The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-01-13
An Enthusiastic Crowd Gathers at
the Rifles Armory.
SPEECHES By PROMINENT
CANDIDATES.
a Constitutional Convention De-
nOunced-Ar9umenfs in Favor
of the Treaty-PauI Neunann
Gets After the Advertiser.

AT O'Clock yesterday evening the
electric lights flashed out in the
Rifles Armory, and q crowd of Ha-
waiians and foreigners began to pour
in at the doors. An omnibus carry
ing a band and a chorus, gayly
decorated with Chinese lanterns, par
AIDED the streets to stir up tagging
voters. The Hawaiian Band was sta
toned in the back part of the build
ing, and filled up the chinks with
music. By 7:30 about 800 persons
were present, and in the next few
minutes one or two hundred more
came in.
AT 40 the meeting was called to
order by R. More. Mr.. Rosa was
called upon to interpret. Mr.. More
was appointed chairman, after which
the candidates took their places on
the platform.
MI. MORE said it was the second
time he had had an opportunity to
call on candidates of the National
Reform party to address the people in
the hall. The last time they were
they would again. He would call on
Mr.. Peterson.
Mr.. PETERSON [applause1 - Mr..
Chairman and fellow citizens-You
have asked me to stand as a Noble on
the platform of the National Reform
party. / have read it and find it con-
tains all the vital points at issue here.
The first article declares in favor of
the independence of the country UNI
der the present form of government.
My own opinion is that it is better to
bear the evils of the present than fly
to those which we can guess pretty
we'll, if we do not know them. The
second plank refers to treaty relations
with the United States. That con-
slider the most vital matter before the
country to-day. 1t touches every
man, woman and child in the COM
munity, and none can afford to treat
it with Indifference. The language of
our platform gives no uncertain sound
on that subject. There are also planks
protecting both labor and capital.
Labor from hordes of Asiatics, and
the capitalists in this time of disaster.
The usual planks of economy, health
and education are there, as in every
platform. A safe and conservative
course is taken in the plank on con-
stitutional amendments, but the five
minutes allotted to speakers this
evening would not permit me to treat
these in detail. | shall take OppOr-
tunity to express myself in all these
matters before the campaign is Over,so
that everybody may know my views.
The platform has now certain ambig-
uities, as the ADVERTISER would say,
but such exist in every platform; but
it is still safe and sound one, on
which every honest man can stand
and work, as I will. In cOnsenting
many would not have put up this
ticket, but, fellow citizens, even If
this ticket is not your pet ticket, l
adjure you to stand shoulder to Shout
der and make your motto measures,
not men, provided the men will carry
out the measures. Applausel.
MR.. KANUI was the next speaker,
a member of the Hui Kalaiaina and
candidate in District 2. Mr.. Kanui
said: Gentlemen.-Before I address
YOU this evening [ will state that /
was appointed member of commit
tee to draft a platform. l will state
the result. In considering the first
plank the rights of different parties
were thoroughly considered. 1t was
decided that the present form of gov
eminent was most conducive to the
rights of all, of the people, of what
ever nationality, and of the throne.
The third plank was more seriously
considered than any other, and
we concluded that treaty would be
q good thing for this country, especi-
ally as we pledged ourselves to sup
port a treaty if it could be brought
about without ceding one inch of I1a-
waiian territory. We also considered
the importation of labor. We thought
it would not be good to import cool
les, and we pledged ourselves against
that. The next subject was the health
of the public. We thought men
skilled in the treatment of leprosy
should + otained, who could allevi-
ate or the disease and decrease
the wa 10 of the people. am sorry
that Il extend my remarks on
these SUBJECTS, but what L have said
been said that we are men
without backbone. Crabs without
meat. Those statements are without
foundation and those who made
them, who wish to overturn our gov
eminent, are the crabs without meat.
There are no office-seekers among us.
Those who are seeking to revolu-
tionize the government are the office
seekers. If my time were not linn
tied would give you my views at
length. When the Lord came into
the world he said the wise should be
set back and the foolish should come
forward. I think we who are called
foolish should come forward. Pro-
longed applause].
Mr.. MORE said he took pleasure in
introducing Mr.. ]. n. S. Williams
who was bashful but would get
over it.
Mr.. WILLIAMS: Mr.. Chairman
said he had read over the plat
form and endorsed it fully. They
We're all agreed that the situation
was critical and alarming. The
pol!cy of this party was conser-
NatlVe and would commend itself he
thought to thinking men. The party
would support the independence of
tne kingdom ruled by native sover-
elgn., lApplause]. The party pro-
posed TO support "a new commercial
treaty with the United States giving
us 1ulier advantages than we had yet
enjoyed lApplausel provided that it
dnciaued nothing tending to degrade
our national independence. APP
PlauSel: The party would continue
legislation already initiated on
0nlnese restriction, so that laborers
M -,