The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-30
THE PORTUGUESE.

The statement is being circulated
that the Portuguese are against the
present Government and in favor of
monarchy. There may be a few
who are misguided enough to follow
a would-be leader, but the bulk of
the Portuguese colony is in favor of
annexation. Why should they feel
otherwise? In the first place the
Portuguese by annexation obtains
a valuable citizenship. He knows
and appreciates clearly the advan-
tages of becoming a citizen of a
large state, rather than of small
state whose power to protect him
from the silent aggression of the
Japanese would be practically nil.
Again he knows that on the pros
perity of the country depends his
own prosperity. If annexation
does not come the advantages OF
reciprocity disappear also, and the
Portuguese understands that, under
present condi ions, were that to be
lost, the prosperity of the country
would be gone along with it.
Within the period of the Republic
the Portuguese have increased both
as land owners and home owners.
Of the latter no figures can be
given, as there is nothing to COM
pare with. But any one who has
any acquaintance with the country,
both here and the other islands, can
verify the statement that the
number Of home owners among the
Portuguese is increasing from day
to day, and that it has increased
very largely since the days of the
monarchy.
Of the owners of real estate
among Portuguese there can be a
comparison made. III 1890 there
were 234 real estate owners among
the Portuguese, in 1896 there were
43S who so reported themselves, an
increase of over IS per cent. And
one has no hesitation in stating that
the main part of that increase has
been under the government OF the
Republic and under the rule Of the
annexationists.
The policy which has thrown
open the lands, formerly locked up
for private interests to acquisition
by the small capitalist is already
beginning to bear fruit. By no
class in the community has this
power to acquire home been more
appreciated than by the Portuguese.
The Portuguese is essentially a
home lover. He takes the greatest
pride in his little patch of garden
and in his cottage. He cultivates
the former both for use and beauty.
1t supplies him with vegetab es,
fruit and flowers. This we see in
the city. But in the country, as on
the slopes of Haleakala or in the
back settlements of Honokaa, the
Portuguese does even better work,
and builds up his homestead with
diligence and energy.
The Portuguese came here with
out the advantages of education, he
even had prejudice against educa-
ton. This has gone, and he is eager
that his children should have the
advantage. OF the rising generation
of Portuguese many are beginning
to occupy positions in the profess
sions and many more are in posi-
tions of trust and importance. AS
time goes on this number will
largely increase. The political
tendencies of such people are
naturally towards the broader lines
of republicanism and not of mon
archy. This would be so from a
theoretic point of view. From a
practical point of view the theory is
supported. Inquiry among the in
telligent Portuguese shows that the
colony here is strongly in favor of
annexation and that it thoroughly
understands and appreciates the
advantages which will accrue to the
colony from annexation. A few
noisy demagogues, anxious for place,
may try to lead in an opposite
direction, but the common sense of
the Portuguese makes them steady
and firm supporters of a policy
which must lead to their ultimate
advantage.