The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-19

III the United States should annex tue
Hawaiizn Islands it will become possessed
OF quite respectable addition to its ad-
yantages. The additional area need not
make US vain. because the principal
island, Hawaii. h only 4,d1e square miles
in area. or about the size OF Connecticut.
The state of Washington could take seven
teen such islands on It's back and stu have
room to spare. The islands were formerly
called the Sandwich Islands, and the prin-
cipal island was long known as owhyhee,
the pronunciation being very close to tnat
now in general use. but the spelling was
not in accord with the native language
There are seven islands and five isiets TOO
small to be OF much value. and uninhan-
tied. Next to Hawaii the largest Is Maui.
but that il only 6G5 square miles In area.
and most Of the land is mountainous The
islands are entirely Of volcanic origin and
have many extinct craters generally over
grown with Iuxurtant vegetation. although
many hundred square miles are covered
with recent and barren lava. At some
places along the shores the natives cuiti-
vate sweet potatoes upon Iayas that are
hardly cooled. The famous crater. Kiiauea,
IN situated upon the largest island. and Is
the largest continually active crater in the
world Oahu. the fourth island In size,
has an area Of only 522 square miles, but
II is the most important In one sense, be-
cause Honolulu is situated on IL. Its selec-
ton was no doubt determined by the fact
tina. 1t has an excellent harbor. being pro-
terted by barrier Of coral reefs 1t at
fords cafe anchorage. and 10 easy OF access
from al! quarters ana with ali winds. It
has a rival on the main Island in HiIo,
which has n good natural harbor. but
scarcely of sufficient depth. and wharves
will be needed IL there shall be any great
extension of commerce.
The islands had q commercial irpor-
lance for Great Britain long before the
United States took any interest In them.
and were used as station for the English
line OF steamers from California to the
FIJI Islands and Australia, to which lat
ter market the trade Of the islands went
until the last few years.
the Spaniards, but certainly by the fa-
NOUS English navigator. Capt. Cook, and
even then. although the natives were bar
barians. as viewed from an English stand
point, they presented much higher type
than most savage races. Indeed. their
upon a decided intelligence. There were
four distinct Kingdoms. and the people
formed three classes-chiefs. priests and
serfs--but there was no middle class of
freemen, as on other islands OF the Pa
oific. Their religion was the worst feature
of their institutions. The priests held COM
plete sway over the people. and they re-
sorted to the use of both drugs and
sorcery In order to keep their control. The
chief was supposed to have descended
from the gods, his life was charmed, and
he was worshpped after dead. Nothing
can. be learned of the early history OK this
people, although 1t Ii supposed they be-
Ionged to the same race as that indigenous
10 New Zealand notwithstanding the diff
ference OF 5000 miles The population Is
gradually decreasing, as an estimate made
In 1922 gave the native population as i4o.oo"
The exalted ancestry of the chiefs did
| not prevent their defeat by Kane
| haineha L. The wars That brought about
| this result swept on a large number o!
/ peop,e. but the English writer's OF thai
| tim. refer 10 the vices and diseases that
were decimating the islands and bringing
| misery 10 those who remained through ths
| arrival of the reugher element OF for
| eigners.
| II was not until the arrival of American
! missionaries in lSen that there was any
| material change Idoia,ry was abolished
| and there was basis for the poem In which
| Tennyson describes kapiolaai, a ehieftair
| who walked nfty miles to Mauna Loa and
| there refused 10 sacrifice TO PETE, the sed
| ,iess Of the volcano. and thus broke up ths
| worship that had demanded constant sac
| fisice OF human life, About the same time
| The serfs were freed and given the right Of
suffrage. form Of constitutional gov
erunens VAS established. and most conf
menaahle efforts were made by the ma
tiyes 20 adopt the Ideas OF civilized ma
lions. British and French naval officer:
| At ono time seised tho islands. but the
| United states government protested ant
| eonrelles TIRE other powers 20 Join IL In .
| guaranty to respect the Independence o.
the rative government. King Lot. Of
Namofa meha V. adopted a constitution
patterned after that Il Great Britain
with a legislature and : nFivy council
The laws. however. were modelled on tnos'
OF the United States. King Lot died with
cut naming successor. and William Lun
alilo. .iesreussn; Of an old family OF Ia
/ waisan chiefs. was elected King. lie reign
ed for ouly ore year and on his death. iF
| ls.4 the people again elected. cho,sins
{ David Ksiskaua, who also belonged 10
/ family % high chiefs. With the history o
ghe country since that slIne the Ameri
| can pcef,le have been made very familiar
| IN the death ~ kaiakaua. his sister aueei
! II,tuokaiaai succeeded him, and had Sh,
| remained on the ,hrone her s4ccesso
would probably hsv. been Princess Ksls
tart TIE daughter Of The queens dsscea sc,
( younger sister ana ScotcAmAn name
! CleSnosa. whe was at one time govergo
| ~ Oahu.
| The islands are very valuable. consider
snS their location and crtsta Three
/ fN.~sks ~ tha szssssH Invested "a s.rassF,N.