The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-14
An Interview Given By a Former
Pastor Of This City.
HE COUNTRY AS HE SAW 1T
Tourist Observation Two Sides.
Middle Sugar Interest.
AS a Field of Business.
Springfield. Mass. Republican,

tSprinEHeid. Mass. Republican,
Rev. Douglas 4. Biruic. who FOR four
years has been pastor OF the Union
church in Honolulu. is enjoying "A rest
at his old home at the corner OF Pearl
and Chestnut streets in this city. He has
resigned his pastorate in Honolulu and
expects To- again settle in the East. III.
has been in the Hawaiian Islands during
the exciting period of the revolution and
the establishment OF the Republican form
OF government. lie left Honolulu only a
short time before the raising OF the
United States flag over that city as the
capital OF the United States new pos
sessions. In speaking OF the conditions
there, he says: NO country suffers more
from the tourist than do these Islands
one tourist comes and happens to fall I'm
with the old order OF things: who are
satisfied II there Is no material advance
mcut and who brand the new govern
mcnt as a sort OF machine. working sole
~ Tor the interests OF the men holding
Office under its provisions. Such a traV-
eler leaves with the impression that the
people are being sadly imposed upon and
that they are dying OF disappointment be-
cause progressive Americanism has be-
gun to hurry things along at such "A pace.
The tourist representing the other side
finds his entertainment. his guides and his
information among those of republican
tendencies He learns from them that no
one IL dissatisfied with the new govern
mcnt: that the natives are rejoicing over
the fact that their chiefs no longer op-
press them and that they have Amcri-
cans 0n customs, at lcasD to govern them.
This man leaves the Islands under the
profound impression that republicanism -
a grand success.
The fact is" says Mr.. Birnic. that
there * a middle ground which neither
tourist finds. There are different classes
with wnom the traveller never comes In
contact. There are i'm the city OF Honolulu
many different nationaliticS- Provisions
are made in the management OF the city
for people Of five different nationalittcS.
For example. the water bills are made
out i'm English. Chinese. Japanese. Portu-
gucSc and Hawaiian. No traveller can
come in contact with all the different pco-
pies. and as a result the public gets only
half-truthS.
The native Hawaiian is not "A leader
He iS born TO follow, and Tor that reason
the old chiefs had great influence among
the people. These natives IN many in
stances long for the old days. They would
like To b, again under the leadership %
the chiefs. This - impossible. however.
the old line Is extinct. Following the
custom OF their people. the predecessors
OF the now famous I.iiiUokalaui wcr.
chosen from among the people. th.. blood
OF the nobility having become extinct.
They were under the old rule. They knew
nothing OF the advanced views and were
willing To follow. As things are at pres
cnt. they make good citizens. They are
servants Their longing for past dayS
does not affect their attitude toward the
existing order of things. and they are
rapidly becoming accustomed To republi-
Cauism.
'''The situation OF the Islands makes
them the center OF oriental and occidental
there and MAKE. very satisfactory inhab-
itautS. ! would trust Chinanau any
where and with any amount OF money.
They are the best ut trady~meu. They do
rs
90 the Americans I'm this country. They
ar" In every way as capable Of being
trusted. Th.s. people have been rapidly
afiiliatiuE with the natives. and the inter
marrying. has brought about a large pop
ulation OF half-hrccGS- The JapaueS" do
not minEl" with the natives and VIII haN"
very Ittl. to do with them. There are
great many unmarried Japan.s. men tn
th. Islands. The men from other coun-
tries come To tn. Islands and iut.rmarry
with the natives, but this Is never the
case with the Japanese. The ease with
which people from all lands have been
able 90 reach Honolulu has mad" IN" pop
Ulatiou very cosmopolitan. but they ar"
as "a rule. inactive In affairs OF govern
msut. There ar. agitaturS among All
classes. but they 90 not have much tuiiu-
euce. The people. and especially IN" ma
tiveS. are inclined 90 Ice satisfied All
classes with any knowledge OF American
ways and forms of government desired
reciprocity, or som. form of government
that would insure stability. This was "s-
pecially true Of the Americans and tine
Germans.
''The opportunities in that country Tor
young men are scarce only "a few can
engage iu "a single branch Of business. as
practically all the business Is done In the
one city Of Honolulu. Everything - inn
ported. Nothing but sugar l. raised
there. Hay, grain. coal, shoes and such
cornnod..tes are brought in from outside
| This reduces the possibilities FOR the bus
incs. man. and at IN. same time Increases
the rate OF living. il costs one third more
| 10 live there than iu New England One
/ of the large lines OF my charity work has
been I'm helping people away from the
Islands who have gun. th.r" with a view
| OF finding some remarkable business op-
| portuuity.'
| Rev. Mr.. BiTuie went 90 Honolulu in the
| Spring OF 49,. In January OF that year
/ the troops OF the revolution We're quart.
cred IN the church of which hs was 90 bs
/ pastor. After ne began his work th.r.
/ hn huilt uu th. interests % the church fn,
/ Cr,rsir- the membership. lie found IN,
/ work very trying and that change was
| imperative for the sake of his health. TTs
/ viii remain in this city som. time and
/ VIII probably begin active work agar