Evening star., 1896-12-30
WHY IS SHE HERE7
That is the Hawaiian Question as to
Liliuokalani.
SIZE IS OPPOSED 70 ANNEXATION
Results Of the Recent Census Of
the islands.
NATIVES DISAPPEAR RING
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
HONOLULU, December 16. 1896.
The leading incident of the past fortnight
was tine sudden departure Of the ex-queen
on the 4th instant for the United States.
Her intention was known to very few per-
sons when she boarded the steamer ten
minutes before sailing, and only six or
eight of her friends were on hand to say
goodbye. Since her release ON parole over
a year ago her life has been secluded and
quiet. This tended to disarm suspicion.
About six weeks ago there was extended to
her a full pardon for her completely in the
insurrection Of January, 1895. That pardon
removed all restriction upon her leaving
this island without executive commission.
So far as known, the government Is quite
Indifferent to her going. She had the cour-
tesy to call on Mr.. Dole and say goodbye
a few minutes before sailing. He wished
her ''bon voyage" The object of her Sc
crecy in going may have been merely TO
prevent any demonstration by the natives.
There Is little public interest manifest
ed here In this movement of LiIiuokalani.
Some surmise that she wants to be within
reach of Washington during any active re-
v.val of the question OF Hawaiian annexa-
tion, so as to exert opposing influence. 1t
is not believed that she can do much eff
fective work in that direction. Possibly
her presence in the country may generate
slight sensation as being a specimen Of
royalty, even though unseated-and kings
or queens are rare birds over your way,
though quite at a discount In Hawaii.
Their behavior in late years has tended to
dispel any lingering reverence still felt for
royal majesty" which is too poor stuff to
bear close inspection. On January "a, 1885,
the ex-Queen very explicitly abdicated and
renounced her title to the throne. Still
further, she declared that the late Ha-
allan monarchy was finally and forever
ended. At the same time she took the oath
of allegiance to the republic of Hawaii in
the usual form, including pledge not to
encourage or assist in the establishment of
monarchial form of government. Pre-
sImably. therefore. she has no intention Of
doing anything inconsistent with such dec
laration and pledge.
That. however, need not debar Liliuo-
kalani from opposing annexation, to which
she may be supposed to be adverse. in COM
mon with majority of her former native
subjects Ostensibly her visit to the east
Is for pleasure and recuperation, including
intercourse with Boston relatives of her
late husband, John o. Dominis. Doubt is
commonly expressed whether, without other
motives, she would select the winter season
for such journey. The severity and vio-
lent changes of the American climate in
winter are nearly certain to prove injurious
to such q child of the tropics, especially al
her time of life. While young person
finds joy In the briskness of the sharp
stlngs of winter. they are cruel to one who
is past the prime of life. 1t is natural to
suppose that Mrs. Dominis has other aims
In this journey than pleasure or benefit to
health. She Is not a person of negative
disposition. Notwithstanding her exterior
inertness and seclusion during the past two
years. 1t Is not to be imagined that she has
failed to be keenly interested in the po-
Etical questions concerning Hawaii, or that
any of her prejudices and animoslties have
fallen asleep.
Against annexation.
The movement for annexation here has
received great revival by reason of the
prospective change of administration at
Washington. 1t is certain that nothing
could be more distasteful to the ex-queen
than to witness the success of her adver-
saries in this measure. She cannot be 9TH
erwise than eager to do all in her power
to Illustrate 1t. She necessarily also shares
III the desire common to the majority of
her own Hawaiian race to maintain their
the great and all-devouring white race We
shall therefore have cause for surprise If
Liliuokalani does not employ her presence
In America to enforce some emphatic pro-
test in behalf Of the Hawaiian people
against the proposed robbery of their
country and their independence" ;" which is
the present cfamorous war cry Of the anti
American advocates of Hawaiian rights
These whites are now openly protesting in
print that the Hawaiians will rather sur
render their independence to Japan or any
other country than to the United States"
While there is good reason to believe that
most of the pure Hawaiians are substan-
TALLY Indifferent about maintaining inde-
pendence except as they may have had
tneir minds disturbed by noisy Britons,
Mrs. Dominis undoubtedly feels bitterly
hostile to American possession of the is
lands. and will spare no effort to Illustrate
IL. NOW. II ever, Is her time to make such
enort. Sun. the lady may remain inactive
in the matter. She is accompanied by no
able secretary or legal adviser. Such might,
If wanted. be found In America, to counsel
when and how best to act.
that the constitution of the republic Of Ha-
wall makes no distinction between the
political rights ard privileges of native
Hawaiians and Of white foreigners: also
junction in case Of annexation. Every
American will also appreciate the immense
advantage which admission to American
citizenship will confer upon the Hawaiians
political rights and franchises, Of which. as
a weak and dependent race of people, they
would be liable to be easily robbed by the
vigorous foreign majority. were the islands
pie annexation bestows a secure haven of
reruge from the very serious political perils
to which continued independence exposes
tnem. n independenee'' is a delusion. 1t
AS citizen Of the United States he will
gain an inestimable dignity as well as Sc
CURLY. Really. the worst enemies of these
ignorant people are that class of clamorous
Britishers who are deterring them from
eagerly grasping. as they ought, at the op-
portumty Of acquiring the grand American
citizenship.
The New Census,
We are awaiting with great interest the
full results of.the census Of the Hawaiian
Islands. which was taken ten weeks ago.
Only few leading facts have yet been tab
ulated. The total population Of the group
Is found to be 10000. This is an increase
In six years of 19.O19, or over q per cent.
Unfortunately this increase must be attrib-
uted mainly to Japanese immigration. and
only In small degree to excess of births
over deaths. We do not yet know, but II is
probable. that the number of pure Hawai-
ians has materially diminished In 1880
they numbered "a, 1876. which Is much less
lhan one-third of the present population.
There were then 6.188 half and Quarter
castles. whose number must now be con-
siderably increased. good proportion Of
them being half-Chinese. The haIf-castes
are the only class showing any excess Of
females. Among all foreign races the males
greatly predomfnate, averaging more than
double the females In $780, Among the
Portuguese at that time, however. the
females were As per cent.