Evening star., 1896-11-05

or conquest by Japan. There Is always a
possibility that the United States might
become involved in war. and consequently
prevented from exercising due protection
toward Hawaii. Japan might fall under
control of its lingo element, and seize the
opportunity OF Americas temporary weak
ness. This danger is not a great one but
Is enough to make us quite willing to see
another strong maritime power grow up
alongside Of Japan. Russia, with strong,
fortified ports in Corea: will act as a
moderator to Japan, holding her in check,
and preventing the indulgence of views Of
foreign conquest.
In other words. a better an efficient bal
ance Of power will be created on the North
Pacific by reason of Russias active pres
ence upon this ocean as 81 strong maritime
power. Such an effective balance of power
is of no little interest to the United States.
with whom there will long be a sharp RI
valry with England in this part Of the
world. 1t cannot fail to be useful In auy
contentious arising with England, as well
as with Japan. to have present a fourth
power whose aid would be likely to be
given to the United States in any emer-
gency England Is grasping and aggres-
sive. She possesses powerful and fortified
colonies at Vancouver. Sydney and New
Zealand. Two-thirds of the twelve steam
erS calling monthly at Honolulu fy the
British flag. She tends to a complete con-
troll of the commerce Of the Pacific. Eng
land constantly Graves possession of the
Hawaiian Islands as the needed link to
between Vancouver and Auckland She
fully comedies Hawaii to the United States
as lying within their sphere of influence.
At the same time England wants this
group 1t will therefore be of the greatest
advantage to have a strong power like Rus
sia taking leading part in the CONNER
cial traffic of this ocean. to help in re-
pressing undue tendencies of England as
well as OF Japan toward aggressive action.
BY all means let us welcome this fourth
maritime power on the Pacific.
Pacific Commerce.
The increase of cur ocean steam fleet
goes on steadily. A third ship is about to
be added to the two on the Vancouver line
from Sydney which have been Flying for
over three years. Those two have been
insufficient to maintain their trips with
regularity The new ship will be a swift
one. and with her aid, they will run four
week trips. instead Of monthly ones This
VIII have the advantage of enabling them
10 alternate regularly with the old Oceanic
rour-weekly line from Sydney to San Fran
cisco. A new ship. the Moana Tor OCEAN,.
IS soon to take the place on the latter line
OF the Monowai. which is apt to be behind
tlme. The Moana has extra speed A line
OF tramp steamers has been running quite
regularly for six months past between
fortland. Ore, and Japan, carrying -four
ana other Oregon products. This is likely
| TO develop into strong line Of good steam
ers. On the new Japanese line from Yoko-
hsna TO Seattle two steamers have al
ready passed through Honolulu going east
ward Inc next Increase to be looked for
Is probably the japanese line to San Diego
which Will touch here both ways Honolulu
now has an average of thirteen ocean
steamers calling monthly to seven calling
tnree years ago. an Increase Of two per
month every year. At this rate we shall
have over twenty steamers a month he
fore January /, 1901
The returns from the new census taken
month ago are only beginning to be
heard from. Enough has transpired tn
render probable an increase of 25 per cent
OF the population since 1880. During the
previous six years the increase had been
ABOUT II per cent. or from SU,57S to 50 $50
1t Is thought that there win now prove tn
be at least 1l5.OOO Inhabitants In the Ha-
"alan Islands. We are the next interest
co. however. In certain details which will
api,ear In due time. What rate of decrease
Will be shown in the purely Hawaiian non
ulation? What of increase In the half
castles, and OF what nationality their pa-
terra origin? OF particular interest will
oe the parental nationality of the whites
born In Hawaii. a fact never ascertained In
previous censuses.
we have known how many persons wore
mere OF Anne rican, German or British birth
put never the national origin of the perhaps
equal number Of whites born here For IN :
stance Col. Blount reported I,e.s Amer
cans living here. when, in fact there wer,
large number born here and not counted
oS nm. as they should haze been, in estt-
Hauns the strength of this American col
ony. ~ -. WI
The Prolific Portuguese.
Another important question to be an.
swered by this census is the Increase of the
portuguese people during the past six
years. This will have been chiefly by births
They have prolific families. Many Of those
previously counted rs children will now an.
| pear as adults The Portuguese will Der.
| haps show the largest percentage of in
crease In any class OF not less interest
VIII be the increase In Chinese and Ian.
| anese Both of these must have grown
| considerably in numbers since 1880 when
| there were 15,3Ol Chinese and 23tpl lana.
| nese Both classes will show a good man,
| b'fths. especially the latter. who will have
| more than double their numbers.
| Inc leturns, so far as counted. alrea dy
| show an increase of over % Der cent on the
Island of Kauai, and on this island Of Oahu
II appears to be certain that the populat tior
| OF this city of Honolulu will exceed 30 Os)
from the immense increase in dwellings
ana buildings of ell sorts during the si,
| years one would infer that to the 23UpO OF
| 1880 at least 10000 should be added Ger
| tainly the average housing of the peopl.
| must be greatly superior to what 1t ther
| was. The ancient thatched cottages OF
| the HawaiianS, forming majority of tn,
| dwellings, thirty years ago, have entirel,
| disappeared, except as a few foreigner.
| preserve samples on their premises as curl
oslt1es to exhibit to visitors. Honolulu ha.
| become in nearly all respects an American
| city, excepting its tropical foliage and palm
trees. KAMEHAMEHA.