The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-10-08

Tn Rzv. SEzESo BrsHoF has contributed
an article to the Hscaiira Monthly on the
Political and Social Future OF Hawaii"
which merits careful reading by all think
ers IL this country.
With the first part Of the argument we
cordially agree. The conditions at pres
ent ruling are sketehed in a bold manner,
and words are used which cannot be mis-
taken. We extract at length Mr. Bishops
views on the situation.
Thirty years ago this vas nation Of POlyne-
sials. which, though greatly red1ced IN numbers
still rlllrtatrsd much strength Of national life
With loyal clIrCinc 10 their old chiettancy. At
that TIME the hereditary native Monarchy was the
natural and desirable political form. and for the
native people any other was scarcely possible
The fast tscayius Polyresiaa people already
constitute less than half the population They viii
soon be one-t5ird ard then O1s-fourth. The other
and growing half Is composed OF several thousand
European families, and Of Chinese, chiefly males,
IN stIll larger Numbers. The great bulk Of the
property IN the islands and nearly all Of the bust
ness are I1 the hands Of this foreign half Of the
people In the untisturbed peace, substantial,
sod administration and high material prosperity
sbicE have prevailed. all rude shocks have been
Withheld and the old political form Of monarchy
slrTIYas uuttstIrbed. With a predominant for
siEu p0pzlltiCn, we still have, and under very IA
Vurable Circumstances OF able and honest admins
traitor we may continue for some time longer 10
have @ monarchy with a sovereign OF the ancient
native Ali lineage. Bat this order OF things is
mE1liGstiy transient and in the ruthless logic Of
inevitable tendencies Is going on towards change
It Is di&cult % understand how anyone can sup
pose the Hawaiian hlncship to be other than 8
very transient institution Under the condition In
#H D. M mia rFfz
and unparalleled political Arrangement and due to
lWh5lly exceptional combination Of circumstances.
Unparalleled because there Is not nov in any other
country and never WIS elsewhere II recorded his
tory, q ststR where foreigners conducted all the
business % the country, and the native race still
continued 90 exercise the sovereignty. EVERYWHERE
else lust Is soon as foreigners have exclusively
crested LEy considerable trade and commerce IN q
country, they have also taken possession OF the
government. L Is thus that the commercial and
governing European races rule IN HindOstan, Java,
MllLrcI B1rull, and have assumed the sway Of
every BGCIEC island where they have any cousid-
cradle colony Of traders. Hawaii i the one and
s-rLu-e exception where the weaker ard less ac-
tive native people hold the rens Of power and con-
trUl legislation and administration.
The thing lies in nut she'll The Rev
ereud gentleman has struck the right nail
on the head Il 10 doubt Is patent to all
thinkers that the transition stage Is being
passed through, and that the end can not
be far of It may be g decade, 1t may be
| bat Q few months. Whatever the time Is
| II Is As nothing compared to the life of d
nation The anomalous condition Of affairs
| pointed cut by Mr.. Bishop cannot remain
| in s.T. gro: there must be motion and it
can only move III one direction. The
/ course Of events may be retarded by judi
/ ci0us management; 1t Is not being so re
tarded at present It Is hurrying with
! lightning speed to one inevitable end.
The second part Of the articles argu-
ueut we cannot so cordially agree with.
| HIS plan Of q small republic for Hawaii
/ does not seem to Us feasible. 1t would be
open 20 the same evils arising from an
Influx Of political adventures, for with
/ manhood suffrage any scoundrel who
/ promised the most, especially in 4 popula-
Z ton such IS ours, would be likely TO get a
/ plurality Of votes. and could do good
| deal of mischief before be was out of Office
I Probably the Magazine writer does not
| contemplate q universal suffrage, but a
/ restricted suffrage. We doubt whether
the plan would be feasible. More prob
/ ably what he Is aiming at Is an oligarchy
/ That l. q dangerous form to deal with and
] as far as our historical reading goes not a
| form to be copied. What suggestions we
/ may venture to offer however, must be re
| served TO q future time. The article IL
| the Hu-Eiits Monthly certainly deserves
the most careful thought, and we feel sure
VIII receive it. Nothing can be more sig
uIfcant Of the situation than the publica
ton Of such views.