The San Francisco call. [volume], September 30, 1897, Page 2, Image 2

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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2
"She was a schoolteacher," I admitted.
"Ah! 1 thought so. You see, the Govern
ment will employ no one who does not swear
allegiance- Even the schoolteachers— women,
you know— must take the oath. Why, take a
p ivate business firm. If a native goes into a
store and asks for a clerk's place, if he wants
work—no matter what kind— if he will swear to
be loyal to this Government (a -Government
which he hates, which he has had no voice in
making, which he hopes to see overthrown) he
can get work. If not, he must do without He
cannot get work. He cannot vote, fcvervthing
is closed against him. Think of it. Isn't it a
great, a wonderful sacrifice by a whole people
for the sake of principle?"
"But how long will the natives holdout?
How long can they ?"
"Forever. Living is easy in Hawaii. No
one starves here. The natives will never
change/ '
"How about the exceptions? Do you
others resent a man's swearing allegiance?"
"No. It— it isn't quite the same— our
feeling for him— as it was before. But they
aie to be pitied, these poor people, who are
given such a hard choice. And besides — "
She paused.
■ "Ye-?"
Mrs. Camp'rell leaned forward now. She
had been lying lazily back in the large cane
rocking-chair.
"This. In their hearts they do not swear
allegiance. In their hearts they are with us.
Do you think that the present Government
could rely upon the, native police if it came to
ing against their own people?"
It wasn't a question. Mrs. Campbell's
voice and manner had become almost energetic.
1 turned back after 1 had gone down the
stairs rind over the long cobble-stone walk, to
look back at her. She was standing at the
door in her cool, loose white gown, the orange
leis on her haughty head and about her
; c a gorgeous string of d?ep flower
ing topaz; her large, soft brown hands were
dispeo. and her sleepy, dark eyes were lit up
in a smiling farewell.
* * *
The Portuguese driver was waiting at the
gate, and as soon as 1 was seated in the car
. he turned roi nd : : nJ said:
"'Well, what Ma'am think of the country?"
Ma'am thought the country was unspeak
ably lovely, and she proceeded to expatiate
upon its beauties. The boy listened with a
patience that was uncomplimentary. Evidently
scenic de;crip;ion bored him. he shrugged his
MISS MIRIAM MICHELSON, Special Correspondent of
"The Call" at Honolulu.
s hou!ders. Every nationality h»s the trick of
some o'her nation in this mince-pie or peoples.
"Yez — I know," he said at last. "But
what ma'am think going to come of the coun
try? I guess they're" — he nodded toward the
hotel where some United States Congressmen
had been delivering speeches to all Hilo — " I
guess they're going to take this country. An'
ma'am (he turned squarely around now whiie
the horse plunged along through the muddy
town), what ma'am think 'bout these natives?
I'm sorry these poor natives. They got. no
money. They got no land. They can' do
nothing. 1 like see this country belong the
natives— it their country. What ma'am think ?"
But ma'am had come 2000 miles to find out
other people's opinions ; not to express her own.
* . * •
The most interesting native Hawaiian I
met on the islands is John Richardson, a law
yer. He came on the Claudine at Wailuku,
when the little steamer was on the return trip
from Hilo, whither she had gone specially so
that Uncle Sam's representatives might see the
volcano, the plantations— in short, all the sights,
in a short time.
Mr. Richardson is of medium height, heavily
built. He is very dark, and his black side
whiskers are slightly gray. His eyes meet one
squarely, his chin is strong and decided, his
English is excellent and his manner is serious
and courteous. He is quick at getting the drift
of one's questions, and my short talk with him,
while we were sailing away from Maui and
past Moiokai, interestei me more than any other
interview 1 had (for busintss purposes) on the
islands.
"I met a man, Mr. Richardson, a native
Hawaiian, at Kalului, 1 think it was. It was
something beginning with a "k," anyway. He
was in favor of annexation."
"Judge Kalua, a Circuit Judge," Mr.
Richardson said, promptly.
"Yes."
"The native Hawaiians who favor annex
ation are of two classes: Those who are in the
Government's employ and dare not do other
wise, and those who have some personal grudge
against the former Government; those who ex
pected more than they got. I believe you
Americans call them soreheads."
We both laughed at this and then I asked
him if he intended to sign the anti-annexation
petition.
"Certainly," he answered.
"And how do the lower classes of the na
tives feel about it?"
"Oh, they're more obstinate than those
who are better informed," he said smiling.
"They'll never change."
"And do you think your petition will be
heeded?: 1
"It should be. The United States can
make no pretense to friendliness for the native
Hawaiian, no pretense to honesty or fairness if
we are disregarded."
