The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-08-10

I land. When asked as to his impress
sions of the island republic, he said:
"The people there are feeling the
effects of the depression about the
same as ourselves. But the causes are
different. Down there the main pro
duct is sugar, and while that industry
| has not been exactly menaced, there
is still such a feeling of uncertainty
as to what this country will do toward
prolOngiDg the present treaty that no
capital Is being invested to increase
the output. On the contrary, large
planters are working with reduced
forces and retrenching in other ways.
The reduction of the duty by the Nc
Kinley bill took away much profit
from the islands, and there is fear OF
further hostile measures by Congress.
Regarding annexation, after studying
the conditions in Hawaii, / can freely
say that do not believe it would be
wise thing for this country to under
take, or at least while the present con-
ditiOns prevail.
"The population consists chiefly OF
Japanese, Chinese and Portuguese,
with small proportion of American
or English.speaking people. The per
cent. of illiteracy is much greater
among the whites than among the
kanakas, and perplexing questions as
to what kind of government this
country should extend to the islands
would confront us, and who of that
mixed people should be given the
franchise would also have TO be deter
mined. The present Government is
NSofn 10 g
people there, especially the natives.
It is practically an oligarchy, and the
idea of a republic on such lines is
laughed at. 1t is not popular and its
safety is menaced as it stands. The
great mass have no VOICE except in
the election of the lower house. The
Senate is elected by the property hold
ers, who represent but a few thou
sand of the people, and many of them
are more illiterate than the natives.
Much respect is shown to President
Dole. He is considered able and con-
scientious, and is generally liked.
The Japanese are the most aggressive
and most to be feared. They quickly
learn the ways and take every adyan-
tage. They have driven many Portu-
guese traders out of business, and are
much like Chinese here. They i'm
port everything from Japan and
spend little on the islands.
"The wisest thing this country could
do regarding these islands would be to
form some close reciprocal treaty
which would give them the same ad-
vantages as our states and insure their
markets for US. They would, of
course, be required to put tax upon
all imports from other countries which
came in competition with our pro-
ducts. If this is done, and we extend
a protectorate over the islands, both
countries would enjoy the advan-
tages of annexation, while they would
be allowed to govern themselves as
they saw fit"
On the question of a Pacific cable,
Mr.. Hilborn said: eff there is cable
laid at any time in the near future il
will have to be built by this country.
II would not pay any private party to
build it. [ believe, though, it would
pay this Government. The Pacific
will, in some emergency, be the rem
devious for the navies of the world,
and teIegraphic communication with
Honolulu will be great saving to us
in handling our ships. There would
be considerable revenue besides, and
1 would vote favorably on the prop
ositiOn.'