The Hawaiian gazette., 1891-11-24

or fortune, To escape the consequences
OF their own faults, vices or mission
tunes. for converting the heather, for
business reasons, shipwrecked mari
nerS or Seamen disabled for longer
sea service. The wonderful climate
and scenery brought msay, first to
see and then to stay. Tillers of the
soil came from China and Japan; me-
chsnics and tradesmen from the
United States, England and Ger
many.
The early arbitrary sway of the Ha-
waiian chiefs was displaced by the
constitution of $50, but their tradi-
tious and usages long remained. As
the chiefs and the common people
who were under them passed away,
the government was left upon its
legal written basis, aud had to stand
or fall by its own strength or weak
neSS, and by the intelligent support
which il received or failed TO receive
from the people who controlled legis-
lation ana the administration of JUS
tice.
Not only had the despotie power
and influence of the chiefs come to an
end, but the ecclesiastical influence,
which had done more than all other
influences combined towards estab-
fishing n government of civilized
laws, and which had long exercised
control over the government in It's
various functions, gradually ceased
10 be recognized as Il governmental
factor. And finally, the species of
mild oligarchy, the natural out
growth OF the chief rule, had lost its
earlier power. There was nothing to
be done then, if Hawaii was TO retain
its autonomy, but an extension OF the
suffrage in order 10 awaken active in
terest in public affairs among the
very people TO whom government
must look for its support
In 1857 then the country started
upon its destiny.
And what shall that destiny be?
Shall intelligence, integrity and en-
lightened patriotism shape the for
tunes of Hawaii, or will Legislative,
executive and even judicial abuses
run riot, and the country finally be
left 20 the mercy of any great power
which sees fit 10 lay hands upon and
seize it,
OF course the present condition of
things permits and encourages dema-
gogues-
There are always voters who can be
misled and csjoled, by preposterous
lies and fallacious promises. The
mere fact. that there is good system
of laws under which the government
is carried on, and that the system
admits reasonable and proper amend
81 ~, L. kNx- "a h
! lished legal methods, although an
essential requisite, is not of itself a
guaranty OF national prosperity.
1t is said that the aboriginal Ha-
waiian, while properly tenacious of
all the rights and privileges of Ha-
waiisn nationality, is not yet fully
trained in the workings of the new
political system, and that he can
easily be led TO follow the lead of those
who loudly profess TO be working for
his interests.
l prefer to believe that, give him
time, and when free from influences OF
3 eorrupting nature, he will ind out
| whom he can trust, and whom TO
| distrust, and also will be able to form
intelligent opinions of his own.
1t is certainly his earnest desire to
retain a respectable government
The present condition OF the sugar
| industry points to different onder OF
things to that which has prevailed
here of late years
1t must now be shown whether the
country can stand adversely better or
worse than it bore prosperity. The
great profits formerly made in sugar
II IL I'll rlcN .
penditures, which must now cease.
Besides the employment given TO
skilled mechanics, sugar profits were
by many distributed generously in
| public, and still more in private,
charities. Rarely have seen anyone
who was interested in sugar who had
not kept regularly at some good board
ing school from one 10 twelve or fif-
teen Hawaiian pupils. Much OF this
aid is likely, now, TO be Withdrawn.
But with all the good that came
from prosperous times. there was much
| that was not good. On the one hand
/ came jealousy toward the nouveauX-
| riches, on the other came indifference
to public interests.
Perhaps the necessity of rigid
economy will lead to more conscien-
tious attention To public duties.
The Mckinley bill may, after all, De
| to Hawaii blessing in disguise. To
| use the expression by which time Is
| declared on board OF a man-Of-war, let
Us make it So"
We need but little legislation. The
land system should be so shaped as 10
| increase the number Of small land
holders. Every land-holder is con-
servatiye and a friend Of good gov
eminent
| A treaty is required 10 be made
with the United States, by which Ha-
4 waiian sugar can be refined here and
admitted there free Of duty. In no other
way, except the deplorable way Of
| flooding the country with cheap
HindoO labor, or by heavy direct
taxes which would drive away cap
ital, send up exchange and increase
| the cost Of imported goods TO ruin
| Gus rate, can the revenues OF the gov
| eminent be collected
Whether property qualifications for
\ mobiles and electors Of mobiles shall be
| Withdrawn or not, will be one OF the
great questions for legislative debate
| This provision Is not especially re-
Quired By the wealthy, but Is in the
interest Of skilled labor and Of small
Iand-hoIdeTs, as opposed TO the in
terest of an unemployed or floating
| population, and ignorant labor which
| cannot earn 500 q year
But perhaps the most important
legislative result To be reached Is, To
( ernznciu4te civil service from politics.