The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-11-01

many of 10000 New England Port
uguese-in the event that Portugal re-
mains republic.
In speaking of the effect that the
revolution would have in the Azores
islands, Antonio Azefferino, president
of the Portuguese Fraternal Society of
/ Cambridge, a native of the island of
Pico, in the Azores group, said;
"The people of the Azores are in
sympathy with the revolution and have
always lent an earnest ear to rev0lu.
tionary talk. They dislike the old gov
ernment with bitterness that can
hardly be expressed in words.
"rhe grievances of the people of the
Azores are many and Of long standing.
Perhaps the chief cause for their hatred
of the old monarchy grows out of the
excessive taxes levied on the people,
their houses and their occupations by
| the old government. The islands are
overrun with customs officials and tax
gatherers, the burden of whose main
tenance is borne by the laboring class
indirectly, to be sure, but none the less
substantially.
Every occupation and industry is
taxed to an exorbitant degree. The
above his fellows is encouraged by the
officials to start his sugar Factory or
whatever il may be, but in the second
year after he has erected his buildings
and investd his capital the tax collec-
tors descend on him. The situation in
the islands resembles in many ways the
old Roman method of farming out the
taxes.
Poorly Paid Labor.
''In the last analysis the miserably
| paid day laborers, many of whom work
for as low as twenty cents a day, have
to pay these by suffering a reduction
of their meager wages.
Fishing, one of the chief oecupa.
tions of the people and one of their
main sources of sustenance, is heavily
taxed, the government taking a 1.-THE
of the catch.
"There is very little chance for the
natives to better themselves by engag-
Ting in an occupation of their own, for
the government grants monopoly of
almost all the principal agricultural in.
dustries to single individuals One man
i holds the monopoly of raising tobacco
from the government.
"The immense revenue gathered from
these little islands by the customs of.
ficials flows directly into the Golfers of
the treasury at Lisbon and the Azores
are in no way benefited
Unrest for Many Years.
Revolutionary talk has been heard
in the islands for many years, but no
open revolts have been made by the is
lands of their own accord. They are
in general peaceloving people. Now,
however, that the die has been cast,
| there can be. no hesitation in saying
that they will be thoroughly in sym
pathy with the revolutionary govern,
ment. A great deal of respect and con-
| fidence exists among the people Of the
islands in the leaders of the revolution.
| They have followed their careers and
their efforts to overthrow the old
monarchy with a great deal of interest
and fervent hopes for success. "
st. Michael Opinion.
Jesse S. COndinho, Portuguese Dusl
ness man of East Cambridge, and u
native of the island of st. Michael,
said:
''There is not the slightest doubt
that the people of the Azores will lend
their heart and hand to the revolu-
| ton. There are a few royalists ON the
islands, but they are greatly overweight
ed in numbers by the revolutionists. L
do not think there will be any fight
ing in the islands, but L know that the
people will do everything in their power
! to support the new government.
Besides the excessive taxes, the
| people thoroughly detest the old gov
eminent on account of the compulsory
military service imposed. A roll is
made of every male of military age
and a certain number are drawn each
year. Hardly a man escapes from ser
vice. These soldiers are paid about
three cents day and receive poor and
scanty rations. 1t is bcause of the
burden which this compulsory military
service and the excessive taxes i'm
pose on the people that the islands are
filed with paupers and the natives emf
CRATE in great numbers to the United
States.p
Expect Better Things.
| Manuel Andrew, prominent Port.
uguese politician of East Cambridge,
said:
"The people Of the Azores will stick
by the new form of government. They
look to the new government as a savior
from their present condition of poverty,
slavery and illiteracy. Although few
of the natives in the Azores are suf-
fciently educated to understand the
import of the revolution, they welcome
any change from their present plight"
Adyiees from Providence and other
places where there are Portuguese colo
mics substantiate the report that the
AzOreans are likely to seek independ-
enee, and ask the projection of the
United States.
The project is even discussed of form
ing some sort Of active organization to
advance the idea Of American protec.
ton for the islands and to interest
the United States government in the
Azorean situation.
Familiar With America.
Information was sought today at the
consulate Of Portugal, 1882 Hanover
street, regarding such a movement aud
the state of feeling said TO be- behind
IL, but the officials there were unable
TO discuss the present situnti0n IN any
of its phases As matter of common
knowledge, however, they admitted that
the Portuguese in this country are
largely AzoFeans, aud. that this fact, 10.
grther with the fact that tho people
] A ..H a