The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-27

No Higher Civilization or Finer Culture to
BE Found neutrality-suspicious. Cities,
with Enterprising Inhabitants-The Teie-
phone in Business Liberty and american
ism Predominant.
There is no more beautiful land than the
Hawaiian Islands. | say this after a visit
there of three monthS-a visit given over 10
the conscientious and unbiased study OF
the Paradise of the Paciic-ltS resources
and the social and political conditions of
the people.
Along with an ideal climate-June like
most of the year-there is a wealth of
beauty in the marvellous vegetation OF the
Tropics, and there is also, strange as 1t
may seem, almost every product OF the
temperate zones. 4 mercury rarely below
60 degrees and not often above so degrees,
with northeast trade winds blowing over
mountains and down valleys, give a de-
lightful, even temperature all the year
round.
The soil is one of the richest, from cen
turtles of forest decay. having the lower
stratum of lava rock, containing the most
valuable elements of plant food.
There is no higher civilization, no finer
culture in the United States than will be
found to-day on the Hawaiian Islands.
Honolulu, the Capital, on the Island of
Oahu. is an up to date city of 3o,000 people.
Its churches schools, libraries, well-paved
streets and handsome private residences,
all bespeak refinement, culture and prog
TeSS.
In the general use of the telephone and
electric lights. the towns on the Hawaiian
Islands are far and way in advance of
towns Of similar size i'll the United States.
Even Hilo. on the Island of Hawaii, with
less than four thousand population, has
1900 electric lights, a telephone in almost
every house, and an up 10 date system of
water works.
Like the larger city of Honolulu. Hilo is
a place of churches, schools, public library,
literary clubs, well-cCnGucted newspapers,
handsome homes, and recently fine new
hotel has been opened on the cottage plan.
The bicycle is also abroad on the Ha-
waiian Islands. Everybody-Anglo-S Saxon,
Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, and Portu-
guese-rides the wheel and women and
children ride horseback more than any
where else in the world, and all on the
cross saddle. Chicagos women of the
1900 claim to be the original cross saddle
riders in the United States, but they are
half a century behind Hawaiian women
fearless riders-always on cross saddle,
and for many years first wearing the
divided skirt, or cross saddle riding habit.
On the Hawaiian Islands life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness are largely
directed by the telephone. Plantations
are connected by telephone and narrow
gage railroad. the mechanics wife gives
her orders by telephone, the business man
communicates with any part of the town
or country district by telephone, the so
ciety woman often issues party invitations
by the same instrument-every big ship
coming into the harbor attaches the wire
as soon as she is alongside OF the dock.
The United States gunboatS lying of in
Honolulu HarbOr have as direct telephone
communication with the shore as there is
between the White House and the Capitol
at Washington.
NJ ,,nf1 etc n
the United States To China, Japan and the
Colonies, and other lines from British
Columbia, to say nothing of hundreds of
sailing and merchant vessels, make Homo
lulu a port of call. Ii is the only port in
all the world where the American flag
waves over a shipping greater than that of
any other nation. The biggest ocean liner
comes right up TO the dock in the deep
water channel of Honolulu harbor.
There is not carriage service in the
United States superior to that of Honolulu.
The drivers are OF all nationalities, and
every man rs subject TO a regulation per
sonai neatness, perfect cleanliness Of his
vehicle, and politeneSS TO those whom he
serves.
In this respect ii is in striking contrast
to much OF the carriage service in the big
cities Of the United States, when too often
one IS beSet by untidy hackmen, and a
choice OF still more untidy vehicles, as well
the chance OF being oveT-charged- Ia
Honolulu taking a carriage" is an aid
round safe and inexpensive pleasure.
The one enterprise on the Hawaiian
Islands that Is not enterprising is the
street railway of Honolulu. II is much
Like the street car service in the National
Capital of the United States "befo' de
wah." The Car horses are often mules, hut
as an American visitor said one day
THANK heavenl they are not American
mules II is an English syndicate, which,
unfortunately, secured under the monarchy
q franchise for 20 years.
The political system, civilization, and
social conditions on the Hawaiian Islands
are essentially American. There is the
atmosphere of the United States every
where, and the stranger from our shores
never foT a moment feels that he is in d
strange land.
New England missionaries-men and
women OF conscience and thought-car-