The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-21
IRWIN HAS RETURNED
Tht Gentleman Tells of His Recent
Visit to Hawaii.
UNCLE SAM SHOULD OWN 1T
Annexation Is Seriously Consider
ed There Among the Intelligent
Class The Question Dis.
oussed by the Traveller.

the destiny or the hawaiian lsldnuS -
annexation to the United States:
When I arrived there" said Mr.. Irwin
TO a reporter for the Standard, and
found the city of Honolulu lying be-
hind bay with a splendid harbor with
a large amount of shipping therein
and dockage sufficient for the accom-
mediation of the international steam
ship lines that call there-being one
ship a month. each way from the Occi-
dental and Oriental lines, one from the
Canadian Pacific line. one from the
O. r. & N. and one from the Oceanic.
connecting that port with Sidney and
Auckland of the South Pacific, japan
and China in the Orient, Victoria In
British Columbia and Portland and
san Francisco on our own shores
and found behind the harbor splendid
buildings used for warehouses and
commercial storage and business, two
or three leading streets of the city
indicating American industries and
two great avenues lined with splendid
mansions and the foliage of the coun-
try. making magnificent drives, and
beaches where sea bathing and surf
riding is one of the features the year
around, I felt Immediately that i was
I'm an American city and an American
port, especially as every person / met
the nTSI udN SDOkt lut I-nEliSH
language and every native or caste
answered in perfect English. felt that
the country, by its interests, language,
Industries and consequently was the
natural child of the United states, and
] never. during my stay there, gave
over that view. 1 found that the city
of Honolulu contained about 10000
whites and about 10000 japanese and
Chinese. The islands now contain q
population OF about $1,000 whites and
castles, 10000 natives, 10000 Chinese
and about $4,000 japanese. OF course,
the Japanese and Chinese can never,
under any American provision for an
neXation, be granted the voting power,
but don't believe they want IL and
their immigration would have to be
restricted. Indeed the present govern
ment is providing for a restriction of
their immigration now and to begin
Immediately. After viewing the situa-
ton from a standpoint of no particular
anxiety regarding il, i came to the
conclusion that IL was desirable TO an
mex the islands, because of their COM
mercial relation to the United States
more than to any other government
their trade being of such preponder-
ance with our people-and notwith-
standing the undesirable population of
Chinese and japanese. The govern
ment Of the United States has a great
interest in the islands from the point
of value IL contains as a naval station.
Pearl habor Is VIGOROUSLY the best |
harbor In the world, and the United |
States now has concessions there and |
in any event II will spend some money |
as soon as we get on our financial feet |
again in the development and improve |
ment.
There were two United States YES |
sells i'm the port when / was there-the |
Baltimore and the Bennington. / |
called on Captain Day, on board the |
Baltimore. and among the incidents of |
conversation he mentioned that a
steamship lying alongside was Just
commencing TO unload dts entire cargo
or 500 tons of coal into the Baltimore
Not very convenient way, l take Il,
OF coaling a ship, and from the re
marks of the captain, / inferred that
IL was the most economical way that
he could do IL and that the price of
the coal was none too cheap.
There is no doubt this government
VIII keep one or two ships i'm those har-
bors, looking after American interests.
and IL has absolutely no place TO lie
ships along the wharf. to say nothing
of docking or repairing vessels that
may need II in coming from Chinese
and japanese ports.
Il called on President Dole and his
wife at the public reception on New
Years day, but merely shook hands
with them and extended congratula-
tions. / had no conversation with the
president about the politics of the
country, but | did talk with other Off
Gals and supporters of the govern
ment They assured me that the ISL
ands are as DESTROYS Of annexation !
now as they were when they endeavor-
ed TO obtain II before. and n good
many things I saw led me to believe
they were absolutely sincere. One OF
4 hpGp that Il a. !
requires 100 regular troops. I'm the
judgment of the government officials,
to keep the peace and defend them
selves against enemies within and
without. To a community like theirs
that Is a considerable burden and one
they are justified in maintaining
troops and cannon around the govern
ment building in view of the late re-
volt with which the world is familiar.
Il found that the business men very
generally, and | met a great many of
them. were favorable to the present
government and TO maintain II as a
permanent government, but only when
IL is determined that the United States
will refuse a second effort for annexa-
ton. l did not meet so very many OF
the opponents of the government. but
those did meet questioned in regard
70 the situation, from their point of
view. and why they We're opposed to
the government. They declared that
the government was a missionary gov
ment and a government by few pow
erful and influential families. and not
a free government. They said they
could not express their views and dar-
ed not dissent without fear OF business
or other ostrs cism. They said they
were opposed 70 the government. and
they believed Il was not an enduring
one. / asked them IL they desired the
restoration Of Queen LiliuOkalani and
they said no. and that their party did I
not. then asked them II they desired
10 place Princess KiOukalina on the |
throne, and they replied that they |
would have no form OF royalty. and
that kind OF government was dead for
ever asked them finally what they