The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-09-09
EX- GOVERNOR
RICE ABROAD


arrive in the city yesterday was Mr..
and Mrs. William H. Rice of Lihue,
Kauai, Hawaiian islands, who are en-
route to the Seattle exposition and
incidentally taking in the interesting
points along the Pacific Coast.
Mr.. Rice bears the distinction OF
having played an important part in
making history in the Hawaiian
islands, and besides being an unwill-
ng participant in the revolution that
eventually caused the reinforcement
of Queen Liliuokalani, was at one
time the confidential adviser of the de-
posed duskv monarch.
During the years of 1898 and part
of 1894 Mr.. Rice was governor Of the
islands of Lihue, Kauai, and is now one
of the big sugar producers of the
island.
One of the pleasant surprises that
awaited the distinguished visitor when
he reached Riverside was to encounter
C. D. Chase, who, together with MI.
Rice, participated in the revolution
and who was associated with him in
doing police duty Immediately follow
ing the dethroning of Queen Liliuo-
kalani
In speaking of conditions in the
islands Mr.. Rice said:
THE recent trouble with the Jap
anese striking laborers had no ma
tional political significance and was
an effort of certain Japanese leaders
to extort money from plantation own
ers. One wanted $4,000 not to cal
the strike, and it resulted in the i'm
portation of strikebreakers that com
pletely dissipated the entire trouble.
"The wages earned range from SIS
to $40 per month, much of the work
being done by contract, which per-
mitted making good wages and short
hours.
"As to my participation in the
events that followed the tumultuous
reign of Queen Liliuokalani, l had
the distinction of being a close ad-
wiser of the late queen, and on the
memorable occasion when she at
tempted to promulgate the constitu-
ton barring foreigners from partici-
patton in elections, I had visited the
palace and held a consultation with
her. She -ad in view a man who was
ready to carry out the scheme of ex-
Guiding ,Ae voice of foreigners in the
affairs of government, ana | advised
her to appoint two men whom we
could trust. Instead she brought in
the ministry that was Objectionable.
| saw the trend affairs was taking
and left the island Immediately, as
1T was my uuty l stayed to stand
by the queen and her government.
The next heard was that the revolu-
ton was on, and as Anglo-Saxons gen.
orally take the ascendency and hav-
ing no desire to place my head in
moose, I was with the latter as against
the queen.
Hawaii will ship about 100000 tons
of sugar this season, some 400 1000 tons
having been marketed to date and
about 10000 tons are ready for ship
ment.
The natives in general are proud
of their American citizenship and are
peaceable and law-abiding.
Should the Japanese try an upris-
ing in the island we have plenty OF
troops to put it down, and they would
never hold one of the islands any
length of time. The reports that the
trouble with the Japs was inspired by
their government were exaggerated
and unfounded, and we anticipate very
little trouble.
Opportunity for taking up govern
ment land is increasing, as many long
term leases are expiring and as fast
as the ground is divided into home
steads it is being taken up Tbs is
mostly done by Portuguese, who are
becoming naturalized citizens. There
are few Americans coming to the
island for the purpose of taking up
homesteads, although there is oppor-
tunity for settlement.
Wages are good in almost every
line and there is plenty of opportunity
for those who desire to get into BUSH
ness.
The islands being now connected
by cable and wireless, we keen III
close touch with the affairs of the day,
and taking all in all have a very pros
porous country
Mr.. Rice is a native-born citizen or
Hawaii, being born of Canadian par
entage.
Queen Liliuokalani, according to
Mr.. Rice, is living quietly on the
island and has given up all opposition
to the present condition of AFFAIRS, and
her old supporters are fast becoming
reconciled to the civilization that has
been implanted by the United States.