Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-04-05

joaquin Miller, the poet, we're among
the Australia's passengers. Mr.. Damon
has come upon private business of his
own, and goes back on the next steamer.
The poet left Honolulu suddenly with
no other baggage than a copy of his
poems. His intended departure was
kept secret, for he was afraid the Of
cials Of the government would put him
in prison. Miller is very bitter against
the men in control in Hawaii. He de-
inounces the treatment accorded the po-
litical prisoners as barbarous in the ex-
treme, and says that men are dying in
prison for want of air and proper food.
He predicts that filibustering expedi-
ton will be organized to go to Honolulu
and rescue the political prisoners. When
asked if he were done with Hawaii the
poet said:
II have not begun. / am going to
wait and see who goes down there to
liberate those men. Possibly they may
be set at liberty when their captors are
badly scared, for they are awful towards.
But if they do not hberate them, the
very last and lowest of the political
prisoners, and then return the lands APP
propriated from the natives and the
queen under the name of crown lands, L
snail 90 to Japan. | am no stranger at
the Japanese court. think shallonly
have to state the case and promise po-
litical rights to the oppressed 10000
get an iron-clad. There are hundreds of
a Do HntNt in, IA vii
prisons by man who betrayed woman
and robbed her; and there is plenty OF
gold and kingdom waiting for whoever
will liberare those good men, The SOL
diers down there will not fight for Dole.
They won't fight to keep those men in
prison. 1t is not human. In fact, they
are all falling out. l doubt if Dole has
any friends at all who are not under pay
as civil or military officers or in some
way selfshly interested in his oligarchy.
There has been nothing 80 monstrous
since the reign of terror. The yard in
front OF the penitentiary is crowded with
poor native women, waiting turns to see
father, husband, son. l have often gone
through without venturing to intercede.
/ had to be very careful for fear | might
do harm instead of good. | am in pos
session of fearful facts. l call the at
tention of the world to these after wait
ing too long. There are too many per-
sons in Jail down there. If that prison
were here the women of California
would not let it stand two days."
Miller makes an appeal for books to
be sent to the political prisoners as they
have nothing to do and nothing to read,
and unless they have something to divert
their minds they may go mad. Speak
ing OF President Dole, Miller said:
HE is perhaps the noblest-looking
man to be found at the head OF any gov
eminent, but how he can go to church
regularly as he does, breathing the
fresh, sweet Sunday air of Honolulu
with those hundreds of hollow eyes
peering through the bars, and those liv'
ing lips gasping for breath, is something
/ don't know"
OF the ex-queen Miller says: "Of al
those who participated in her arrest ant
trial, and of all that was said and done
the only Christian was that poor, dusky
woman in the midst of those cruel men
The only Christian act or utterance came
from her."
He says that Major Seward, Colone
Ashford, T. w. Walker and other white
traitors are confined in cells only five by
eight feet. Two men are in each cell
They are allowed an airing two hour
during the day. The average tempera
ture in the cells is about 80 degrees.