The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-12-07
MONDAY
RIGHTS OF ALIENS.

The Bulletin" tries to wriggle out of
the awkward position in which its po-
itical mentors placed it, and meets the
ADVERTISERS criticism upon the rights
of aliens by an allegation that an alien
now controls the Government, directs, its
policy and nominated its members. OF
course the allusion is to a gentleman not
now in the Kingdom, and it is needless
to say that, like other charges brought
against him, this one is wholly without
foundation. The gentleman referred to
had nothing whatever to do with the
more than he had with preceding
Ministries The King, whose preroga-
tive it is, appointed his own Ministers;
and these Ministers conduct the affairs
of State subject to ratification by the
Legislature and the approval of the King.
Furthermore, it is fact that the
leaders of the party now in opposition
made overtures to Mr.. Gibson before he
was "sent for" by the King, and while
the Green Administration was in office,
to join them in forming a Ministry and
ousting Mr.. Green and his colleagues.
They were willing to avail themselves
OF Mr.. Gibson's popularity, brains and
experience, and to tie their fortunes to
his on condition that they should have
the nominating of his three colleagues.
This overture was repealed, and the gen
tlemen making it were informed that it
was the prerogative of the King alone
to appoint his Ministers. If Mr.. Gibson
had fallen down before the once domi
nant faction, the mantle of righteous
ness'' would have been spread upon his
shoulders by his present detTactors, and
they would have continued to run the
Government of the Kingdom in their
own interest, as they had done in the
past.
Is it at all likely that gentleman who
might have had the financial, social and
religious backing of the old regime, and
who refused it because of the unconsti-
tutiOnal and improper condition attached
to it, thereby ensuring their bitter hos
tility in the future, would consent to
hold office under equally humiliating
conditions, but without the moral, social
aud political support which he had so
Indignantly spurned? The idea is pre-
posterous but it naturally occurs to men
Who'll been accustomed to overshadow
the Throne and control the destinies of
the Kingdom. They are familiar with
this method and know no other way of
governing. Neither indeed did they care
to know, because their own way Injured
to their own profit and influence. That
is what they sought after, and not the
maintenance of the independence of the
Kingdom, and the elevation of the ma
tive people.
Having made this point plain, we
come back to the main issue of the
rights of aliens The law provides two
ways in which aliens may enjoy the full
rights of citizenship If they fail to COM
ply with either requirement, that is not
the fault of the law but of themselves.
Hence it follows that aliens who are dis
qualified from voting should not AFRO
gate TO themselves a controlling and dis
ponsing power, and should content them
selves by using their influence in quiet
and unobtrusive way to support the Gov
eminent and institutions of the country
under which they live and enjoy protec-
ton, instead of striving by voice and pen
to bring both into contempt in the eyes
Of the world.