The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-11-21
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.

AhO OVhAOAAihS VA CuO IISut W
vote upon resident aliens which has
lately been discussed in these col
umns, was one of the innovations
of the Constitution of 1887. With
voters for mobiles there must have
been at least three years residence,
while one year suffces for electors
of representatives. All members
of the Legislature must be Ha-
waiian subjects. At first sight the
provision may excite surprise but
reflection must cause the thinking
man to approve. Hawaii is very
small country; the total popula-
ton is less than that of many
sin gle wards or districts in several
great cities of the world. She is
powerless to afford protection to
her subjects who might need pro-
lection against wrong and outrage
in any other part of the world.
Naturally most of the foreigners
who come here to reside, either
temporarily or permanently, will
retain their nationality. We can
not do without them, for it is the
influx of foreign brains and capital
that has put little Hawaii in the
front rank of enlightened nations.
Were the nation to be deprived of
the wealth and population repre-
sented by aliens resident here, it
would become at once SO insignifi-
cant and poor that it's position and
independence would be at once for
feited. Instead of being a res
pected member of the family of
nations we should drop at once to
the position of Samoa, FIJI, the
Caroline Islands or any other
insignificant island of the Pacific.
We do not say, nor do we intend
to convey the impression, that the
: native Hawaiian counts for nothing.
On the contrary, it is because Of the
intelligence and sagacity of the ma
tives of these islands that civiliza-
ton was so soon planted, and that
it so rapidly became the controlling
influence of the country. It is,
however, none the less true that the
country could not be what it is
without the large alien population
: and immense foreign capital. The
bulk of the taxes and burdens oil
government are borne by this
). population and capital, and it is and
always will be dangerous to have
|. taxation without representation
!. 1t was in part this thing which pro
T. duced the reform of 1887. It was
|. becoming more evident each day
|. that to place the tax largely upor
l. one class while the power to taz
/. was wholly retained by another
was an unequal and dangerou:
= state of affairs. Complaint became
= more loud and angry. The posi-
n ton was fully appreciated by the
legislative governments of tn,
e latter half of Kalakauai
Q reign, and the determination t.
|. profit by it, and to prevent any
y possibility of change was evidenced
by such alterations of the naturali
!. zation law that no alien could b,
any course of conduct, acquisition
b. of property or length of residenc
become Hawaiian citizen withou
a the direct consent of the King
This power was used in an injuri
Gus and detrimental way, prior t.
1887. One of the first acts of tn
y Reform Legislature was the amend
- ment of the naturalization act.
a. was this state of affairs, and tn
r. knowledge that large part of tn
wealth and intelligence of tn
:. :. country would continue alien, tina
induced the placing of this provi
J. sion in the Constitution of 1887. I
is not objected to by fair-minde,
u and intelligent Hawaiians, indeed
many of them have said that tn
provision is fair. 1t has not proves
$, in practice detrimental to the bes
interests of the country, nor is
likely to do SO. Until it SO proves
any change would be wholly senti
mental, if not open directly to tn