources Of the country. So long as taro
grows plentifully, and there are yet good
fish in the sea, they will make their poi and
catch the fish, which they eat raw, and
with two bits in his pocket to buy gin
nothing will induce the average native to
work. They are good workers. under
superintendent, but it is hard to keep them
at 1t. They do not even now cultivate
their own taro patches any more.
Most OF these have passed to Chi
nese ownership, and the hard working,
mud grubbing Celestial raises the
Kanaka's chief article of food on what was
once the kanaEa's soil, and sells TO him
what once he was content 10 grow himself.
Talk about robbng the natives OF their
country; they sold every square foot OF it,
long ago, and the most of them have swal-
lowed the price ere this. There is PROPOSE
ton now talked OF, among the island states
men, which has to do with dividing the
crown and Government lands among the
native Hawaiians. This seems like meas
ure of justice, and yet il is highly probable
that, were such n plan put into execution,
half OF them would, unless prevented by
specific legislation, in six months time sell
their little holdings 10 Cinnamon and spend
the proceeds in having good time.
do not think 1t can be said. with any
degree of truthfulness, that the natives
really want annexation. The majority of
them would doubtless favor an American
protectOrate, but it is not in reason to sup
pose that they like to see their native king
dom swallowed up in greater power.
There are plenty, even among those of
American parentage, children Of the early
missionaries, who feel much the same way,
and are at n loss to say what they do want.
The natives, though, want, in a word,
better times, condition of things that will
bring more money into the country. Capt.
tai, ever timid. has been driven from the
islands almost altogether, by the uncertain
tenure of the Government, and the natives,
perhaps more than any other class, have
felt the pinch. They want better times and
they do not care who brings them. There
is probably not one in the Kingdom who is
prepared 10 waste any sentimental regret
over the downfall of the house OF kalakaua.
To their way of thinking monarchy van
ished when the tabu was raised. This sys-
TEN, common TO all the Polynesian races,
reached its height in the Hawaiian Islands.
1t covered the entire life of the people with
a ceremonial beside which that of the He
brews under the most Pharasaic age of tie
law was mere child's play. II was Iabu for
The morning call., 1893-03-09

home to celebrate our first national holiday"
There was many an anxious face among
the natives. What United States done to
us?" my native driver asked me as he saw
me reading the latest CALL. 81 guess
they've annexed you by this time" l re-
piled. How do you like that idea?" There
was the usual shrug of the shoulders and
ducking of the head. as if to avoid the ques-
tion. IN o eau tell, he said, and immpdi-
ately seemed to lose all interest in the sub
ject.
Well. the people seem to have settled
down 10 belief that the country is part
of the United States, and the first American
holiday ever celebrated in the islands was
observed with marked distinction. All the
stores were closed in the afternoon, and the
city took on general gala air. The water
front was thronged in the afternoon with
spectators of the bUatraces and swimming
contests engaged in by the men from the
different warships in the harbor.
Admiral Skerrett and Commander Lud-
low, with the officers of the flagship, we're
at home 10 their friends on board the Mohi-
can, and the five men-of-war presented a
beautiful appearance under their liberal
display of bunting There was large
turnout of citizens from Honolulu, all
eager TO pay their respects to the admiral,
and every nationality on the island was
represented. although, of course, Americans
were in the ascendency. There was dane
ing on deck, Tor those who wished to in
dulge in that amusement; there were foot
races, saekraces and a potatO-race the
honors of which were pretty equally divided
among the different nationalities repre-
sented by the ships. In the swimming
race, which closed the programme of the
day, Konitshe, Of the Kon-gO, proved him
self the best Of the twelve men who entered,
and won the race, followed. about five
var rds in the rear, by Mohican man. The
four boatraces of the day were all won by
entries from II. B. Ms ship Garnet, whose
men proved again and again their prowess
at the oar.
In the evening. the Chinese residents.
having received permission from the mar
shal OF the islands, celebrated the eveniful
day by liberal display OF fireworks, which
apparently went long way toward con-
vincing the natives that annexation would
be good thing for the country
The morning call., 1893-03-09

