Hawaii Holomua, Volume II, Number 41, 21 February 1894 Edition 02 — THE POPULATION OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. [ARTICLE]

THE POPULATION OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

Is the jJaiVēdian a TDoomed ? PRIīSEM ANI) FUTURE FKOSPECTS. The attention "f the wholo world has been engrossed in the present crisis in Hawaiian politifS, by whieh a small f::ctlon of foreign residents, principally Americans or descendnnis of tho Amoiieau Missionaries, acting at tho instigation of the l*. S. Minister Resident Steveus, and un', 7 cr the protection of the guns of an American man-of-war, successfully seized the Government, aud uuder a most flimsy pretence, dethrouod the legitim:ite Native Sovoreign. This has been unauimously considered abroad as a mcst unprecedented event in lnternational History, and of aueh a nature, tbat, if condoned. it wonul coustitate a most dangerous precedent. As soon as the revolution waa accomplished, and without the sraallest regard for the rights, opinions and wishes of of the uative population,—who really ought to have been the only party with a voice in the matter,—the handful of Americau ltevolutiouists. claiming to be “the people,” hnrried to beg for annexation to Amei iea, offering to hahd ovor to the U. S. Governmeut all tho sovereignty, autonomy and puhlie properties nf a country whieh did not belong to them, bv any possible right. other than might, and whose seizuro eoukl uot have been possible without the underhanded intrigues of an over-zealous, “christian” fanatic and unscrupuIous diplomat. From the facts th..t have since transpired, it is now clear that the object of the R.-to-lutionists, in thus applying to Araerici, was not what thoy di.b p.itriotism, hut on!y to obtain personal protectiou and trv to keep in their own hands the power aud absolute coutrol they had wrenched frora the uatives. Outside of this persoual interest, they have been animated by a special, intcnso spite aud aniraosity against the Aborigenes, and thoy havo repeatedly and distinctly stated that,—as far as they cou!d prevent,—no more self-goverBment, no more voting privileges woukl be allowed to the Hawaiians. So the revolution of Jaunary, 1893, was not one of the raasses against the oppression of the classes,- as revolntions generally are,—but one of the classes for the oppression of the massos, who in this case are especially tho peaceful, lawabiding, loveable Hawaiian branch of the Polynesian race. The revolution was a true act of filibustering over tho natives of the laud, and it must here be said to their credit. that no other race, uuder similar provocation, would have acted wilh so mueh d.gnified order aud quiet patience, as the Hawaiians have done siuce their Sovereign snbmitted their case to the high aud impartial decision of the U. S. Goverumenh Yet, in order to justifv tbeir higb-hauded policy, the Revolutionists accuso the despised “ kanakas,” after 70 years of the strictest and most successful raissionary uay punlanie, teachings, of beingau ‘ inferior semi-barbarian. idolatrous. beatben people.'!" lf these assertious were com'ct, instesd of being a gratuitious calumuy on the Hawaiians. thev woakl coustitute a most awful booraeraug on t.io fai 1 ure of t hristianity and Missionarv teachings. But

they are safficiently refuteJ by the record of the 50 ye»rs, during whieh the Hawaiians have enjoyed their own mild and cinlize<l self-constitutional government, whieh hasbeen the most liberal, quietest and cheapest in the wor!d. friction, when any, always coming from the foreigners. However. all these extraordinaiy events have made matters pertaining to the Hawaiian Islands, of peculiar interest, especially those referring to the population: therefore, it has been thought that the remarkable article prepared by our towsman, Mr. A. Marques, at the request of Commissiouer Clount, too iate to be included in his report and publ shed in the last issue of the Joumal of the Polynesiau Society, would be read with pleasure. As Mr. Marques says, the object of his stndy, was not to discuss pohtics, but raerely 10 try, by some plain statisricai facts, to throw some light ou the situation and future prospects of the Group and of its Aboriginal population. And his assertions and conclusions are nnassailable, because very carefully based on the Iast official census, whose superiuteudant,—au American and a rabid anueiationist, —certainly dui not neglect to make the best showing for his countrymen aud their iuterests. N -. B - By the term “half-caste.” in this article. is meant anr decree of crossmg of Uawaiiaa with foreign blood, though it uiust be also'undeivtood that, as a rule, our half-castes are produeed bv Uawaiinn a othere — i»ure or crossed,—and foreign or half-caste fathers, whatever niay be the mee or co!<t of the foreīgners. Some half-caste men l.ave mamed white ladies. hut. ontsuie of a few Portnguese, no white w uian is kuewn Lere to have mameU a fuil kanaka.