Koamalu : a story of pioneers on Kauai, and of what they built in that island garden / by Ethel M. Damon. [Vol. 1, no. 2]

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KOA M ALU

of state, and much skilful piloting through political shoals
was still necessary. After the inauguration of President McKinley in 1897, a new treaty of political union
was negotiated in Washington. This was ratified by the
Hawaiian senate in September of the same year, but not
by a joint resolution of the United States Congress until
almost a year later. The strenuous times of the passage
of the Reciprocity Treaty twenty years before were
recalled by the older planters and business men. Comments on these and many other matters fill Paul Isenberg's letters from Germany during the years immediately preceding this momentous political change.
June, 1896...... Who would have thought a year and a half ago that
the plantations would be on a good paying basis again?......
I hope that giving up so much rattoons will be of avail against
the enormous damage done by the cane borers. It should be helpful to plow the ground as soon as the cane is taken off. I am glad
that the sheep are again pastured on the lowlands. I took great
pride as a young man in my fine flock of sheep, but a severe
drought killed many of them after I left in 1878.
August. 1896..... I have had a long conference about starting Oahu plantation...... Koloa has a large crop this year, but too much
money is spent on it. The Smiths want to plant cane again on their
land, and I am very willing that they should. The only problem
is to keep the mill full when we take off their cane...... So the Japanese have had a little strike. Such a thing
often serves to clear up conditions and show them how well they
are treated. That they want Japanese doctors is natural. I will
take the matter up when I come out.
Feb. 1897...... I have answered Lydgate that a Public Hall at Lihue
must wait until we have a hospital.