The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-19
INTERVIEW WITH PRES. DOLE.
A LETTER FROM OUR SPECIAL COR
RESPONDENT IN HAWAII.

timent Stili Strong in Favor of An
nexatiOn-NO Danger Feared From
Representation PrOtectorate POssi-
bIe-Attitude of the Natives.
Copyright. 1886.
Honolulu, Hawaii. Dec 20.-As i was
standing on the steps OF the palace-or
executive building. as Hawaiians now
prefer to call it-awaiting a military pa
rade and review. Miss Kate Fields, the
brilliant American lecturer and writer,
favored me with an Introduction to Pres
| ident Dole He is a gentleman Of distin-
guished and commanding bearing, more
than six feet in hight. and able 10 tip the
scales at 200 pounds. After the usual in
I terchange Of courtesies. 1 received from
him very cordial invitation to come to
/ his home that afternoon
/ At the appointed hour 1 entered a spa
ciOus garden containing tropical plants
/ of every variety, with many winding
paths and driveways. In the center stands
the white house of Hawaii-which, how
/ ever, is brown in color. Here, sitting in
a beautiful fernery in the midst of which
played a refreshing fountain. I enjoyed
a delicious Havana and listened to the
presidents clear and concise account of
the Hawaiian situation.
In substance. President Dole spoke as
/ follows:
THE government is stronger to-day
than it ever was, and have no doubt
that any resis aance which may be in
| store for it viii be met as effectually as
the rebellion of last January. The princi-
pal opposition to the government springs
| from the Englishmen living here-yet
| many of them are with us. The natives,
/ too, are becoming reconciled gradually.
/ Every means is employed to gain that end.
/ ana as much favOritism as possible is
/ shown them. For example If a native and
| a white applicant seek certain govern
! ment position, other things being equal,
/ the native secures the place. Our police
/ force IS composed entirely of natives,
/ winch TACT has made many of them fav-
| OfaDly disposed toward us. At present
| we are especially interested in the re-
| ports that President Cleveland contem-
| plates submitting the question of annex
| alton to vote by the inhabitants of the
/ Islands. We have heard indirectly that
| congress is about to pass this bill"
what would be the result of such an
To this the President answered: ''If
| universal suffrage is to be extended upon
this, question it is hard to tell what would
/ be the result. If, however, the vote should
! be taken basing suffrage upon the consti-
| tuition of 1887, have no doubt that a vote
/ in favor of annexation would be the out
! come. II we are not annexed now we
| shall simply wait patiently until another
| administration secures the reins of gov
| eminent, when we nope to be admitted
| into the fold of the union"
| If the United States continues to re-
fuse annexation, is it probable that Great
| Britain will be asked to assume a protec-
! torate?' 1 queried
I'VE are Americans in spirit" he re-
| sponded. and do not like even to con-
o of5Llliiplate such a step yet our safety may
asked, ''Is it true that the government
Is running heavily into debt, and that this
| may prove source of weaIness?"
our financial condition has been very
good indeed he replied. THE cholera
! epidemic was source of great expense
| yet our bonds are quoted above par in
| foreign countries. We have a small tar
III upon revenues, and levy one per
1t is often stated in American papers
/ that Japan, flushed by the victory over
\ CHINA will soon take possession Of Ha-
1 wall, II the United States does not annex,
! ana tnSn IN the event of war between Rus
1 STA and Japan, Russia might secure the is
1 land. This would place one of the greatest
| military powers Just outside the Golden
| Gate, ready to demand entrance at any
moment On this point secured the per-
sonal not the official, opinion of Consul
Shisnizu, the Japanese consul. He said:
y apan does not want Hawaii for sew
| eral reasons. II is too far away, it would
be TOO expensive to keep, and would be of
no benefit whatever. If Japan should get
| possession of Hawaii the reciprocity trea-
ty which now exists between the islands
and the United States would change, and
one of Importance in the islands-Would be
ruined; for it would be impossible to ex-
port sugar to the United States which is
virtually its only market. AS a place to
operate from in case of war the islands
would be of no value to japan: for Japan
would never think of engaging in war with
the United States. We have secured For
mosa, which is an~important position to
operate from both against China and Eng
land. The articles written in Hawaii pa
pers about Japanese intentions are intend
ed to scare the United States into annexa-
ton, but are without foundation"
One needs to be in Hawaii but a very
short time to be convinced of two things:
first, that the monarchial rule never can
be again established; secondly, that there
is a strong sentiment among all classes
in favor of annexation. 1t is at once evil
dent that the part to be played by the ma
tives in the future is insignificant Why?
One reason is that they are rapidly dy-
ing out. The demon of alcohol is playing
a more deadly game with them than
cholera few monts ago. There are now
only about thirty thousand of them left
which number constitutes less than one
third of the population of the islands.
The Kanal1as, as the natives are called,
are easy gong and apparently perfectly
content to live on 'pOy,"-an extraction
from the faro-root which, when cooked.
forms a thick paste eaten by putting the
fingers into it and then sucking them '--'
Although the natives when asked what
kind Of government they prefer would
not one of them for a moment would
think of asserting that wish by force ex-
cepL IN a IeeDle way under the lead of
some white adventurer. And though thew
favor a re-establishment of the queen in
preference to the continuance of the
present government every one with
whom l have spoken would like to have
his country annexed to the United States
The Americans, who form the backbone
of the population, have but one wish, that
these islands beauNful as a necklace of
sparkling diamonds, may at LAST he
brought to adorn Columbia.
A few. Of the planters are opposed to
annexation, for the reason that it would
prohibit the Importation of contract Ia
Dor from China and Japan, without which
they say their industries cannot be car
ried on successfully. Another objection
to annexation is the ex-queen. Liliuka-
lani, who, liberated from prison last
Fourth of July, is now living here in the
utmost retirement, scarcely seeing any
one except her servants. She impresses
one as crushed and bitterly disappoint-
ed woman. Niels-1sron
LEMON ELIXIR.