The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-02-20

aufpaases hiI ihs oiheft boz Grandeur ul
Natural lfenrfF Halrntaia uh Maui.
3 rpmaI katlH ancient tnlraup hnaftf
lhn lafrrsi nhd mnti impressive tfatef
n The world
1tonolulu'a Boom.
rhu population oi iisuouu has been
apdiy Increasing aud must now. Mr..
idurston estimates, exceed 10000.
ryeiytning rentable 10 rented aud the
demand ~ not SATISFIED. Several hun
died new bindings. including business
blocks. have been erected since ! visit.
eu mere two years ago. Suburban sub
divisions are climbing high up the hill
sues. Real estate values have vastly
increased Enlargement OF population
10 Indicated by the extraordinary de-
mand Tor letter boxes at the post office.
Notwithstanding the large number Of
additional boxes which have been fur
nished there are still over a hundred
applicants unsatlsfied. Business devel-
opment Ia shown by the crowdng OF
the harbor with ships, and by the fact
that the island government has accu-
INFLATED nearly two millions of surplus.
largely customs duties upon the ex-
pan1ed volume OF imports.
Notwithstanding annexation, old
conditions largely prevail The local
laws, speaking generally, and the per-
sonnet of the former government have
been continued. So far has this policy
been carried that the election of new
legislature has been suspended by Pres
ident Mckinley and the present body.
whose term expires next February, has
been retained. The constitution of the
island republic puts the Legislature
out OF Office at that date. and there is
some doubt whether a presidential
proclamation can continue 1t as valid
legislature beyond that time. The
doubt would be happily settled by the
passage OF the Cullom bill by Congress
and the election of legislature under
IL before the LIST of next February.
The decision of Attorney General
Griggs that at the time of annexation
title to the public lands passed to the
United States, and could not be divert
ed by any act of the local government,
upon which decision the order of Pres
ident Mckinley concerning transfers
of the public land is based, is criticised
not so much on its merits as on the
ground that 1t ignores the previous ap-
proval by the State Department of the
intention to construe the local land
laws as continued in force, and disre-
CARDS equities created in good faith in
respect to the public lands in favor of
homesteaders and others, upon the
basis of the State Departments replies
to the questions formally asked of 1t
by the Hawaiian government.
A long drive through Honolulu, new
and old, to Punchbowl and to Waikiki
gave visible confederation of what had
been said concerning Honolulus boom.
Here and there were semi-tropical sug
gestions, as, for example, growing taro,
Chinese men, women and tiny children
gathering rice, canal-furrowed banana
orchards, lofty cocoanut palms and
wonderful luxuriance of vegetation and
foliage. But pervading and dominating
the scene was distinctly American
city, vigorous, bustling, springing up
and pushing outward in every direc-
ton.
Hawaiis Problem Comparatively
Easy of Solution.
We can deal the more promptly and
confidently with the first of our recent
island acquisitions because it is already
Americanized, and the natives, educat-
ed. Christianized and civilized through
the labors of American missionaries
are ready, under the wise limitations
which were applied in the recent re-
public, to participate in territorial
form of self-government. They have
not been massacred or oppressed by
the whites. They have not been rend-
cred sullen and mistrustful by centuries
of Spanish misrule. They are prosper
GUS and content. The dominant whites
have learned how to cooperate with |
them and to influence them, and have
not abused their control. The difficult |
problem which is to be solved by us in |
our other island possessions has been |
worked out for us in advance by Amer
leans in Hawaii. The easiest, quickest |
and wisest way to govern satisfactorily |
in the islands Is to adapt existing con-
ditions to American forms, to continue |
as far as possible the methods which
have commended themselves by their
results. and to utilize to a large degree
In public service the men who have so
well learned the lesson of sustaining
the white mans rule in the tropics
without degrading or ill-treating the
natives.
Hawaii is entitled to prompt con-
'ideration and to first consideration by
congress Not even Puerto Rico should
'hare this primacy. The easier and
wiser is also the juster course. AS
station on the way to Asia, naval and
'oaling outpost, Hawaii was necessary
% us for trade and strategic reasons II
he Philippines had never been acQuir-
ed. The argument for its annexation
was perfect before the war with SPAIN
That war and it's results multiplied Ha-
wallis value to the United States But
L came to US voluntarily, not as a re-
suit OF the war. 1t refused to declare
though temporarily rebuffed
~ the United States in its annexation
1t took the chances of war {
Is an ally or as part of the American
and rendered valuable assis- !
nee In that capacity. II Is surely en- ,
tiled to considerable legislation in ad- Ii
'ance OF the islands won for the United s
states in war in which II virtually Ii
1t has its own distinct i
as in the labor and immi- h
ration questions. which will furnish
Material for the application of Ameri-