The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-01
4 NEW FACE At THE DOOR.
A SISTER IN THE SEA COMES TO OFFER
US HER RICH TREASURES.
Let the United States Throw Her
Doors Wide and Receive the Guest
With Open Arms.
The State,

| Who knocks?
/ Hawaii, 1.-THE Paradise OF the Pacific"
Over year ago The State expressed the
opin ION that on account of the conditions eX
istlng In the Hawaiian Islands. a request fol
their annexation by the United States would
ultimately be made. There has been blood
less revolution, the pupet Queen has abdicated
a prov iSional government has been formed
by the white residents, and com missioners
have suddenly appeared in San Franc isco To
ask that the United States open the door OF
the Union to the richest and ioveliest group Of
islands dotting the Pacific ocean.
To consider inteIig.nily the question thus
precipitated upon us we must have regard for
the location and characteristics OF the islands
their business and their government.
Twelve islands form the group. the largest
IN. the North Pacific ocean, discovered by
Capt Cook In lis, and named after the earl OF
Sandwich. Their area is about 4,OvO, GOO acres,
the largest island, Hawaii, which now gives
its nune to the group. being lOO miles IN
length and 90 In width. The population Is
the island Of Oahu, TO san Francisco Is 2.lOO
miles, to Auck land New Zealand, $50 miles,
TO Sydney, Australia, 4.448 miles, TO Yoko-
hama. ia pan. 4iU miles. to Hong Kong, China.
1888 miles. and to Tahiti 23S0 miles, so that
America is HawaiPS nearest continental
neip hhor. y fast steamer, such as the City OF
Paris, could make the trip between San Fran
cisco and Honolulu In q little over three days.
The population is extraordinarily mixed.
The aborlgines are dying out rapidly under
the influence OF civilization, and number less
than half as many as they did century ago.
Their places have been taken largely by
Chinese aud Japanese laborers employed on
the sugar estates, and by whites OF many
countries; but so rapid has been the decrease
OF the group is now far less than 1t was at the
time OF It's discovery. Americans form large
plurality OF the white iphabitants, and Eng
lish, Italians and Germans the bulk of the re-
maiudrr. ... ....
The dynasty just ended by the abdication OF
Queen Liliuokaiana was founded early in the
present century by Kamehameha, the chief
Of the island OF Hawaii. who, obtaining
European vessels and firearms, conquered
the chiefs OF the other Islands and esta Glished
his throne. The independence of the king
dom was recognized by the powers In 1884.
The monarchy, at first absolute, was modified
TO constitutional one by revolution. and for
many years Hawaii has had parliment, a
supreme court, and all the governmental ap-
pliances OF modern civilization. Upon the
death of King Kalakaua a year ago his sister
Liliuokalani succeeded TO the throne. She
might have reigned during the remainder OF
her life had she not attempted TO head on an
Inevitable revolution by coup detdt directed
fil white population. The weak stroHe re-
bounded when 1t touched the proud and pam
oplied Caucasian.
II is not be, assumed that Hawaii Is In a
state OF savagery. On the contrary, 1t is fully
civilized. The leading industry OF the island,
sugar making, is conducted almost exclusive
ly by American and English, employing coolie
labor, and the most modern Methods are USED.
Good steamers ply between the Islands, and
all the lines between San Francisr o and Aus
tral,.sia, Japan and China, touch at Honolulu:
That city has a population Of about ~ 600 and
Is thoroughly modern, with several daily
newspapers printed in English, street car
lines. electric lights, telephones, etc. More
telephones are used In proportion to popula-
.ion than IN any city of this country. Amer
lean interests predominate. Americans 81 I In
the Parlment, are cabinet ministers. judges
and magistrates. The native Hawaiians do
not cut IN uch more of u figure than our Afro
Americans do In some OF the coast countries
OF South Carolina.
The trade of Hawaii is chiefly with the
United States. BY virtue Of a treaty made
dozen years ago, sugar, the great staple pro-
duet of the islands, was Omitted TO this coun-
try free OF duty, and. as all other countries
had 10 pay heavy duties on their sugars, the
Hawaiian planters made great deal Of
money. Tue Mckinley bill, however, by re-
moving the tariff on sugar, has greatly re.
dured It's price, and Hawaii, having no ad-
vantage over It's competitors, suffers much In
consequence. A desire to share in the ben.
efts OF the sugar bounty established under
The Mckinley bill Is doubtless one OF the
ruling causes OF q revolution conducted by
the sugar producing interests