The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-10-03
STRONGLY FAVORS ANNEX
ALTON.
A K. p. 1. Graduates Return
Some Impressions.

|, Some Impressions.
I'd. Walbridge of the class Of
II Of the Rensselaer, Polytechnic
Institute, and who for the past nine
years has been resident of Maui,
in the Sandwich Islands, is the
guest of Professor H. B. Mason at
the latter's residence, Washington
park. Mr.. Walbridge, who is &C.
companied by his wife, sailed from
the islands for San Francisco,
which port he reached August 81.
He then came across the continent
to this city. In an interview today
Mr.. Walbridge said;
81 have resided on the islands
for thirteen years. 1 shall remain
in the east during the winter, but
am undecided as to whether 1 shall
permanently locate in the United
States. At Maui | was the manager
of sugar plantation and served
two terms of two years each in the
House of Lords, under the royalist
government. My political affilia-
ton was with the reform party.
That cannot be said to be the party
advocating annexation to this
country. A large element of it is
earnestly in favor of annexation.
I am decidedly so, and have been
interested in the project from its
inception. l believe that it will be
of general benefit to the islands
and to this country. 1t should be
brought about, however, in such a
manner that the royalists should
not be deprived of their rights. In
other words, it should be accom-
plished satisfactorily to all con-
cerned. 1t may be difficult at
present to see a way clear to the
accomplishment of annexation, but
1 think that after carefully consid-
ering the different points, it can be
brought about satisfactorily to all.
The project has the sanction of the
largest property holders of all ma.
tionalities. Coupled with the ques-
ton, however, are several vexatious
features.
The principal industries are the
cultivation of sugar and rice.
Sugar raising is the main industry.
On these plantations we employ
not only the natives, but Portu-
guese, Chinese &nd japanese. The
natives and the Portuguese have
the rights of suffrage, but the
others have not, although the Japa-
nese have demanded it. The con-
tract labor system is in vogue On
the islands. The labors receive !
$19 or $14 per month, and out of
this board and clothe themselves.
They are happy and contented
the climate is delightful, house
rents are cheap and little clothing
and fuel are required. Hence liv-
ing is very cheap. If, after annex
alton, the United States should
abolish the contract labor system,
what then? The rough elements
of foreign nations would emigrate
to the islands and demand adj
vanced wages, thus sowing seeds
for strikes. This would seriously
interfere with the sugar and rice
industries. Then again would
come up the matter of suffrage and
the Chinese question. These pha-
ses of the annexation problem are
far more important than most
people conceive, and should be
carefully considered before decided. !
The American element of the pop
ulation is more largely distributed
among the employers than the
There are very few
laborers. met Minister
James H. Blount. of Georgia, who
was sent to the islands by Presi-
dent Cleveland to enquire into the
matter of annexation. What his
opinion was on the subject none
knew, l believe, for he was very
and guarded in his
counsels."
Mr.. Walbridge speaks enthusi-
astically of the future of the
islands if they were annexed to
this country, and says that their
progress will keep pace
with that of this country.-Troy,
n. y. Press.