The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-11-10
BISHOP RESTARICK TALKS
OF CONDITIONS IN HAWAII
Saws Hawaiian People Seek Benefits Of An
nexation.

through New York last week on his way
to the Pan-American Conference ana
the Missionary Council in Washington.
The bishop kindly gave The Churchman
an interview concerning the conditions
prevailing in his home missionary dis
trict in the middle of the Pacific ocean,
Naturally, one Of the first questions
asked referred to the attitude OF the
Hawaiians toward the annexation oil
the islands to this country.
This" said Bishop Restarick, rs
delicate subject. 1t is difficult to an
swer II briefly and without uualifica-
tons. In order to understand the pres
ent situation, one should be familiar
with long chain of events, dating PACK
several years, but about which l nave
not time to speak at present. 1t Is true
that a good many Hawaiians regret the
annexation; many others, among them
some of the most trusted and intelligent
leaders, believe it to have been IN
evitable, though they would have pre-
ferred the establishment of protec-
torate by the United States. While the
advantage in being a part of great
nation like ours is recognized, there are
some very practical and irritating dis
advantages arising from the legal re-
strictions applied to the islands"
O. What are some of these disad-
vantages?
A. First, there is the question of Ia
Dor. Prior to annexation the Chinese
were freely admitted. Now they are
rigidly excluded. They make desir-
able, may even say a necessary. class
of laborers for Hawaii. They are much
to be preferred to the Japanese. Ex-
| pertinent has proved that white men do
not work satisfactorily on the large
sugar plantations, which constitute our
chief industry.
Then, again, the Hawaiians not I'M
naturally deprecate the system by which
all the custom revenues are forwarded
to Washington. Last year these
amounted to over a million and quar-
ter of dollars. Very little of this money
returns to the islands in ways which
the people can see and appreciate
Finally. the extension to Hawaii OF
the shipping laws limiting coastlns
traffic to American vessels Is most an
noying. Honolulu is regarded as a
coast port, like Norfolk, Charleston ana
Savannah, whereas it is in the very
crossroads of the Pacific. Passengers
| from the United States, wishing to re-
main in the islands, are obliged to take
! passage on an American ship. Trans
Pacific passengers on foreign vessels
may obtain a stop over of not more
than sixty days, but they must continue
their journey westward, and are not
allowed to return to the United states
! To take a specific instance. Last sum-
mer two ladies from Pennsylvania, who
were journeyng around the world, ar
rived in Honolulu from San Francisco
on Japanese steamer. While they
We're visiting us they received cable
announcing serious illness in the family
and requesting immediate return. But
having reached the islands on tor-
eign steamer, they We're forbidden tc
return to the United States via San
, Francisco. The only thing for then
! to do under our present law was to con-
| tinue their trip westward across the
Pacific to Japan, or pay fine OF S2ol
each for the privilege of returning al
once When | came East l was oblig-
! ed to leave Honolulu on an Ameri-
! can vessel, although there We're severa
foreign ships for San Francisco whicf
would have been more convenient fol
me. The law, of course, was never
originally intended to apply to Hawaii
| understand that next year it is to be
extended to the Philippines.
Q. Are the islands commercially
prosperous?
! A. Not to the extent one would like
to see. The prevailing low price of SUI
gar has been responsible for good dea
of the commercial depression. Sugar
is our great crop. We can produce Il
more cheaply than any other part of the
world. The average yield per acre in
Louisiana plantation Is two and one
half tons; in Hawaii it is frequently
ten tons. We are steadily using more
American manufactures. Our imports
from San Francisco last year totallet
about SIS, 0000 600. If we can have a sat
isfactory adjustment of the labor Ques
ton, the purchasing power of the isl
ands will be largely increased and tina
in turn will mean a greater demand 10
American made goods and more EN-
ployment for labor in the United States
Q. Has the transfer of ecclesiastical
jurisdiction from the English to tn
American Church been wei received?
a. Decidedly yes, Bishop Nichol
handled the difficult question with tn
greatest wisdom and delicacy. TIT
Church people We're enthusiastic in tn
reception they gave me and the help
ers who arrived in Honolulu with me
year ago last August. Hawaiians
Americans and English-all alike hav
} been most cordial. The spirit of har
mony and unity is steadily deepening
The clergy whom l found in the island
have been working Loyalty with me AM
the others whom | have been able I
secure from the States. Then. too, tn
present representatives of the old mis-
sionary families OF the Congregations
church have welcomed me warmly
l one of them said to me soon after m
|, arrival: Il do not believe that any on
in the islands reioices at your comin
more than l do"
, Q. You find a good many evidence
I OF the good done by those pioneer Con
: Eregationalists?
"A. Yes, indeed They were a fine sc
of men and their work deserves hie
: praise; their contribution to the welfar
S of the islands and the people has bee
l. 49, !.