The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-11-11
THE PACIFIC
6 ommrrtlaI AOOtrtlstG
sAIUEDAY... NOVEMBER II. 1882.

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SATURDAY. NOVEMBER IL. 1852.
IT has been put forward as a grievance
that the white population of these islands
have for many years not been represented
10y their own elected representatives i'm the
Legislative Assembly," and i'm illustration
of the fact it has been stated that there
were only two white men among the repre-
sentatlves elected foi the last session. The
latter of these statements is inaccurate
three white men wcrr elected last February. ]
Mr.. Gibson, Mr.. W. H.. Rice and Mr.. Frank
Brown. The other statement deserves some
consideration with a view to a%sceTtaining
what is the reason for it. In the first place
it is quite evident that, on the score of num-
bers, the proportion of representations that
may he GAINED for the white man is by no
means considerable. The number of white
people who owe allegiance TO the Hawaiian
Crown is not to be ascertained from any
published statistics. In the census tables
these people are mixed up with those who
are actually foreigners, retaining their status
as such and giving their allegiance to other
governments. But we need no elaborate
statistics to back up our assumption when
we say that the proportion which they bear
to the native race is decidedly small. When
the Electoral Roll for Honolulu District was
last made up it was publicly stated that out
of a total of 1868 the number of qualified
electors of foreign birth or parentage was
more than 500. This was given in the spirit
of "A boast as To- the largeness of the number.
If we could take this rs a guide the white
electors would appear to be in the ratio of
I,-- tIan a,.a q. ai~ R1f ~ - GnnUrp fnaf
i'll the country districts the proportion is
quite different to this, and that the white
electors form in almost all cases a quite in
significant minority. Now the Hawaiian
Constitution recognize numbers as the
proper basis of representation, copying the
ideas ON that subject of the Great Republic,
which is her political guide. 'The repre-
sentation of the people," says Article go of
the Constitution, shall be based upon the
principle of equity and shall be regulated
and apportioned by the Legislature accord
ing to- the POI ulatiOn." 1t was not intended
therefore 10y the trainers eff the Constitution
that a numerically small body of people,
even though they be " white" people, should
have a large representation in the Assem-
bly,. This is the primary cause of the fact
which some people deplore so much. The
white people are in the minority and natu-
rally the white representatives i'm the As
sembIy are in a minority also. 1t would be
just as well and a great deal more manly on
their part II those who call this IA grievance
would say outright that they want a certain
number Of representatives of dollars i'm the
Assembly as well as the representatives of
adult male electors. That is what they do
mean, and they are ashamed Of il; well
knowing that at this late period of the nine
teenth century such a proposition, by whom
soever and whcresoever put forward, is sure
to- be hooted down.
There is another reason why so few white
men were elected TO the Assembly. They
10 not take any pains about it or go the
right way to work to- secure the election of
any of their number. We have il on the
authority already quoted that the names Of
over 900 of them were on the electoral roll
last February. Yet only 121 of them thought
il worth their while, even in a time of SO
much excitement as that was, to go as far
a the Government Buildings TO record their
votes. So much for the anxiety of the white
electors tu be represented. What about the
candidates? Is any systematic effort made
to secure men rs candidates that have some
chance of being elected? Do the few cam
e. didates who do appear take reasonable
Il pains TO obtain the native vote? If Mr..
r . NIDSOt anu MI. INltt dllu Mt Il Ill DIOWn
= could not only secure their elections but go
e to the head of the polls in their districts
with striking majorities, why could not
others do the same? In every district the
native voters hold among them so large a
proportion OF the voting power that if they
so choose no white man could get into the
Assembly at any point. In this respect
i there is no difference between one part OF
l tie country and another. If these gentle
: men could secure their elections there is no
3 reason but one why others could not do like
- wise, and that is that they are too proud or
too indifferent to take the necessary pains
to conciIiate and secure the native vote.
When we speak of the necessary pains to
be taken to cOnciliate the native vote we do
< not allude to the common electioneering
lodges of bribery and treating. There must
be pains taken on the part of the candidate
lie to approve himself to the men whose suf
u frages he seeks. y prominent planter in
Ia Haiku took every pains to cajOle the ma
81 tives of his district into accepting him as
n. their representative i'm the Assembly. As
+ is we'll known he spread bounteously the
r. refresh ments which Hawaiians love, and il
= was sought to arouse some enthusiasm in
his favor by the common articles of pro.