remembered, however, only the absolute
power welded so wisely by the Kane
hamehas and to have forgotten that the
world has moved and civilization has pro-
gressed since the days of that dynasty
The best possible parallel to what Liiuo-
kalani has done would be to imagine
Queen Victoria to-day suddenly AFRO
eating to herself the powers held by
Charles IL At the present stage of the
worlds history such course on her part
would be borne with far less patience by
the English than the people of the islands
have shown in their dealings with Liliuo-
kalani.
Well the revolution" is now passed, and
on Washington's birthday Hawaiians cele-
brated their first national holiday as part
of the great American people. The cele-
bratiOn may have been little premature,
bnt the people, at least the large proportion
Of them on Oahu and in Honolulu. have
about made up their minds that they are
American citizens. and are rejoicing accord
ingly. All the stores were closed, and
natives and whites alike went to playing
There has been liberal display OF red,
white and blue bunting. and about the only
man at work in the island has been John
Chinaman. Even he, however celebrated
uproariously in the evening. On board the
MOhican in the afternoon Admiral Skerrett
Commander Ludlow and the officers were
sat home" 10 nearly the whole town, and
the seamen on board H. b. NJ. ship Garnet
and II. /. j. NJ. ship Kon-go entered with
those of the United States ships Mohican,
Boston and Alliance into the yacht and
swimming contests arranged for the enter
tanment Of the lagship's guests.
Perhaps few words will not come amiss
anent these incoming citizens of ours.
see that one worthy Senator from Texas is
on record as opposed to admitting to the
Union a country whose inhabitants are
"half-ciyilized savages, and Chinese" etc.
In point of fact there is probably less civili-
zation to be found to-day in some parts of
Texas than in almost any part of the Ha-
waiian kingdom. Go where you will upon
any Of the Islands, and, even among the
very oldest of the natives, you will scarcely
find one who cannot read and at least write
his name. Less than per cent OF them
cannot both read and write, showing
scarcely equaled, certainly not surpassed
by any other people in the world Here in
Honolulu 1t is iiicult to realize that one is
not in an American city. Throughout all
the Islands the process of Americanization
OF the natives is going on very rapidly.
There are % native Government schools in
the kingdom, with % teachers aud 800
pupils. as against 80 English Government
schools with 221 teachers and 7148 pupils.
There are, besides, al independent schools.
with some 1912 pupils and 142 teachers. OF
the 1912 pupils in all the schools, 1858 were
natives, 1866 half-castes, S2j3 Portuguese,
The morning call., 1893-03-09

553 Chinese. the remainder being divided
among the other nations represented in the
country. Americans predominating, with
nearly 400 pupils. As to the teachers, there
are 70 Hawaiians, Al half-castes, II Ameri-
cans. 80 Britons, Germans and 10 of other
nationalities. drove recently past one of
the largest of the Engsh-speaking schools,
to which my native driver called attention
with considerable pride make good ma
tiYes there" he said, with the characteristic
courteous smile of his race.
One does not realize until one lives among
these gentle, polite. g5od-natured ana
eleanly people how very far from savages
they are. The savagery is undoubtedly
there. RumOr says 1t showed with appall-
Ing distinctness in the eX-Queen when she
found herself unable TO carry out her de-
signs upon the country; but 1t is only upon
such extraordinary occasions and among
the ruling classes that such outbreaks are
possible. The people in general are pretty
effectually subdued and tanned.
Nevertheless to large number, perhaps
to majority, of the educated and intelligent
people of the world the Hawaiian Kingdom
is still 'the Sandwich Islands" and the ma
tive Hawaiian Is heather man and a stran-
ger. 1t is the fashion in these days of rapid
transit and electrical communication to
speak of this globe as being very small after
all, but it is a good-sized sphere. and the
man who would possess good working idea
of its magnitude and peoples must acquire
IL by something more than chance or desul-
tory study. The Sentimentalists who have
of late been writing to the newspapers their
views upon Hawaiian politics would DO well
to give the facts a careful study before
launching into invective and reproach of
the United States.
It's difficult perhaps to understand. from a
standpoint several thousand miles distant,
how naturally American predominance in
Hawaii has come about While the islands
were first discovered and named by an Eng
lsh circumnavigator. and while Great
Britain, as is her custom, has from time TO
time interfered arbitrarily in hawaiian al
fairs, the predominant educational and
commercial factors in the upbuilding of the
The morning call., 1893-03-09

