Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-07-01

Will be OF interest. The article. how
ever, does not state of what benefit
this territory will be to the United
States and to the general public it
seems as though we have just about as
much use for these islands as cat
fish has for an umbrella.
Hawaii is group of islands, eight in
number, covering an area of 6,64o
square miles and, according to cen
sus taken in 1890, containing popula
ton. of $4,000. The names and di,
mensions of the several islands which
comprise the group are Hiawii, 100
miles in length and ninety in width:
Mani, ffty-four miles long and twenty
five wide: Kahoolawe, twelve miles
long and five wide: Lanai, twenty miles
long and nine wide; Molokai, thirty
FIVE miles long and seven wide; Ohau,
thirty:fve miles long and twenty y-one
wide; Kanai, thirty miles long and
twenty. eight wide, and Niihau, twenty
nine miles long and FIVE in width.
The natives are of the Malayo Poly
nesian race, of reddish brown color,
with black. straight hair, broad face,
fat nose and thick lips.~. At the time of
Captain Cooks first visit to the islands
in 1878, they were in barbarous state.
Polygamy prevailed among the chiefs
and the rulers and the moral tone was
of the lowest. Human sacrifices were
common and the form of their idolatry
was severe, cruel and bloody, while
cannibalism was among their vices.
But what is the most surprising with
regard to these people is their de-
cadence in number as they progress In
civilization. They have better food,
better clothing, better dwellings and
the improved service of a better civiH-
cation, yet the native population ofsat
least 200, 900 In 1873 has been reduced
to 34,436 in 1890. This is accounted
for by one authority on the hypothesis
that the blood of the race has been
poisoned by the introduction of foreign
diseases. and by other inquirers on the
theory that crime, neglect of offspring
and the lack of maternal instinct
among the women is responsible,
The principal products of the islands
are sugar and. rice. though coffee,
hides, bananas and wool are produced
in sufficient quantities to become sub
jects of export. In 1896 treaty OF
commerce was concluded between the
Hawaiian kingdom and the United
States which had marked influence
on the trade, and was of especial ad
vantage to the islands. 1t provided fol
the free entry of the agricultural pro
ducts of that country into this and the
reciprocal admission of the manufact
ured products of this country into that
AS a result, the greater portion of the
commercial transactions of the island
ers are with this country. Steamers
run between the islands and America
Australasia and China, and the tota
exports in 1895 amounted to SS.S5S.
900, against an import trade of S5,714,
600. The total customs receipts il
1895 were S547. 900. the number O
ships entered being sIS. and the ag
gregate tonnage 557,Sr7 tons.
The revenues for 1896 amounted t.
$3.50. 52S and the expenditures to 81.
es2, ,4oe. a close margin, but ample
The currency is gold and silver, goi;
coins of the United States being lega
tender for all sums over $40 and silve
coins of the United States for amount
under. The only paper money the,
use is treasury certificates for coin &C
tually deposited there.
The capital of the country is Homo
lulu, which is also the metropolis of tn
islands. 1t is situated in the island O
Oohu and contains population o
about IS. 900. In 1892 there we're 10
schools on the islands with 3oa teach
ers and 1879 pupils. of whom 5.35.
were Hawaiians. The appropriate
for schools for I8e2.e4 amounted t
saro.6oo. All forms of religion ar
permitted and protected. and the popu
lation of worshipers is about equally di
vided between Catholics and Profits
tants; The islands are to conside,