The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-08-17
SPAIN AND THE CAROuNES
SEVEN YEARS 4 MISSIONARY AT
KUSAIE.
Rev. |. VI. Channon Tells of the Con-
ditions Under Which He has Labor
ed for Civilization and Religion.

Rev. |. NJ. Channon, a Congregation
al minister and prominent member of
the American Board of Missions, is in
San Francisco, on his way to the Col
onies, where he has been seven years
in charge of the training school for
missionary teachers at Kusaie. He
goes to the islands on an English
schooner.
Mr.. Cnannon told an interesting tale
of his missionary work and the condi-
tions under which he has labored for
the sake of civilization and religion
missionary work has showed some
good results in the Carolines," he said,
though it is impeded by the presence
of the Spanish. Thirty years ago the
first missionaries went to that coun-
try, and there has been no cessation
in the striving for the spiritual wei
fare of the natives since that time.
They are a docile people and friend
ly to the American flag. The great
est enemy to the advancement of our
work has been the Spanish. In 1890
they landed troops on POnape, one of
the larger islands, and almost imme-
diately an insurrectionary war broke
out i'm which the natives proved the
better fighters. About seven killed
sums up the loss of the native army,
while at least 500 Spaniards gave up
their lives. Since that time Spain has
seen fit to consider the island under
an armed peace Though no war OF
any kind has been waged on the is
lands from that day to this the Span
ish sOldiery has remained, occupying
just the territory ON which they are
encamped.
The entire population of the is
lands is about 100000, and | think out
of this number we have 10000 con-
verts, 5000 of whom are active mem
bers of the church. The commercial
and agricultural resources of the is
lands are far greater than the pres
ent development would indicate. SUI
gar cane, coffee and copra could be
raised in large quantities were an Ell
ergetic people to engage in the devel-
opment of these natural products.
Most of the business is trancted by
Germans, who are well established on
the several islands of the group. The
Spanish government has not gained
anything by the possession of the
Carolines. The instruction cost that
country $4,000 900, and they have not
received that much in return since
their holding. The islands are visit
ed once every three months by a stea-
mer coming from the Philippines. AS
rule there is one Spanish gunboat
stationed there. but the last | know
of to have patroled the bays and har-
bors of the Carolines was the Callao,
the gunboat which was captured in
Manila Bay. The Callao left shortly
before the outbreak of the war, and
am of the opinion that no other YES
sci of any kind has arrived at any one
of the Carolines since that time. and
that the people living there have not
yet received information that Spain
and the United States are at war.
THE Spaniards have tried to freeze
the missionaries out at the Carolines
hut they never attempted personal
violence. ! think that our work will
be full of trouble as soon as the wal
is at an end. Though I have no fear
that the Spaniards will practice any
indignities upon MS. vet they might
make il uncomfortable for foreigners
by melting the natives against us"