The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-01-07

JACKSONVILLE tOr.), Dec. l2.-
Especial correspondence to Portland,
Oregonian. )-James Ellicott, who has
been a resident of Jacksonville for the
past twenty years, has just returned
from a two months visit to Honolulu.
Mr.. Ellicott formerly lived for num-
Der OF years on one of the Hawaiian
islands, and is well versed in the his
tory and government of Hawaii prior
to the establishment of the present
Government.
He says the government, under the
monarchy, was for long series of
years a rotten and irresponsible sys-
tenn of extravaganza and shameless
debauchery, unworthy the name of
government, and that it was tolerated
only because of the weakness, indo-
lence and want of moral courage of
the inhabitants.
The natives are represented as being
indolent, good natured and inoffensive
and just such people as would be
likely to suffer, so long as evils were
sufferable, before raising the standard
of revolt. Mr.. Elliott is an intelli-
gent and practical man and a close
observer, and while there made a
careful study of the workings of the
new Government, aud gives 1t as his
opinion that it is one of the best in
existence today. He says it is clean,
liberal and temperate, and its affairs
are administered with dispatch and
strictly in accordance with law; and
that the people, without regard to
nativity or party, are accepting and
supporting it in good faith, and that
all ideas of the possible restoration of
and that the Government is now
securely entrenched in the judgment
and affections of the people.
l. Mr.. Elliott says there is but one |
sentiment respecting annexation, and
that it is universal. He is firmly inn
pressed with the opinion that annex
alton is the ultimate and inevitable
destiny of the islands, and that the
sooner they are annexed the better 1t
will be for the United States. He says
that in the event of war with any for
eign power, the islands woulgd i've us a
vantage ground and base Of operations
which would be invaluable, and that
If they should pass under the control
of some other power they would be
constant menace TO US, and, from
their position, might be made a dan
gerous and very effective and offensive
outpost. He claims that the senti-
inent of annexation is so pronounced
and universal that it could now be
accomplished without n jar, and that,
in his opinion, as a matter of national
policy, it is the most important public
question OF the day, and one the
United States canBot afford to set
aside or daily with as OF little import.
He thinks it was grave mistake that
the policy of President Harrison was
not carried out TO its logIcal cODclu-
sions, and the islands annexed at once.
He believes the assumption of the
public debt, and payment Of the cur
rent expenses of the government, over
and above the revenues, whatever
they might be, would be as nothing
pared with the multiplied advan-
tages, especially in time, of war, to be.
derived from annexation.
The officers of the Government are
represented as able, conscientious and
patriotic men, and Mr.. Elliott ex-
presses the belief that, in the event
annexation fails, the Government will
continue intact, and will receive the
united and hearty support of the COM
mOnwealth.