"Of course," I said, "legally the present
Government has the right to turn over the
republic—"
"The republic ! A strange republic where a
handful of men are absolute and the great mass
of people are disfranchised : where soldiers are
on guard before the executive building and the
guns stand ready in the basement to be trained
upon the people."
"What is the sentiment of the natives on
Mauir"
"What is it all over the islands? No na
tive not in the Government employ is reconciled
to annexation. And if the United States
cared'enough to have a secret ballot taken to
find out the sentiment of the Hawaiians, not
twenty natives would vote for annexation."
* ♦ *
At Honolulu I met Mr. James Kaulia, the
president or the Hawaiian League. Mr. Kauiia
is a thoughtful-looking man, with a brown
mustache and very serious, dark eyes. During
our interview on the hotel veranda ,he smiled
only once, and that was when he spoke of a
man as a "P. G."
"P G.," 1 repeated, wondering what in this
land of vowels the term might mean.
"Yes, P. G. — Provisional Government—
you understand? We call those natives who
take the oath of allegiance P. G's. "
" And you people feel bitterly toward the
P. G.s, do you? An American told me that a
Hawaiian never resents anything."
Mr. Kaulia's face looked forbidding for a
moment.
" I guess — I guess he don't know us. We
Hawaiians hate (the word was pronounced with
such deliberation as to give it extraordinary
emphasis), we hate the P. G.'swhen they are
are realiy in favor of the Government. But
there are very few— very few, who are not
really with us. Take the police now, who have
sworn allegiance, cf course. Some of them
have signed our petition against annexation.
Not th; head man, you understand."
" Isn't that rather unwise ? '
"Oh, the Government will not find it out."
"But if I should publish the fact?"
"The Government will say it is not true."
"Oh!— Well, tell me, how many Ha
waiians, native?, will sign your peti ion?"
"Thirty tnousand, including boys over 15."
"There aren't many more than that in the
island?."
"Not one thousand more."
"Will any white men sign?"
"Some. Yes. But of course a white man
must exp?ct to suffer in his business, and— and
in society, you understand whit 1 mean— if he
takes sides against the Government."
"And if the United States annexes despite
your petition?"
"Then it will be a seizure. That is all.
Here! There are 2800 voters registered for the
next election— the end oi this month. Of those
2800, 1000, according to the Government's own
iigures, are what we call the Citizens' Guard;
200 votes more are the soldiers' votes and 1200
more are the Government officials. That leaves
only 400 outside votes. You see?"
Mr. Kaulia opened his hands wide. The
native Hawaiian has not a very mobile face,
but his gestures are as expressive— particularly
when his English is not fluent— as a French
man's.
THE SAX FRANCISCO CALL. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, IS9T.
Meeting of Natives at Hilo, Island of Hawaii, Thursday, September 16, J897, to
Protest Against Annexation.
"Tell me about your league."
"In every district — all over the islands —
there are meetings, one a month. Once a year
in November delegates from every district meet
here in Honolulu."
"How many signatures have you to your
petition ?"
"Seven thousand."
"And how Inns; has it been in circulation?"
"Since last Thursday, September 16. "
"And are you confident that all natives feel
as you do?"
"I am sure. The feeling is the same from
Kaena to Hiio."
Which translated means from the Sierras to
the sea.
♦ * •
So here's a people pleading for grace at the
hands of a gre;;t republic. Here's a tiny drop
of mercury begging forbearance of the enor
mous globu'e that threatens to absorb it.
Poor Hawaii ! Siie seems like a supplicat
ing dusky maiden holding out beseeching hands
to a great, swaggering brother nation.
"1 believe I'll take your land, Hawaii,"
blusters the United States, like a big bully.
"I pray you, Brother Jonathan, let me
keep it ; it is mine."
* • •
It has been siid that tli're is no hospitality
in thfse degenerate modern money-m "king days
like that of the white people on these islands.
Soda, life, lam told, is delightful here. Busi
ness hours are short. The climate forbids the
exercise oi and gradually saps one's energy.
Men have leisure for social intercourse, and tUe
corui.arauve scarcity of pleasurable occupation
in tiiis isolated place iitduces a readiness to
make the most of society — that refuge of tlie un
fortunate leisure class.
Everybody who is anybody in Hawaii
knows everybody Hse. Ttie small white popu
lation, cut off f ri m the rest of the world, l;ving
in the midst of the most conglomerate assort
ment of races, controlling the wealth, all ofii
cifil and social positions, with a superfluity of
service in the black man or the brown or the
yellow (or any combination and all shades of
these colors), has evolved a civilization delight
fully luxurious, exqui itely refined. Many
things are dear in Hawaii, but human labor is
not one of them.
