The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-11-01
OF AZORES ISLANDS
DISCUSSED BY PORTUGUESE
May Ask Protectorato.

One of the reasons that has been ad-
vanced FOR seeking nm Independent gov
eminent under an American protector
ate Is that the people Of the Azores
are Of the opinion thas, under a Repub-
lean government at Lisbon other ma
tions win have little difficulty in Sc
curing concessions in Portugal's outly-
ing possessions and exploiting their re-
sources, which, under the protection Of
the United States would be impossible
Not 'RiaraG.''
New Bedford Massachusetts,, has TO-
600 Portuguese and it is said that two
thirds of the real estate of that city Is
in Portuguese hands. In California
there is colony Of $4,000. These are
practically all, it is asserted, from the
Azores. Tho local Portuguese point
with pride to the fact that their peo-
pie have proved, almost to man, to
be pacific and lawabiding citizens.
Although so small realm, compare
lively, as to be almost ignored in some
pretentious aliases, the Azores possess
a native population of about 275,000.
The fitting out of vessels is one of the
important industries of these islands,
and it is through the visits of Ameri-
can whalers, hailing largely from New
Bedford, that the attention of these
Portuguese was turned originally to the
United States, and that New Bedford
became the abode Of such a colony of
them. The islands, Of which there are
nine, are divided into three administers
tive districts, each with a civil COVER
nor appointed by the Lisbon govern
ment, the country being governed as q
Portuguese province.
There are not lacking Portuguese who
maintain that the Lisbon republic
would not permit the Azores to sever
their connection with the mother coun-
try, and they express doubts also il the
people or government of the United
States would consent to becoming a
party to such an arrangement. No one
questions that 1t would be serious
and radical step, and one which the
American people would probably pause
and think over before taking Prof.
Albert Bushnell Hart of Harvard Uni
versity, when asked his opinion as to
the probability of such a departure, re-
piled that he regarded 1t as highly inn
probable, as the Azores had been q de-
pendency of Portugal for centuries, and
that it would be a very serious step,
Manuel Was Popular.
Portuguese who have discussed the
situation are inclined TO the opinion
that in much that has been printed an
injustice has been done to the royal
family, and particularly to King Man
uel The latter, they say, was called
upon at an extremely early age to as
sumo the responsibilities of the crown,
by that he had an excellent education,
which he has improved by study since
his accession to the throne. Personal
ly, they say, he has been a popular
young man and likewise a young man
of excellent disposition and department.
1t is in regard to the expenditures Of
the royal family, they say, that the
most significant Misrepresentation seems
to arise, as it seems to be the popular
view that the revenues of state were
diverted to meet their personal ex-
penses, whereas the house of Braganza
is one of the rich landed families OF
Europe and has revenues of princely
proportions, which are used for the
personal expenses of the members, Of
whom the king, Of course, stands first.
The local Portuguese likewise are
equally liberal in their estimate of the
leaders in the new regime, saying that
President Braga is a particularly schol-
arly man and one of high character and
reputation.