The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-25
ON HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
Ex-Secretary Foster Makes a
Very Glowing Report
IN A PROSPEROUS AND Peaceful
CONDITION.
Sugar Planters Declared Large Divi-
dends on Last Years business
Extension of Coffee Cultivation
Problem of Annexation.

San Francisco, Nov. 24.-Ex-Secretary
and Mrs. John W. Foster arrived today
by the steamer City of Picking from a
visit to the Hawaiian islands. greatly
pleased with the scenery, climate and
people. Mr.. Foster reports the islands
in most prosperous and peaceful con-
dition. He said: THE sugar planters
have declared large dividends on last
years business, and the new crop, now
nearly ready for grinding, is even more
promising. Coffee cultivation is being
largely extended, and is looked for
ward to with great expectations. The
increased commerce has justified the
Pacific Mail in doubling its service to
Honolulu, and a new line of large
Japanese steamers is promised soon to
be established. The census recently
taken, but not yet published, will show
a considerable increase in the total
population, but a steady decrease in
the native race. The increase is mainly
in the japanese and. Chinese popula-
ton.
THE present administration, although
without the sympathy of many of the
natives, and some of the foreign mer-
chants, is conceded to be the best gov
eminent the islands have ever had, and
seems well established and generally
acquiesced in. Although Commissioner
Blount, in 1893, predicted its overthrow
within year, it is approaching the
end of the fourth year of it's existence
under most favora BILE auspices. Its pro-
gramme and the constitution under
which it is acting declare unequivo-
cally for annexation to the United
anew upon the incoming administration
at Washington. While there is a di-
versity of sentiment in the ISLANDS on
the question of annexation. there is a
general feeling that the government of
the United States should give a de-
cisive answer respecting it. The eX
listing uncertainty as to the future is
disturbing business and creates a state
of great uneasipess in the community
The ex-queen keeps herself in seclu-
sion, and but few of her old supporters
expect ever to see her restoration. If
the islands are not annexed to the
United States, the belief prevails that
they will fall under the dominion of
some other power. The mutual dis
trust engendered by the events of the
past few years will make it difficult
for any party to successfully carry on
an Independent government, and the
growing political and commercial i'm
portance of the Pacific islands in the
worlds affairs would soon bring about
complications with some one or more
of the nations now actively competing
in that part of the globe"
Mr. and Mrs. Foster left for Wash
ington tonight. The impression pre-
walls here that Mr.. Fosters trip to the
islands was not alone to urge extern
sion and enlargement of the Pacific
Gable company's concession, but that
he went also in the interest of the Re-
publican party to ascertain the extent
of annexation sentiment at the present
time. The glowing accounts he gives
of the prosperity of the islands and of
the delight of the inhabitants at the
news of Major McKinleys election are
interpreted by certain prominent people
here to mean that earnest efforts to
annex the islands to the United States
will follow closely upon President Nc
k1nleys Inauguration.