Some of the bungalow* in and around Hono
lulu are models of cultured taste, almost perfect
specimens of what may be accomplished in the
art of living— givea a tropical climate and a
Bwarm of inferior human workers.
There are estates hire, a traveler tells me,
which are rivaled in beauty, luxury and com
pleteness of appliances for bodily comfort only
by the home* of the Haytian planters.
The visiting Congressmen from the United
States Gpeak delightedly ot the gracious hospi
tality of the people of tbe islands. They are
charmed by the bountiful provisions made for
their entertainment, by the generousspirit which
anticipates every desire and completes every un
spoken wish.
"There isn't a man among them who doesn't
consider himself responsible for the weather,
for the condition of the roads, Tor the success of
the affair— whatever^ may be."
It is all very pretty. There ia a charm about
life here which soothes the senses and dulis the
spirit. It is easy not to tbinlc, not to struggle.
It must be very pleasant to drift with tbe tide of
touhomie (especially when rowing against it is
so disastrous), to become a member of this small
class of cultured, wealth y men and gracious
idle women.
In the South before the war, in France be
fore the Revolution, society attained its hiirhest
development, of which this island society is an
inferior copy in miniature. But this perfection
of civilization is a flower — a sort of century
plant — that blooms but rarely and for very brief
periods. It is a brilliant, marvelously shaped
parasite which twines about an.l kills the plant
!hat nourishes it. It requires conditions which
take years 10 bnilu up, and which, in the very
nature of things, cannot endure. For it means
the subjugation of the many by the few; it
means the enjoyment of the concentrated es
sence of life's pleasures by a small minority.
Material en joyment, too, is a commodity. The
supply is limited. And that a hundred may
Jive as un aristocracy, tens of thoufands must
be denied pleasure aua profit and liberty.
♦ # »
One's memory of these beautiful islands de
pends a great deal upon what side of Hawaiian
life one has seen.
"If you come to Honolulu for a short visit
to a friend, say (and your friend, of course, be
longs to the smart set) you will carry back with
you the happiest memory, tlie prettiest picture
of the place and the people. You will retain a
series of vividly colored impressions of moun
tains, sea, shaded streets and cool, spacious,
charmingly decorate<t salons. You will rot soon
forget how beautiful a scene is a great garden
of tall tropical trepes, covered with drooping
sprays of crimson flower?, where the electric
lights look like other flowers of diamonds. The
men in white duck and the women in lace
tri.nmed diaphanous gowns walk about and talk
and luugh and listen to the sweet strains of the
native music, and the soft evening air is acaress
and the plashing of the Southern Sea accom
panies it all like the bass chant of a lull-toned
chorus.
But if you go to the islands as I did— if you
see and hear wh v I ilid — tehinu and above this
picture you will see another, aa if the photogra
p!v r iiad taken two Impressions on one plate.
It is the face of the native Hawaiian that
!o<>k-; throush the enchanting scpne — a dark red
brown, sphinx-like fnc<\ The Jaree head is set
finely upon a strong, full neck. The forehead is
broad, witn projecting trows. There is an
orie f :t:il width across the chet-k bones, a wi!e
nostr ifd, straight nose, a large, thick- lipped de
termine: mouth, that is not loose, and a full,
broad chin. The expression is bold, but wistful,
and m .he dark, somber, veil-opened eyes
there is a question :
"What are you coing to do with me?' 1
Miriam Michslbok.
IT MAY NOT BE
JUSTICE, BUT—
Views of Members of the Con-
gressional Party Who Favor
Annexation.
Defend Their Position on the Assump
tion That Brute Strength Maketh
All Things Right.
HONOLULU, Hawaii. Sept. 22.— "1t make
jne Jaugli," said cue vi the Jadirs of the Congres
s.onai \ arty, "tb five hew seriously pcope take
this Congressional outing. "Why, we hacin't the
vaguest idea of coming to Hawaii till we arrived
in San Fiancisco. Tnis is anything but official
business. These men are out hero to enjoy
themselves; that's all. 1 '
■\Vl', they seem rather interested in the
subject," I said.
"Ou, I've been on too many junketing trips;
you can't tell me anything about Congressional
excursions."
I haven't bad the lady's experience, so my
simplicity may have led me to judge incorrectly,
At any rate, it seemed to me thai wherever these
four men went — and in a werk they saw more of
ths islands th;m most people see in a year— they
questioned c!o?e!y and pertinently, and thay ac
quired a store ot information.
