The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-07-12
The CHINESE QUESTION,

nese question has not, it seems, been
fixed clearly enough to prevent quib-
bling on its part next election, as to
what the legislative record on that
question was. This is evident from
the fact that some legislators who
voted against the Chinese constitu
tional amendment have, from time TO
time since then, in explaining their
vote, taken occasion TO indicate that
they were in favor of some amend
ment, but not the one in question;
that if it had been framed different
" they would probably have voted
for it; that they regret something
was not done, etc. .....
Such talk, il already INDUCED in,
is sure to increase in geometrical
ratio as lapse Of time on the one
hand gives greater chance to use
such statements without having their
disingenuousness exposed, and the
near approach of the elections on
the other hand increase their market
value.
Similar views have found their
way into the editorial columns of the
Gazette, which is generally conceded
to be "pro-Chinese organ" in that
those who control it are pro-Chinese
at heart and pro-Chinese in the col
umns Of their paper, so far as they
can be and retain their influence
over those who, though accustomed
to pin their faith to their views, are
getting so FESTIVE at Chinese en-
croachment that they will no longer
stand more than o thin dilution of
editorial prot Chinese sentiment.
Such, for instance, as the eulogy on
Chinese industry in redeemlng Judge
McCully's swamp, recently pub
lished in its columns. The Gazette
has, since the legislature adjourned,
stated in so many words that some
constitutional amendment was neces-
sary to meet the Chinese question.
1t therefore is imperative now, in
black and white, to remind all who
now use such talk, or who, under
the pressure of the coming elections,
: are likely to use it, that the legisla-
{ ture since the day killed the Chinese
constitutional amendment, has never
been pr0rogued. If, therefore, these
Drotestations are honest and sincere,
and not disingenuous and false, the
, legislature at the call of the major
Y ity can now meet and undo the work
they then did. They and they alone
have full power to put these profess
sions into practice, holding as they
o do majority in the Legislature, and
under the law ruling this country
until next February. The fact is
t the vote which finally killed the Chi,
nese amendment in the Legislature
is a continuing one, and each day
that has since passed and is passing
is a reiterated unmoditied reatlirma-
ton of the position then taken which
S speaks louder than words. They
b killed the amendment and every
n fragment of it. They offered nc
substitute in its place. They de
clined to submit to the people who
sent them there, any proposition by
', which the constituencies could an
u swer for themselves as to wha
It should be done. Thus they left al
e irritating conviction in the popula
= mind that the reason the question
T. was not submitted to them in som
" shape WAS not that they could b.
e counted upon to kill it, but becaus
u it looked very much as if they in
!, tended to pass it. The action o
e the legislature was but an outcom
of the sentiment of certain class o
people found in every community
is who evidently consider tbemselve
Of the hereditary guardians and con
:. science keepers of the people, an
=, who, not content with doing thei
IL own thinking, insist upon thinkin
d for everybody else as well, and VIII
ID claim that if this world and the mex
" are now going to the devil it is bt
# cause people nowadays are so ur
: wise as to insist on doing their ow
Ne thinking, instead of handing the
RS proxies over to those who coul
Ut "think so much better for them"
ld A legislature adhering to its rel
" | TeSGDIdIlNe ClltTdCIcT WOulu IcdSO
this way on the Chinese constitl
IS tional amendment: This Chimes
he question has arisen and is live i
he sue. There is great deal of feelin,
he and it has got to be settled, and
-. this is representative government
,'' then there is on y one body that CO
be settle it, and that is the peopl
~ Then let us submit an amendme
of to them, framed so that its adoptic
ho or rejection will settle the issu
- raised. 1t is not as if we were CALI
IT, upon to pass laws which should a
IRE ticipate the verdict of the people Oh
err way or the other, but it is simp
Ia this: Shall we submit the questi'
,ot to the people, reserving our right
~. citizens TO take sides on the stun
I Lo or at the ballot box, as we dee
N' best?" In other words, legislati
body which adheres to its represer
alive character is always ready to
to the people. A Legislature viii
the abandOns its representative chara
eld ter prefers to go anywhere but
er. the people, and its secret but vii