The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-10-31

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habitants would likewise signify that
in Mr. Cleveland's view annexation,
or form of American protectorate, is
not intrinsically and necessarily un-
desirable. III it were folly, in his
opinion, for US to acquire the islands
under any circumstances, he would
never propose that the people of
the. islands be required to decide
whether the islands shall be taken
in under the American flag. Mr..
Cleveland is altogether too serious
minded statesman to indulge in such
trifiing. Therefore, if the reports of
his intentions are in the main accu-
rate, we take it for granted that he
shares our opinion on the general
question of the desirability of acquir-
ing Hawaii, rather than the opinion
of those who advise him that the
islands are not worth having.
Thus far all is clear enough. When
we come to the practical working of a
plebiscite instituted in Hawaii at
the instance of our government, some
difficult questions arise. The Pro-
visional government, the only exist
ing authority in Hawaii, wants an
nexation. 1t has said so. 1t has
already applied for annexation. The
only purpose of such a plebiscite as
Mr.. Blount and Mr.. Cleveland are
said to desire, would be to pass the
question over the head of the existing
government to the population of
Hawaii, in order to ascertain whether
the Provisional government repre-
sents a majority of the residents of
Hawaii, native and foreign born. The
Provisional government would be
itself on trial at the election held to
determine this question. Now, under
the control of what authority would
the plebiscite be held? Who would
determine the qualifications of voters?
Who would say, for example, whether
Japanese and Chinese coolies resident
in Hawaii should have the right to
vote equally with the native Hawa-
iians and the solid foreign-born resi-
dents and taxpayers of the country?
Who would prescribe the electoral
regulations? Who would be in au-
thority at the polls? AS there is to
be no foreign interference under any
circumstances, the supreme power in
defining the suffrage and supervising
the election must either rest with the
present Provisional government,
already committed to annexation and
itself on trial, or with the government
of the United States, directly or indi-
rectly. If our government makes
favorable vote by plebiscite condi-
ton of further negotiations for annex
alton, will it not inevitably be COM
PEELED by the logic of its attitude, to |
prescribe the conditions under which |
the pleblscite is held?
In that event we should witness an |
extraordinary and perplexing spec |
tacle. We should behold the federal |
government of the United States, |
which has not the constitutional |
power to regulate state elections even |
here at home, regulating and super
vising an election in foreign state, |
an independent country in diplom-
attic relations with US, sovereign |
member of the worlds family of ma
tionsi If the reported programme is
carried out to the extent of sending
an imposing feet of American war
fair election" in Hawaii, we should
behold the government of the United
States not only regulating a foreign
c1GCliO1i DuI ACTUALLY Oh Sudlu ONSl |
the Hawaiian polls with bayOnets
and gunpowder, The whole history of
federal interference with local elec-
tions here at home contains no incl
dent approaching this in its sensa-
tional novelty and its bewildering in
version of accepted principles.
We beg leave to call attention 10
the fact that this is the true meaning
of the project credited to Mr.. Blount's
genius, and now attributed rightly or
to Mr.. Cleveland. However
federal interference at the Hawaiian
polls may be disguised in the Ian
yuage of diplomacy, it will be federal
at the Hawaiian polls
none the less, if there is the slightest
on the part of our govern
nent to prescribe the conditions un-
Ter which the plebiscite is held.
We conclude, then, that the pro-
posed plebiscite will be conducted,
not by the United States, but by the
government of Hawaii
New York Sun, October 18th. l.