men and women to eat together, or even TO
have their food cooked in the same room.
In every household the house of idols and
the mems eating-house were tabu to women,
Pork, bananas, eocoanuts, turtles and GER
tain sorts of fish were tahu to women.
When a Kanaka went fishing and cast in
his net there were certain fish that
were tabu to all but the chief; certain
that he must reserve for the high, priest
some that he could reserve for himself, and
others still that he must put back into the
water There were temporary tabus as
well, where no fire might be lighted, or tapa
beaten, or poi pounded where no sound
could be uttered on pain of death; where
even the dogs were muzzied and the fowls
shut up, that they might make no noise. II
was tabu TO enter the presence of a chief
without pr0strating oneself, or to touch his
person. Certain of the chiefs were so tabu
that it was death to look upon them, and
the whole social structure on the islands
was so interviewer with these superstitions
and customs that when they were done
away with the entire fabric collapsed. The
King was no longer a sacred parsonage, the
ancient gods were cast down, one man was
as good as another and no one of them en-
titled to more respect than another.
Thus reasoned the Hawaiians, who, after
the overthrow of the tabu and before Chris
tianity was so universally adopted by them,
were practically people without religion.
The leveling ideas thai then took root in the
kingdom have steadily grown until through
out the islands the natives are thorough
going democrats, who believe themselves to
be quite the equals of the chiefs and kings,
for without the tabu all men are alike. The
poor native now might look at the King to
his hearts content, were there one, while
the King, on his part, could do no more than
look upon his humblest subject, so long as
that subject was within the law. The whole
subject was difficult one for the half-savage
mind to grasp. and, as might be expected, he
grasped it wrong end foremost.
There are few with whom have talked
among the natives who appear TO feel some
tmidity as to what the result for them may
be of annexation 'S'pose we be slaves"
l was asked by one, and several of the resi-
The morning call., 1893-03-09
culues as she has been into political hot

culties as she has been into political hot
water.
Just who were the ex-Queen's advisers In
her fatal move is a matter of no little con-
lecture throughout the kingdom. The pre-
vailing impression seems to be that the most
prominent finger in the pie was that of the
redoubtahle Sam Parker, at that time Mn
lister of the Interior, but it is hardly likely
that Parker had more to do with 1t than
that wheD he saw the Queen was deter
mined in the effort TO force her extreme
policy on the country he aided her in gath
ering about her Cabinet that would second
her efforts. Probably there is not man on
the islands better known in the States than
Sam Parker. who has spent great deal Of
time and an enormous fortune In seeing
life there. In talk with me recently be
expressed his belief that in the event Of
annexation period of greater commercial
prosperity was undoubtedly in store for the
islands but as nearly full-hlooded
Hawaiian he could hardly witness the
downfall Of the kingdom of his ancestors
without regret. His own personal belief
was that monarchy under az American
protectorate was the only form Of govern
meut for which the kingdom was yet ready.
Governor A. S. CleghOrn is another Ha-
wailan who believes that monarchy under
protectOrate is the only form of govern
ment for which the country is yet ready.
As the father of the heit-apparent TO the
throne the Governor could hardly be other
wise minded. Ihad a long talk with him
on the morning of the arrival of the China
and even at that late date he expressed his
conviction that the United States would "do
what is right" i. e., establish the Princess
kaiulani on the throne and assume prOtec-
tion over her. The Princess wifi be of age
this fall, and before the present overthrow
it had been the intention of those having
her III charge to have her visit the United
States, attend the Columbian Exposition
and spend several months in visiting the
principal American cities and becoming
acquainted with the people. as Kaiulani
has been kept very much secluded during
her school days in England it was thought
she would see more of the American people
The morning call., 1893-03-09
HONOLULU CELEBRATES.
The First Observance There of al
American Holiday.

