The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-10-31
PLEBIsCITE IN HONOLULU.
The "Sun's" Opinion of the
Proposed Election For and
Against Annexation.

According to unconfirmed and I'M
official reports from Washington, the
policy of Mr.. Cleveland's administra-
ton, with regard to Hawaii's proposal
of annexation, will be found, when
disclosed to the country, to be about
as follows:
l. A plebiscite of the residents of
Hawaii to determine the form of
permanent government for the ISL
ands, and to decide whether the
islands desire either annexation or q
protectorate by the United States.
.. Pending the popular vote in Ha-
waii, and the establishment of per-
manent government, guarantee by
the United States of protection against
foreign interference.
8. Assistance by the United States
in enabling Hawaii to hold free and
peaceful election, partly through the
exercise of our governments moral
influence in the islands, and partly by
a somewhat imposing naval demon
stration at Honolulu at the time of
the voting.
These are the main features of the
programme as described in the various
and not altogether harmonious reports
as to the character of Mr.. Blount's re-
concentrations to Mr.. Cleveland, and
Mr.. Cleveland's intended policy. Part
of the story is derived from state
ments made with great positiveness
and particularly by the Baltimore
Sun, which processes to have exact
knowledge of the nature of Mr..
Blounts recommendations and of Mr..
Cleveland's acquiescence in Mr..
Blount's conclusions. Part is derived,
on the other hand, from the New York
Herald's dispatches from Washington.
As that journal has been the most
ardent upholder of Mr.. Claus Spreck-
els peculiar interests, and a constant
advocate of the restoration of the de-
throned queen, we are inclined to
attach importance to the information
it publishes, whenever the same is not
in line with its own desires and de-
mands. 1t is decidedly encouraging,
for example, to learn now from the
Herald itself that "the restoration of
the queen to the throne Mr.. Blount
never contemplated, by anything he
said in his report, and the administra-
ton would not favor such a course,
even if he did"
Diminishing the absurd and odious
idea of the restoration of monarchy in
Hawaii by the efforts of an American
the essential feature
of the policy now attributed to Mr..
Cleveland is the plebiscite; that is to
say, the determination of the ques-
ton of Hawaii's destiny by popular
vote in the islands. While it is prema- /
ture to discuss or criticize the admin
plan on the strength of |
these unofficial reports from Wash |
ington, it is quite permissible to in 4
quire what would be signified and /
involved by the institution of a pie /
biscite for this purpose at the instance |
Of our government.
The proposal of a reference of the
annexation question to the residents
Of the islands, as preliminary to fur
Their negotiations, would indicate that
in Mr.. Cleveland's views annexation
IS constitutional, not unconstitutional.
If it were beyond the constitutional
power of this government to assume
control over these outlying islands of
he sea, there would be no occasion
or plebiscite to ascertain whether a
majority of the Hawaiians want to be
or protected. This point
needs no calculation. 1t is obvious
hat if Mr.. Cleveland's policy is as re-
ported, the president shares the Suns
opinion that annexation is constitu-
ional, and rejects the elaborate argu-
nents Of Judge Cooley and the other
of the organic law who
lave been laboring to convince him
hat the annexation of Hawaii is not
constitutional.
The proposed reference of the ques-