The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-01-10
THE PACIFIC
Commercial A0bfrtlsrr
10.

TWENTY-FIVE days hence-on the fourth of
February-will occur the biennial elections
throughout the Islands for Representatives of the
people in the Legislative Assembly for 1880.
Although it is evident that, aside from the ordi-
nary business Of a session some very important
matters are likely to come up for discussion and
decision, yet so far, the old feeling of apathy as
to who are to be our representatives and law
makers still holds possession Of the foreign COM
munity of Honolulu. This is the more singular,
at first glance, when it is remembered that the
bulk of the taxes is paid by foreign born subjects
and denIzens, and that they will be the ones who
must particularly feel the effects of bad legisla-
ton and yet they have for years, by their own
%inaetion, been practically unrepresented in the
Legislature, trusting entirely for the protection
of their interests to the conservative influence Of
the Ministry and a handful Of the Mobiles so coun-
teIact the generally cratic tendencies of native
members. There are about two hundred quail
fed foreign voters IN the precincts Of Honolulu,
and these, if their votes and influence were
united upon one ticket, are enough to secure the
return Of at least two foreigners, in the apparent
ly divided condition of the native vote. We are
told that there are now about forty native candi-
ulles LOT Lul1 ul5LElCLs on sOult SIX OF eight IlckGLs,
and thus the vote will probably be a good deal
scattered. Among the masses of the natives too,
the interest in the coming election is apparently
less than in former years, as they are becoming
doubtful Of the ability Of aspirants for legislative
honOrs from amongst themselves to iCehe ka pill
hG-remove the burdens of the horse and dog
tax.
At a recent public meeting called by two
native candidates in this district, one Of them de-
and unlimited Chinese immigration which an
nouncement was received by his audience with
groans and shouts Of derision. Another-and by
reason Of his family connection a prominent can
didate and likely to be elected-denounced the
Reciprocity Treaty and all who had been instru-
mental in procuring it's adoption. These are
specimens only Of the talk INDUCED in by some
native candidates, and who, if the foreign voters
remain a~pathetic as usual, are quite likely to be
chosen to represent the wealth and intelligence of
the capital city Of the Kingdom.
While on this subject it may be well to correct
an error as to the law of elections into which the
Gazette Of this week has fallen. Under the head
ing, s. The privilege Of voting our n~eighbor
quotes from Section 1888 Of the Civil Code, which
gives to - denizens of the Kingdom" as well as
subjects the right to vote for representatives
The Civil Code was adopted in 1859. IN 1864
the New Constitution was promulgated, and
Article 90 of that instrument, defining the quail
~fcations Of voters and giving the privilege only to
subjects, operated Of course as a repeal Of Section
1888 Of the Civil Code, which the Gazette writer
evidently thinks is still the law Of the land.
What constitutes a " denizen OF the Kingdom y
is shown in Section 433 Of the Civil Code.