The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-09-17


for by enocting law they prejud sc
public opinion whereas in the sub
mission OF an amendment they sim
ply assume the responsibility of ask
ing for an answer one way or the
other from the people whom they re-
present.
1t is urged the Legislature has
already refused to submit an amend
ment to the electors, therefore o
call them together again for that
purpose would be futile. This
argument could be accepted but for
the fact that members of the Legis.
lature who voted against the amend
ment In question and o large num-
Der who evidently then sympathized
with their action are declaring that
the vote in question did not arise
from hostility on the part of the Re-
form Legislature TO any amendment
hut from the difficulties of deter
ming what amendment to submit.
These parties are averse to imme-
date legislative action but will, this
coming election, support the SUBJ
mission of an amendment for final
passage in 1892. Accepting these
declarations as genuine and consi-
dering that year has been given
the l.. gislature to consider the sub
ject, since their last vote; and more
than all in view of the fact that the
30th of July last demonstrated very
clearly the necessity of keeping up
a foreign population here If possible,
the committee believes that it is but
just to the Legislators as well as to
the electors, that the Legislature
should be again put TO the test. The
committee are convinced that there
are substantial grounds for the be-
lief that many of the Legislators who
once honestly voted against the am
endment will now support it, and if
not that it should be known at once
beyond cavil or dispute.
Many who now oppose the calling
Of the Legislature together but who
propose to take up the Chinese ques-
ton next election do 50 on the
ground that it would be unwse to
stir the whole Chinese population
before the elections, forgetting that
by taking up that question at cleo
ton time as they propose to do they
will have to meet the full strength
Of Chinese opposition anyway. The
question will have to be met sooner
or later, the only difference being that
il the amendment is submitted now
and passed this coming election, the
electors will have something tangi-
BILE in return for the risks and labors
that they have undergone. While
the submission OF an amendment in
1890 with its possible passage, or
defeat, in 1892 means that the cleo
tors will have received merely an un-
certain promise of something two
years later and shall have had to
meet this election just as much OPP
position from Chinese as if the peo-
pie had gone far enough while they
were about it TO get some practical
good.
AS far as the native people is con-
cerned we confess with regret that
most of them fail to apprehend the
serious results of continued Chinese
encroachments among them. Still
il is believed that nothing could be
more unfortunate, nothing would
do more to open up half-healed
wounds, than to go into this election
with no other issues to discuss with
the natives than these INDISPENSABLE
issues of the 30th of June and July.
A full, fair and peaceable presenta.
ton of the Chinese question to the
natives must sooner or later divide
their ranks as surely as men on all
issues are guided in the formation
Of their opinions mainly by their
own interests.
AS far as the Chinese are con-
cerned we regret that with the many
admirable qualities they possess it
still has become absolutely neces-
| Soi W u0NOStlC bhC iCSItlCSiOu vi
some of their rights. Our justifica-
ton for such course is self-defense
good and sufficient one at all
ii mes and among all people,
and though tits quite true that the
electors are prompted to action in
this matter primarily by their OWE
interests, still they believe that in
thus conserving their own interest.
they are not neglecting the higher
interests involved in the preserva
ton of self-rule and Western civil
ization in these islands. While th,
introduction of class distinctions il
our Constitution is TO be regretted
it is better to lower standards Of
self-government that have become
impossible through the presence o.
servile labor than sooner or later to
be deprived of self-government al,
together, through increasing incapa
city TO control the country because
of the presence and increase of thes,
unrestrained aliens among us, ano
the consequent defamation of oul
own ranks thereby. Again, W,
believe that the result 10 Chimes,
from proposed specific Legislation
has been greatly exaggerated. AL
Chinese now in trades, genera
business and similar occupa
| ti0nS no tho shuttiuu out N