On the Australia coming down we had an
nexation and antianni xation for breakfast
lunch nnd dinner. People read booka on Ha
waii, looked at Hawaiian views, made moro or
less successful attempt? at Hawaiian pronuncia
tion. While the women lying in the steamer
chairs discussed the subjpet lazily, tentatively,
indifferently, the sound of men's voices raised
in excited argument came tumbling down from
the hurricane deck or mounting from the suiou
below.
For this Question of annexation, I find, is
not one which men can discuss calmly, if an
annexationist suspects one of being opposed to
bis scheme of tilings, he attribute* to one all the
graces and ciiarms with which an ardent seces
sionist endowed the aboliiioiii^t in 1861. In
Hawaii the question ha 9 broken up families, es
tranged old friends, nnd given to society a pecu
liar tender .«uscept;biiity which makes a disa
greement upon island politics the preliminary
to social and business failure.
I had talked with the representatives from
the United State* at various stages of their
Hawaiian experience. But it was principally
off the coast of the island of Hawaii, the beau
tiful, that they spoke to what Mr. Cannon of
Illinois calls "the newspaper ear."
Mr. Tawny of Minnesota walked bravely up
to Inquisition Point— as ihe little passageway
in the fore part of the Claudine came to be
called, from the numerous Dewspaper inter
views held there.
By the way, I would strongly recommend
this particular spot to the interviewer, for only
two or three peopie can rind room to stand
here— an important fact, because Hawaiian* are
so deeply interested in the annexation question
that to their ears the sound of a discussion on
this topic is like a bugle to a warhorse.
So '.he Hon. Mr. Tawny, the Hon. Mr.
Loudenslager of New Jersey and myself stood
and gazed at the wonderful panorama, and
talked politics.
"In the iirst place, why are you in favor of
annexation, Mr. Tawny?"
"Because of the commercial and military
advantages to the United Staces." answered
handsome Mr. Tawny, pushing back his cap, an
evidence of interest on his part. "We are going
to be benefited immensely, for every year will
add to the commercial wealth of the islands.
Leaving the sugar industry out of the question,
I consider that the production of coffee here
ultimntely is assured, and will be as profitable
as is the wheat crop of Minnesota. And "
"And I don't agree with you," interrupted
Mr. Loudenslager's good-natured voice.
"Oh, you — you don't agree with anybody,
Jersey," laughed the Congressman from Minne
sota.
"Hut do you mean to say I'—Mr1 '— Mr Loudenslager
leaned over the railing and pulled his cap for
ward, which is his way of showing that be is
interested — "Do you mean to tell me "
"1 wasn't telling you anything, Loudensla
ger."
"That's all right, isn't It?" inquired Mr. Lou
denslaper, turning to me. "Very well, then.
Now, Tawny, when yon say that the coffee crop
in Hawaii is as assured as the wheat crop in
Minn "
"I didn't say that." Mr. Tawny's very dark
face would have looKed pugnacious Jf it hadn't
been for hia smiling dark eyes. "I didn't say
that," he repeated. "I said — now listen, Lou
denslager, and you may just chance to pet a
thine straight for onee — I said that there is no
question in ruy mind that ultimately coffee will
be raised as successfully on these islands as
wheat is now in Minnesota. If you're not sure
that you quite understand, Harry, I'll go over
it again."
But the Congressman from New Jersey, with
an opera bouffe gesture, referred Mr. Tawny
to me.
"Now, then," continued the Minnesotan,
"there are other products, many others. This
MRS. KUAIHELANI CAMPBELL, President Hawaiian
Women's Pa'riotic League.
climate, this wonderfully rich soil is capable of
proiucing unlimited quantities of widely differ
ent foodstuffs. As to the military advantage*,
now. If we don't take these islands Japan will
within ten years. Or England may "
"England can't and England won't," de
clared Mr. Loudenslnjier.
"Now, look here, Loudenslager, if you jump
in again "
"Th? gentleman from Minnesota ha 3 the
floor," remarked the interviewer.
"Thank you. We need this post, in my judg
ment, as much to prevent other nations from
forbidding our coaling here a3 for any uU;e:
reason. In case of war ail our commerce on the
Pacific Coast would be at the enemy's mercy,
and thi3 commerce grows daily more valuable.
These islands are of vast importance — they are
the key to the commerce of the Pacific. There
is no valid reason for our hesitating. Why, if we
could get Cuba without war with Spain — if Cuba
were to ask for annexation, I'd say yes to that,
too."
"Then, if you alone had to decide this que»
tion, you woulrt annex the islands?"
