The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-06-03
The Hawaiian Problem.

The letter which we published
yesterday from our special cores
pondent in Honolulu deals with
what is now the most interesting and
important phase of the Hawaiian
outlook both to the islands and this
country-namely, the problem of the
coming government.
The present government, as is we'll
known, is but provisional, and hence
is to be superseded by a permanent
government of some form. What
that form should be is the problem
to be solved.
Although the provisional govern
ment has just appointed Mr.. Thurs
ton, an annexationist, as Minister to
the United States, it may be taken
for granted that the annexation
scheme is dead beyond the hope of
resurrection. 1t is equally clear that
a protectorate is not to be thought
of by the government or people Of
the United States. The past policy
of this country toward the islands
must be it's future policy-no an
nexation, no protectorate, no foreign
control; but an Independent Hawai-
ian government, with friendly treaties
securing to the United States the
naval and commercial advantages
hitherto enjoyed.
What form that independent gov
eminent shall take is for the people
J of Hawaii to determine without
domination from the United States
or any other foreign Power. AS the
monarchy was overthrown and the
revolutionary government establish
ed not by the revolutionists, but by
the power of the United States, this
government would simply be right
ing the wrong done in its name if it
should restore the Queen and public
affairs to the status of January l..
But while this might be warranted
as a matter of international law and
right, it is, of course, not to be
thought of as a matter of expedi-
ency or policy.
In ordinary revolutions republic
is the natural sequence of an over
thrown monarchy. But the affair in
Honolulu was no ordinary revolu-
ton. 1t was not an uprising of the
people against their ruler. 1t was a
conspiracy of the few to seize the
government for their own purposes
and it succeeded only by reason of
the unlawful support given by the
naval force of the United States.
Aside from this consideration Mr..
Nordhotf finds other difficulties in
the way of popular government
1t is problem whether democracy
is either desirable or practicable in
a mongrel population including
thousands of Chinese, Japanese and
Polynesians. But, more important
still, the natives and half-castes, who
constitute the great majority of the
people, are not eager for republic
but prefer the restoration of the
monarchy, with which they were al.
ways satisfied. Popular will is the
corner stone of a republican govern
ment. That is apparently wanting
in Hawaii.
After careful survey of the situa-
ton our correspondent reaches the
conclusion that the best form oil
government under the present cir.
cnmstances would be that Of mon.
arch who ''reigns but does not gov.
ern"-in other words, hereditary
sovereign under popular constitu.
ton. The wisest and most states
manlike course, he thinks, the pre-.
sent provisional rulers can adopt
both for themselves and the people
of the islands, is to restore the Queen
under constitution satisfactory tc
both sides.
This solution of the problem
might well be regarded with favor
by the United States, though the
government has no business to seek
to bring it about by any active in
reference. American sentiment halls
the spread of democracy in any
quarter of the globe. But true
democracy is based on the will Of
the majority. If the majority of the
Hawaiian people prefer a constitu
tional monarchy that is their bust
ness and their right.-New Yorl
Herald.