Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-02


opinion of this nature in Japan appears in
her popular newspapers. and In frequent
public lectures and addresses. as has been
fully verified by the testimony of Amerf-
cans who are intimately acquainted with
the japanese language and people. 1t
would be inexplicably strange il the states
men OF Japan did not strongly participate
IN such popular feeling. That they do DO
participate Is clearly indicated by the ex-
treme position which they now assume In
prosecuting their claims in our present con-
.roversy with them. They evidently regard
IL as or vital importance that Hawaii
should exert no power to check this i'm
mense japanese immigration, which threat
ems speedily to submerge us by numbers.
Lhey resent IN any way being thwarted in
their plan Of a quiet conquest of Hawaii
py resistless colonization.
mis- feeling Of the Japanese Statesmen is
also apparent. despite their denials. in the
earhestness OF their recent protest made at
washington against annexation a protest
quite without precedent in similar circum-
stances-a protest not thought Of In 1893
II can only be accounted for by the fact
that Japan herself has lately been actively
cherishing positive designs upon these is
Iands. and is exasperated to see them slip
ping away from her grasp. They disclaim
any desire to take the islands themselves
they only demand that they shall remain
independent. Certainly the continued in
dependence Of Hawaii is all that Japan
requires now. That will leave IL omen TO
her to continue her present process OF SUBJ
merging our population with her own un-
til We have quietly drifted into the condi-
ton of Japanese colony, and are gov
erned by Japanese votes and a japanese
legislature and executive, who viii en-
brace the first opportunity of annexing the
country to their fatherland.
Japan's Natural Tendency.
1t Is highly important that Americans
should not fail to observe how very strong
is the natural tendency for Japan to ac-
qulre possession of the Hawaiian Islands
a tendency so strong that II is quite in
conceivable that japanese covetousness for
Hawai-: should not have been powerfully
excited. This tendency arises largely from
the fact that Japan is the nearest populous
nelghbor OF Hawaii. only 60 per cent
farther than your sparsely populated Pa
clhc coast She has crowded population
OF 45,OO0OO, who are pressing for expan-
sion abroad, and are ambitious to conquer
and possess new countries. She has large
fleets of steamers. which are eager to earn
a rich profit by transporting emigrants
across the Pacific at so a head. We al
ready hear of grand schemes for estab-
lShlng Japanese colonies in Mexico and
Central America, i'm which countries II is
not improbable that such industrious and
thrifty immigrants might be of great serv-
ice. Midway to those countries lies Ha-
vail. already half coloniZed by these people,
and forming grand naval and commercial
outpost of central Importance to whatever
great power shall possess it. Japan being
llie OIIy OHt VI tne fdclIlc powers prepared
at once to pour a large population into
Hawaii, is ii probable or even possible that
she should not have learned earnestly to
covet such possession?
Stimulated by Returning Japanese.
Added to this element of gravitating
tendency is The tremendously exciting in
flueHce that has been eXerted for several
years past upon the Japanese by the
crowds Of their returning emigrants who
have bettered their condition in Hawaii
and who return every month by hundreds
to Japan to report our delicious china te
and fruitful soil, and who tell their coun-
trymen how easy and natural thing il
will be for them to swarm over to Hawaii
and hll up the thinly settled islands and
make them an appanage of Japan. Every
one OF the steamers sailing hence to Japan
twice month carries thither a hundred or
more of such returning people to infiame
the japanese mind with the belief that Ha-
wall is their natural and valuable prey
The effect is already produced, and the
Japanese people are confident of possess
ing these islands. Their statesmen may
automatically disclaim such a desire They
may even be convinced that both England
and America will stand insuperably in the
way OF its qualification, but the desire I'M
uenlably exists in great strength. 1t will
not be thwarted without vigilance and
prompt action on the part of the United
States.
HOnOlulu's Commercial Importance.
The commercial Importance of Honolulu
Is progressing In a geometrical ratio This
Is SHOWN by the accelerating growth Of
ocean steamer traffic at this port. During
the first six months of 1889 twenty-one
such steamers entered here; of '93, thirty
hve steamers; and these last six months
there have be N sixty-five In four years
the increase was 81 per cent, and in eight
years 30 per cent. This, however, is not
our local trade, but is far more important.
1t Is the natural growth of the great traf-
nc across the Pacific, in which Honolulu
shares by reason of it's central location as
the great solitary crossing point where
the steamers are compelled to call The
continued growth of this transpacific COM
merce must be far more rapid than the in
crease of white population upon the Amer
lean and Australasian shores of this ocean,
because Of the active awakening going on
in the enormous and productive populations
of China and Japan, which are fast contrib
uting to foreign commerce now in its in
fancy.
The Nicaragua Canal.
The opening Of the Nicaragua canal must
greatly develop this traffic. sending by way
of Honolulu most of the steamers crossing
to Japan and China from Atlantic ports.
The coal brnkers must be replenished on
the voyage of 1900 miles. Il is a very
uuouSidlc tndt Dy H1te6n years
from now instead of eleven steamer arri-
walls per month We shall average eleven
a week. And this also means 80 arrivals
in addition of larger coal ships per arnum
to supply the steamers with fuel. We
have just got one new slip excavated for
ocean steamers. 1t is $50 feet by $50 in
area, and will hold at once two boats
larger than any as yet calling here. This
slip has been dug to thirty feet depth into
the coral, the lower twelve feet quite hard
requiring chilled steel cutters on the
dredger. Another similar slip is 10 be
eXcavated shortly. Hitherto we have had
only two wharves where the larger steam
ers could lie. It is evident that before
many years this business must overflow
into the ncighboring Pearl Harbor. Our
narrow cove of a harbor can hardly handle
the rapid coaling of thirty to fifty steam
ships month.
How is it that any Americans are willing
to surrender this great mfdocean trade
center to Japan or England?
KAMEHAMEHA
Hnbeas Corpus Writ Applied For.
A writ Of habeas corpus was applied for
before Justice Hagner In the Criminal