The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-21
PROF. LYONS REPLIES
TO THE OPEN LETTER OF T. H.
DAVIES.
Is Hawaii Stolen Kingdom "A Clear
and Comprehensive Answer
to that Question.

"Open Letter" from Mr.. Theo II.
Davies of England. This letter, open
ing in most courteous and friendly
tone, proceeds to discuss what the
author terms the "Constitutionallty Of
annexation" and specifically demands
in the course of it, an answer from the
present writer, which will be freely given,
with the condition however that this
particular form of discussion, viz: the
open letter, personal form, shall not
continue beyond this present article.
The previous article in the STAR, to
which Mr.. Davies takes exception,
dealt with the ANNE xation question
from the American standpoint, and
with reference to the scope of the Amer
lean Constitution. No one at this end
of the line pretends that the revolution
of January 1898 was constitutional.
Revolutions never are constitutional.
They may be very necessary however,
and very reasonable, but these terms
are neither of them synonymous with
the term constitutional"
AS has been said above, the letter
opens in apparently the most friendly
and courteous manner, but for all that
comes the thorough endorsement Of
the ground taken by the New York
Times, that is, that a set of men in
Honolulu have "stoen Hawaii" This
is certainly more than grave charge; it
lisa bitter accusation, leaving no room for
compromise. The letter, as it goes on,
is, we must admit, exqusitely plausible,
but fact and plausiblity are two totally
different things.
Mr.. Davies himself acknowledges the
right of revolution, as we will see by
carefully reading his letter. He dare
not do otherwise. Queen Liliuokalani
virtually abolished the constitution. A
counter movement was in order and
was made and the movers set up
government. Who held the sever
eighty then? Who else could hold it2
With whom do foreign nations now
deal and whom do they hold response
BILE
But the question is, is it Hawaii?
Yes, that is a fair question. Who is
Hawaii When the writer of the
"open letter" approaches Honolulu on
his future philanthrophic visit to US, he
will encounter civilized and organized
community in all its manifestations and
mutitudinous relations. Lighthouse,
such as it is; harbor, wharves, coal
sheds, warehouses, streets, public
buildings, social organizations, means
of communication with other ports of
the group, means of doing all that is
necessary to constitute civilized life
all these will meet his attention. In
whose hands is all this? Who has
constituted all this and keeps it in run
ming orderp Is the principle that
man is entitled to the fruits of his labor
worth anythirg9
Now, why should all the machinery
of civilization be in the hands of one
set of men, and the bare, sheer tech
nical political control be in the hands
of another set really antagonistic to it ?
But that was a short time ago prac-
tically the state of the case, and what
ever theories founded on other condi-
tons might dictate, it was not right
Self-respect demands of a peo-
pie that it should respect its rulers.
For time different state of things
may be endured, with the hope that the
showing of outward respect may create
those qualities which are worthy of
respect, but not forever.
In 1887 the situation became to
decent manhood uncomfortable. When
the then chief ruler took a bribe of
over $4,000 from benighted heather
subject who knew no better than to
offer it, and moreover failed to deliver
the goods, the crisis came. Then trial
was made of Ministerial Government
by Legislative will, and in 1892 seven
months of bowling chaos was the result.
"Out with the Ministers" Gin with the
Minister'S" fifty men devoting their
time and strength to useless attempts
at legislation for discontinued little
country. A foreign company comes in
with the words "steap written across
its forehead. 1t is not necessary to
say that the Lottery Company brbed /;
the very face of the bill proclaimed it
an enormous bride openly offered
The Legislature was fair exponent of
the Hawaii for which Mr.. Davies claims
so much, elected by legal majority,
and expressed the sentiments of the
majority of native Hawaiins.
1t is true that many minimizing
white persons, with the easy grace with
which our people have signed petitions,
gave in their names on the side from which
they were only too happy afterward to
withdraw them. When the vote came
it was made race question. Only one
white man voted for the Lottery. 1t
passed, and then amid yels of triumph
the only good Ministry the session had
tolerated were hurled from their seats.
and Legislature, Cabinet and Queen
were all-'stoen."
What followed was but the taking of
possession again by the rightful owners
If not, then why so Immediately recog,
nized by all the foreign powers2 and
who, pray, as was said above, holds the
sovereignty today And what ought