The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-15

historic forces prevailed it would be
a lethargic semi Mormon Kanaka king
dom. If races dominated it would be
Monaghan to the core. 1t Is the world
in little. 1t is a living prophecy. One
American controlling so Mongols and 80
Malays. He does it with their consent
and appreciation. There is neither
trouble nor turmoil. Law and order are
supreme. Justice is dispensed with
even hand. Business is as secure
throughout the islands as it is in New
York or London. Every mans faith is
sacred. These are stronger weapons
of conquest than sword or KragJor-
gensen.
It was Shelley who said, Our sweet
est tales are those that tell of saddest
thoughts" The light and joy of Ha-
wall find their contrasting element in
the Kanaka. He and his history are a
spectacle of pathos. The 10000 of to-
day are the survivors of a half-million
a century ago. The great plantations,
the fertile farms. the opulent cities, the
rich commerce, the stately buildings.
all belong to strangers, to intruders.
Christianity and civilization have been
too much for his simple character. His
lands are gone and he himself is about
to follow his property. The kanaka is
idle and shftless-yes, why should he
not be in land where nature sup
plies everything without toll and fore
thought. He wastes his time in swim
ming, playing, lovemaking and doz-
ing. Who would not do the same in a
land where no wolf roams the field or
comes to the door?
Though dying out, they are still mag
nifcent, men like statues in orange
marble; women who suggest Venus
and Juno dipped in saffron. Alongside
of them our men seem awkward weak
lings and our women mis-shapen crea-
tions. Handsome, generous, affection
ate, impulsive, vigorous and full of life,
their very virtues have proved their
ruin. They will leave their imprint
upon the future as the redskin has done
in the New England states by inter-
marriage. The half-breeds often COM
bine the excellencies of both Caucasian
and Kanaka. They are few in number,
but they increase from year to year
and thus far have shown physical and
mental potency which augurs well for
their future.
There will be no Chinese exclusion
law in Hawaii. Demagogues may try
to apply such statute, but it will be-
come a dead letter. Nature is stronger
than humanity and in the drowsy at
mosphere of the islands the white man
will not work with his muscles. He
will plan and scheme, direct and con-
troll, but never dig, delve or carry.
This will be done by the patient chill
dren of China and Japan. Time and
again the planters have tried the eN-
pertinent of Caucasian labor. They
have brought strong men from the
fields of the new world and the old and
set them to work in the fields. All
went well a week or month. Then
the spirit of the place entered into the
newcomers and they were different
men. They lounged and loafed, smoked
and played little games of chance,
basked on the beach or slept in the
shade of the groves. Some were soon
sent back. others loitered year or two
until poverty and homesickness drew
them away from their paradise to the
colder chimes of America and Europe.
Even the brain-worker yields to the
charms of the country. The men wear
lighter attire, the women adopt the ma
tive costumes for their house and
grounds. BY degrees the afternoon
| siesta becomes a habit; surf swimming,
beach lettering, hammock swinging,
| dances and music become part OF the
| Americans daily life as it was of the
Kanakas. The complexion slowly
| changes. The blonde becomes light
brunette and the brunette assumes an
| olive skin. 1t may be that in the
| course of years nature will change the
nervous Yankee of Honolulu into an
orange colored. black-e eyed being.
MARGHERITA ARLINA HAMM.