The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-09-11
THE NATIVES JUST RIGHTS.


EDITOR BULLETIN 81 believe my
self to be earnestly solictous that
all men should enjoy their just
rights, and especially that the alb
original Hawaiian should possess his
just share in the government of the
land of his fathers. AS an earnest
supporter of the electoral provi-
slons of the present constitution, |
am subject to the painful accusation
by Memo, the Elele and their parti
sans, Of sharing in the crime Of de-
priving the natives of their just
rights. / am strongly in favor of
that provision of the constitution
which restricts the right of voting
for Mobiles 10 persons having 5000
income, or $4,000 estate. am
utterly unable to see wherein this
inflicts any injury or injustice upon
native Hawaiinns. The Hawaiian
never before possessed the privilege
of voting for Mobiles at all, rs they
were all appointed by the King.
Consequently he has not been rob-
bed OF right which he never pos
sessed. On the contrary many
Hawaiians having the requisite pro-
perty qualification do now enjoy q
privilege not formerly theirs,
The cutlery of Memo and his like
is made in order to put into plausi-
bic form felt grievance whose real
nature is this. The Hawaiian citi-
zen of foreign blood is now put upon
literal and formal equality in vot-
ing with the aboriginal citizen.
Every citizen of both races is direct
ly represented in the Legislature
by means of his own vote for Repre-
scntatives. In addition, the skilled
workers, the men of some little in
telligence and ability, have a special
representation by means of their
votes for Mobiles. Hawaiians and
haoles are voters alike and on the
same terms. This is the real griev-
auce, and all else is fancied and
Fictitious.
But Memo will urge that herein
the haole holds an immense advan-
tage because the number of skilled
haoles earning 5000 greatly exceeds
the number of similar natives. This
enables the haoles to control one
half of the Legislative Assembly.
Very well; they have majority of
votes for Representatives, and so
control the other half. Memo prob
ably deems it great injustice to
give the haoles an equal chance with
the natives in the control of the
government. / do not. | think it
is perfectly just and right, especially
when intelligence and capacity, as
proved by ability to earn luna's or
common mechanics wages, are made
the qualification for the privilege
complained of. If half control Of
the Legislature were retained by the
ALI, or were conferred upon the
capitalist, l should strenuously OBJ
ject. If the poor and ignorant citi-
zen were debarred from representa-:
ton, L should object. But the pre-
sent arrangement regard as wholly
desirable and beneticent TO all con-
cerned. 1t was happy day when
a pernicious control of more than
half the Legislature was wrested
from the Sovereign, and the right
to choose one half of the House was
conferred upon the rank and file of
cur skilled workers. i desire and
hope that natives may fast rise to
the exercise of this privilege. But
| think that any country is to be
commiserated where government is
controlled by masses of ignorant
and incapable men, under the fool
ish and fanatical theory of an in
herent and universal right to suf-
frage. S. +. BIsHoP.