The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-10-29

gress from the first district of Missis-
sippi, arrived here last Thursday morn
ing from his trip to the Hawaiian Is
lands, which he visited as a member
of a congressional party who went to
the Islands by invitation as the guests
of the Territory of Hawaii.
Upon his arrival here the Aicorn
County Fair was in full blast, and by
invitation he addressed a great audi
enee at the fair grounds in the after
noon, receiving a marvellous ovation at
the hands of his people. He was full
of enthusiasm for the Islands and their
great resources and their hospitable
and generous people. A correspondent
called upon him and requested him to
state some of his impressions acquired
during his visit to the Islands and the
purposes and objects generally which
the party had in view in making their
trip. He cheerfully consented, and in
talking with the correspondent, in sub
stance, said:
Islands Are Paradise.
The Islands are Familiarity called
"the Paradise of the Pacific and no
one can visit them and see their beau
tiful scenery, enjoy their delightful
climate, or the hospitality of their
generous people without agreeing with
this appellation and admitting that it
is deserved; for, indeed, the scenery is
sublime, the climate most delightful
and the people abound in their hospi-
tally. While all of this is true, and
prosperity seems to be pretty general
among the people. still there are great
problems which must be wisely solved
if the Islands are to be developed and
Americanized. One of the great ques-
tions to be solved is brought about by
reason of the preponderance of the
japanese and Chinese in the Islands
There viii never be any trouble as to
the Hawaiians or Portuguese. The
Portuguese readily absorb American
ideas and make good citizens-in fact,
it was the general impression among
the Americans on the Islands that the
Portuguese were the best immigrants
they had been able to obtain. The
Hawailans are proud of the fact that
they are American citizens and are alb
solutely loyal to the flag and devoted
to our great republic. The serious
question is as to the disposition of the
japanese situation, for the reason that
the japanese never become citizens of
any country, but are always loyal to
Japan. They make their money and
send it back to their country, and by
and by, as a rule, return themselves.
The great sugar plantations almost
universally employ japanese labor, and
the planters say they do not see how
they can do without them, as they have
no other labor present or prospective
to take their places. The Territory has
agents now in other countries trying to
induce desirable immigration. If they
succeed, then the problem may in this
way, at least to some extent, be solved.
Filipinos are being employed on one
of the larger plantations, and, so far,
quite successfully.
Favors Democratic Plan.
Another of the serious problems is the
of the public lands. So far
the homestead laws of the United States
have not been applied to the Islands,
even in the spirit of our laws. Most
of the large holdings in the Islands are
in fee simple or are held under long
leases. Some of the leases are expir- |
ing, and as they expire the lands are |
restored to the public domain for such |
as can be made of them I'M |
der the law as it now stands. The |
usual course which is being pursued is |
20 put them up at auction with an up
set price, which is almost in every in /
stance above what the ordinary citi-
zen can afford to pay, and the result
las been that the large landowners and
he richer planters have bought them in
Dy paying small amount above the
upset price and added them to their
already too large possessions. The
lomesteads in the Hawaiian Islands
should not be as large as they are in
he States. Probably reasonable home
tead there should not be more than
wenty acres to each citizen, and. of
curse, nobody but American citizens.
They are the only ones who should be
'ermitted to enter homestead. 1t is
stimated that on probably all the till
bile land in the Islands. a man can
make a living on twenty acres and be-
ONE an independent citizen. Nothing
would contribute more toward Ameri-
anizing the Islands than to establish
omesteads and put them in the hands
f American citizens. because when the
itizen has an interest in the soil he
sually is more patriotic and devoted
o the country that thus provides for
i'm.
There is no question but what Hawaii
; the ''key to the Pacific and as
lch should be thoroughly fortified. and
D this end no reasonable appropriation
hould be denied.
Honolulu Up TO Date.
Honolulu, the largest city or town in
be Islands, Is thoroughly up to date
nd has every modern convenience. 1t
as electric lights. waterworks. sewer
sc. electric street railways, beautiful
large mercantile buildings,
streets. telephones, wireless
Biography and everything that any
Their modern city possesses. Telephones
re throughout the Islands, and they are
3nDeeted closely by wireless telegraphy