AFSA iS0h ilOliudy.
There was buzz of excitement in the air
OF Honolulu at an early hour on the morn
ing of February %. 1t was hoped. almost
against hope. that the incoming Australia
might bring tile welcome news that the con-
summation devoutly to be wished had actu-
ally occurred.
The Australia is off Waimanalo," was
the message flashed over hundreds of tele-
phones, while yet most of the people were
at breakfast Half an hour later, "The
Australia is off KOko Head" ran the word.
and long ere the steamer had rounded Da-
mond Head and was steaming up past Wal
kiki the wharf and streets leading thereto
were black with people. By the time the
good ship was berthed carriage could not
get within two squares of the wharf, and
the whole popuace was in culver of ex-
ctement.
WHATS the news?''
Are we annexed?"
is this American soil ?"
is the treaty arranged?"
Question after question shot up from the
crowd, assaiing the passengers, who, from
the upper deck of the Australia, gazed down
upon the excited throng.
From the wharf, when the mails had been
landed, the crowd surged TO the postoffice
and the Office of the Hawaiian News Com
pany, and then began a great rush to pro-
cure papers and letters. It seemed as if the
entire population must have turned out to
hear the news. Officers and members of the
Provisional Government came down by twos
and threes, and were pressed on every side
by eager questinners, anxious for some
thing otficiaP on the burning question OF the
hour.
I'm fha eli do Of q,
an imDOrtant-lOoking bag, came the ex-
Queens ex-Chamberlain, a dapper little
Scotchman. accompanied by the Vice Cham-
berlain, slim, handsome young haIf-caste,
who elbOwed his way through the crowd to
the box-delivery, procured from the ex-
Queens box sundry documents, which Mr..
Robertson hastened to clap into the bag. and
the two fastened away, followed by many
curious gaze from the waiting crowd
Little, brown-legged kanaka boys darted
in and out OF the mass of people struggling
toward the postoffice windows, and shouted
at each other in the delicious, purring,
flowing Hawaiian tongue, and as l watched
them | could not but wonder which one of
them as "the Senator from Oahu" would
some day catch the Speakers eye at Wash
ington, and rise to present the claims of
Pearl Harbor upon the national treasury.
They are born orators, these Kanakas. and
the future statesman will doubtless make
an eloquent plea in that good cause. Dark
faced women, in their flowing holokous,
rode by on horseback, and stopped to put a
question or two to the native policeman,
who surveyed the scene from the corner;
jubilant Americans, quietly elated Germans
and excited Portuguese residents stopped
beside the carriage In which l sat, waiting
to exchange pleased comments on the favor-
able nature of the news received.
"It's as good as settled, l think" said
one. as he bade me gOOd-morning. Il guess
we're all good Americans, and I'm going
The morning call., 1893-03-09
WORKING SMOOTHLY.
The Provisional Government Pursues
a Conservative Course,


The news from Washington, brought by
the Australia. while by no means final, was
received with general rejoicing by two
thirds of the people of Honolulu. Tie man
who the day before had been ready to de-
clare that Not one in TWENTY-FIVE wants
annexation" was not out on the street that
day-at all events he was not heard from.
All is very quiet in the Islands and mat
ters are working very smoothly. The Pro-
visional Government has repealed the lot
terry and opium bills and has generally
manifested disposition TO pursue wise
aud conservative course in the difficult po-
sltion in which it is placed.
Beyond doubt one great secret of the
success that has attended this movement
has been the character of the men who are
its leaders.
Sanford P. Dole. the Provisional Presi-
dent, is a man whose integrity of character
and souudness of judgment has never been
assailed by any one. He was born in
the Islands. held a high position under
the late Government, and enjoys the fullest
degree of confidence and esteem, both with
the native and foreign population. or the