The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-06
WHAT MAY COME.

iuS dlldllS vi Lu6u WHICH taken at
the flood leads to success, but often
mankind in their blindness, miss
the flood, fall behind the crest of
the same and drift into some i'll
smelling backwater, there to rot in
"innocuous deseretude." The crest
of the wave in Hawaiian affairs is
annexation, if we swing along upon
that crest we shall be carried to the
shore of safety, if we miss it we
shall either get into backwater of
ruined commercial hopes and grass
grown streets, or we shall drift into
stormy sea of troubles that will
render life upon the Islands unen-
durable.
The person who will be most
affected will De the Hawaiian him
self. OF late years his prospects
have been brighter, though there are
those, who for interested motives
tell him otherwise. Wages are good.
There is ample call for Hawaiian
mechanics, with the many new en-
terprises going on there is no lack
of opportunity for the industrious
to obtain work. The Government
Of the Republic has elaborated
land law, which gives the Hawaiian
the opportunity of obtaining d home
for himself and his descendants
upon the easiest kind Of terms. 1t
has even done more, for under one
section of it, the 9o9 year lease
system, the home is made inalen-
able. That the Hawaiian has taken
advantage of this is very plain, for
in 1890 there were only 1871 Ha-
wallan owners of real estate, whereas
IN 1896 there were were 2oo5, or an
advance of 724, and had we statis-
tics tor the year past we should find
that very substantial number had
been added during that period. But
even this does not tell the whole
tale, for many who are pure hasing
their homestesds by installments
have not counted themselves as
land owners. AS fact the
Hawaiian has never had a better
opportunity OF obtaining a home
than he has had under the Republic,
and he has freely availed himself of
his opportunities.
The coffee business is attracting
Hawaiians. Through the Konas
and Punas there have always been
Hawaiian owners of trees, but until
lately they have not given any great
attention to their cultivation. 1t
only requires anyone to ride through
the Koua districts to see what
Hawaiians are doing in tubs direction
now. The new lands being opened
up are being largely taken up by
Hawaiians.
The prospects of the Hawaiians
are good, and so are the prospects
OF the Portuguese, who have be-
come land owners and home owners,
since their arrival in the country.
And these prospects have been
better dur ng the Republic than
ever they were before.
All want the busy hum of indus
try to continue. All must desire
to keep the prosperity which we
now possess. There is every
prospect now of good time. 4"
we can assure those good times in
only one way, and that is by an
neXation. Upon our getting
annexation depends whether we
shall retain our chances of advance
ment or whether we shall have the
cup of prosperity dashed from our
lips.
Frothy orators may rant and rave
as they like, but it is the practical
side of life that must appeal to the
wage Garner. What he asks OF
himself is whether by advancing or
retarding any movement he is going
to better his condition. Is he going
to assure himself of better chances
of work and good wages? Will he
be able to buy more for his family
and make himself and them more
comfortable ? And to such ques-
tons there can be only one answer.
With annexation he can be assured
of these things which are the all in
all to him. Without annexation
the prosperity of the Islands is
doomed, az all events for many
years and perhaps forever, at all
events so doc ned that most of the
wage earners will find their means
of subsistence suddenly cut off
The arguments of the anti-annex,
ationists are based upon the idea
that things will go on as they now
are, but the premiss is falIacious,
With the loss of the annexation
cause the Hawaiian Islands lose