"Undoub;edly."
"And the feeling of the natives in the mat
ter—aren't they to be considered?"
"Oh, yes, yes; but I believe the natives favor
annexation."
"That hasn't been my experience," I said.
"Personally 1 have spoken to perhaps 100 na
tives on the various islands. Indirectly 1 have
ascertained the sentiment of thousand?. Now
suppose it were proven to you that they are
sticngly opposed to annexation, would that
change your views?"
"No." Mr. Tawny's pleasant voice had a
decided ring.
"No!" I repeated. i
"Wait a minute; this is what I mean : SoM I
nation is bound to annex the islands, Tfc ■
can't exist independently. They (the native*™
should be permitted to say to what nation they
pre er to be annexed. But I tell you they can'G
exist as they are."
"But you haven't an«w>red the question —
the real question," said Mr. Loudensiaeer with
a chuckle.
"Oh, that New Jero'v man," exclaimed Mr.
Tawny, wrathfuiiy. "We'll have it out," he
said lo me as he walked away, "when you're
throuph with him."
Mr. Loudenslaner laughed iike a boy; bm
be grew sober Immediately when I turned to
Dim and said:
••Now, Mr. Loudenslaser, :"t's your turn."
The Congress-man fiom New Jersey lit &
cigar and pulled at it thoughtfully for a
moment.
"Well, I don't know. I'm not prepared
really to give my views on annexation, l will
say, though, that I'm more in favor of it now
than I was when 1 csrue. T c neop'e seem
really American in spirit, and I'm amazed at the
fertility, the \ roductiveness of t tie Islands. I
had no idea of the extent of productive iand."
"Do you think annexation will CJine?''
"Ye-es. Everything at present points (hnt
way. Of course, this Doint mu^t be taken in:o
consideration — the annexationista have bien
louder in their expression oi sentiment than the
anti-annexatior.isas have. That r;v< s one the
impression that trie party in favor of nntiexn
lion is stronger than that which is against. The
time will come when both sides must be heard
in debate."
"How do you think the United States will be
benefited by annexation?"
"There is no Lenelit solar as commerce is
concerned. In my opinion, the only benefit will
be in the po-session of a strategic pomt — an im
portant naval sta ion. Buteven thenlquest.ua
whether the cost of it all will not exceed tha
gain to the United State?. It involves s decide<Lw
change in Governmental policy. If th« next^
step is to be Cuba I should be wholly opposed. '
"Do yon believe with Mr. Tawny that if the
United Siates does not annex the islands some
other nation will ?"
"~So, I don't."
"Then, if the islands could remain as they
are — " . :
"In that case, if the United States could bs
assured that things would remain as they are —
that no nation likely to become inimical would
have the islands— it would be belter, in niv
judgment, not to liave annexation; better for
us and better for Hawaii, to<% There's Berry.
Do you want Berry?" ■
■~; Berry was wanted. The Congressman from
Kenttickv, w.th hi< gray head bent to permit h:«
G feet 7 inches to lind standing-room between
decks, approached, and Jar. Luudenslager walkea
off, saying:
"I'll leave you alone with Berry. It's not so
much fun teasing him as it is an earnest fellow
like Tawny."
I asked Mr. Berry, who is on the House Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, whether he thought
the islands would ba annexed.
"Yes, I believe so," he answered. "I think
the administration is bent upon it. And let me
tell you something: No matter what these men
may say to you, you'll find every Republican of
tbeni march up lilc-.> a little man and give his
vote for annexation when ;he administration de
cides upon its policy. It doesn't matter what
they may happen to think, of course."
The Congressman from Kentucky is the one
Democrat in tbe party. He's a man of enor
mous strength, of unfailing good-nature, ei
ceeiingly kind and generous and with a youth
ful heart that makes Ms crisp white hair and
beard seem out of keeping.
"Are you in favor of it?" I asked.
"That depends. If Japan were to try to take
ihtse islands I'd shout Hands off !' But that
isn't me main point. The thins is this: Idon't
see how tne administration can ignore the
wishes of the natives. I tell you, my sympa
thies nre with these poor people. They are such
a fine race, and here ihey are practically dispos
sessed of their property and threatened with an
nihilation.
"Of course, I'll admit that the natives are
not tit to make the best uso of tho islands. But
it's this way: Smith, say, owns a lam near me.
I go to him — being a big fellow— (Mr. Berry's
gray eye.- twinkled) and say, 'Smith; you're not
running your place <:s it should bo run. lean
do more with it — make more money out of it.
On the whole, I beiieve I'JJ take it away from
yon.' ••