The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-04-27
HAWAII AT OMAHA.
Writer Urges Necessity of Having
Proper Exhibit.

inst, re Hawaii at Omaha" may l
ask your indulgence for space in your
valuable paper to express a few
thoughts bearing upon a matter which
cannot but be regarded of immense
Importance to our National interests
at this time. The proper representa-
ton and exhibit from Hawaii at the
Trans-Mississippi Exposition at Oma-
ha, in June, will mean much to this
land that many love so We'll.
All well-wishers of this country will
concede that never in our history has
Hawaii stood so prominently before
| the American people, or before the
world, as at the present time. Yet it
may be justly ventured that the mass
es Of the people Of the interior and
middle States of the great Republic
know comparatively little of this ISL
and Republic or its people. AT the
coming Exposition is presented a
splendid opportunity for Hawaii to
make herself more fully known to the
people with whom she is seeking closer
relationship. Nor would any exhibit
made, or information furnished, effect
only the people of the middle States
or of the United States. Canada and
foreign countries will be represented
with their manufactures and products
and tourists from all countries will he
in attendance. Hawaii will have an
opportunity to stand side by side with
the progressive Nations and demon
strate her right to the respect and re-
Of oil =
products of the soil and a showing of
the work of her educational institu-
tons. By making known the grand
eur and beauties of her scenery and
climate she can win the pleasure low
ing tourists to our shores. By declar-
ing our agricultural, Industrial and
commercial resources as affording
lands and homes for the farmer and
settler induce more of the Anglo-Sax-
on, Teutonic and Scandinavian Drawn
and brain to come to our shores, settle
in our beautiful valleys and cultivate
our fertile slopes, and so offset, and
equalize, the influx. and aggressive set
tIement from the Orient.
To those who have their all in Ha-
waii nei and have made this the land
Of their adoption, have their homes
and families here, to such the future
welfare of this country is a matter of
great interest. Nor can we dismiss
the possibility of having to stand he
fore the world upon our own resources
as an independent Nation. We need |
therefore to avail ourselves of every |
event to give out knowledge of our
own merits and value and to obtain |
the good opinion of the great nations |
of the earth, to attract capital and to !
start the flow of travel and settlement |
hitherward.
This brings me to note the apprOpri- |
alton made by the Senate of So 500 I'd |
defray the expenses of the Hawaii |
Exhibit Proper at Omaha.
With all due difference to the judg- |
ment of those who fixed upon that !
sum, the writer, who has no axe to |
grind but only an honest desire that |
what is done in this matter be done |
respectfully suggests that |
the sum is inadequate to make the !
dignified and proper display becoming |
and called for from Hawaii at the
present time; and the following rea-
sons will support this view. A few
extra dollars expended now will be the
best investment the Government can
make in this direction, and 1 believe
would be more cheerfully endorsed by
every intelligent taxpayer.
First, let no mistake be made in the
selection of the representative for this
important post; for there never was
1 time more urgent when the welfare
Of Hawaii required that the wisest
choice be made when the commissioner
from this young Republic should re-
present us to the world. Our appOin-
tee should be one who has grown UP
md been identified with the country's
growth and development, a man whose
interests are identical with Hawaii; a
'Hkamaaina;' to such the
rust could be committed with full as
;urance of beneficial results.
Let our wise Legislature, now in
essiOn, makes the appropriation ade-
luate, say-set aside $4,000. Appoint
capable and experienced commission
II, the right man can surely be found.
Sudh a man as the late Commissioner
If Agriculture, Mr.. JOS. Marsden, or
Mr.. j. F. Brown, Mr.. Allan Herbert,
)r a man of like stamp. Pay him well,
Is he would deserve. Then select with
lin some we'll qualified, educated as
istant of Hawaiian blood. Let them
20 to work Immediately and gather
products and data together. Out of
he fund use proper portion to have
everything labelled and arranged in
he most attractive and tasteful man.
Ter. furnish a full supply Of pamph-
let's of information that can be OBJ
aimed, that they may be disposed of.
the samples of sugar, rice, coffee,
arc, pia and fruits and have them put
lp in attractive and preserva-ble forms.
Draw from the Board of Education for
full exhibit of work from the schools.
Let the Survey Department furnish its
quota of maps and geographical in
ormation, our photographers and ar
lists their best efforts from camera
md brush, depicting Island scenes
nd scenery. Call upon the museum
nd private collections for their con-
ribution of articles of historic inter-
st such as could be readily handled