New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-22

possible for any bcnefcent useful government to
be carried with legislation controlled by voters
qualified on the principle Of manhood sur
frage. an not believer in that prin-
ciple without coca deal OF quaiili'
ton. consider It TO be the right OF every man
to he well governed as possible AS to LIS night
TO take part In governing. that must be hm''ea
by his capacity to do 1t is a grievons wrong 10
mo to have set OF incompetent and worthless ieesa-
tors and public ,ficers placed over ME 10y the votes
o. large classes OF men who are Incapable OF Sc
Letting proper Legislators 1t Is duty to all Glasses
OF the community so TO fix the qualifications OF The
voters that at least moderately competent legislators
and executive officers shall he chosen.
alt is evident that under the Constitution OF the
United states whatever qualifications for the exer-
else OF suffrage are enacted must apply equally to all
classes OF citizens There must be no distinction on
account of European and HAWAIIAN must "
subjected to precisely the same rules. Inc '.i'''
man by the United States law cannot be ha'u'"h~ou
as citizen Unless am mistaken. there Is no sue"
prohibition in force against japanese, OF whom We nav"
large Numbers. We seem. then. in Hawaii TO be re-
oujrcd TO provide a uniform voting qual,fcatloh lot
Iiawaiians for Americans, for natuiHhze" for'"su'
for naturalized English and Germans ana LOT haVrHe"
japanese For classes OF citizens other IMAM Ha""a'
should say that there could be question that thelr
right of voting should be limited by stringent qahh
cation OF being able to read inclligently the '"h-
sltution OF the United states In the English language
1t would be Il great misfortune to Hawaii to nave her
legislators chosen by Portuguese and Japanese resi-
dents with less knowledge than that although many
worthy and somewhat intelligent nlen might be ionna
among those classes Who were quite lacking In know
edge OF the English tongue. think that kioweoge 1i
that tongue is the indispensable avenue to the know
edge Of public affairs necessary TO make useful or
competent voter in an American community; IT may
almost universal language II Is not necessary 10 be
so particular But in Hawaii where more north. than half
force this qualification would be most damaging.
A certain objection would arise to the application
to native Hawaiian voters OF such rule on qninca
ton that Is. that such requisite knowledge OF Eng
n not az yet Sss by 10 vote O for
resentatives at the bannual election Such rule
be a serious grievance. some Of the persons thus
disfnnchlsed men Of most es,!mabe character ana
Legislature as Judges In lever courts and pastors
Of churches. In or0er to protect such persons should
nj IN pes sS1r 10 vote not oerws~ disqualified who
had enjoyed the right Of suffrage for say fifteen years
English education has bce1 rapidly advancing
among the nawaans during the psst fifteen years
tives of ordinasry ability will be- able so TO .ualify
themselves to vote. Older men might be unable to
acquire the language To do which Is peculiarly the
Should a property qualification also be required
very large perccnaSs OF the nae s s ns@ OF c
crucd from the yasant classes abroad Many hS OF
Of their desires. They are utterly Indifferent to
the public good They cars n"ns now nyo ey T H"1S
naturally gravitae TO the support OF The worst men
snch sSo"" Ss az cp of e s. @
merous reliable classes In Hawaii ;he,e unreliable &c
e S %h f e Of s
consequences An incom. or propery qualification
ice Of responsibility of character. The reg1ar re-
ceipt OF decent income as moderately ,, skilled ed
| a sense OF duty The possession also OF a mode
rate amount OF property makes IT probable that tns
sso sye him man Of tie need Of good ess
ton in order to protect his propTry lie ,, sSs
where majority Of the men are OF so many
nnaccusto%ed TO public action az" %dcsS so
er toarsbc would be absolutely mpo
sble without something IKE the restrictions on SUI
Americans here coincide In greater par, WIN Mr.
EnssS r vs% G Making ' ali
native Hawaiian and viewing bis progress OF srxsn,y
which to make an American citizen, Since Kala.
kaua became King the influence Of the palace has
lie is woshpper Of idols and fa% %", spirit
supersous devotce Of the profnne and obscene gods
| which his ancient mythology had evolved; As a
serves him good purpose VIII the ballot IL, IN
mon using the vote ms an Instrument, Of license
for himself and Of restriction for the whites and all
|
| THE GROWN LANDS.
| The claim Of Consultencral Pratt upon the
| Hawaiian crown lands has standing here. and rs
| looked upon as q royalist trick to make the United
| States believe that II II takes them over IT VIII
merely bargain for a lawsuit. ! have obtained from
Attorney. General w. o. smith the following state
| ment OF facts about the royal domain. which as
| poses OF Mr.. Pratt In short order:
| "Under the great division Tor mahele) OF lands
made in l848 certain lands were set apart Tor the
| use OF the sovereign. The King eventually began
| 10 treat them ms his private property, and wien
attention was called to this the Legislature In lo0'
passed an act defining his titlc which was TO the IN
| come only, and transferred the lands to conmis
sion IN be called the Commissioners OF Crown Lands
| Ever since that time the Government has ex-
crciscd control over them and the Icsi'iatnre mas
passed various relating to their dlsposi,ioIl
1ra courts have also by several decisions uisiwh
fhc distinction between these lands ana the ptiVac
| Lands OF the Kamehamchas and their heirs .
| The VARIOUS sovcrcigns have been en,itied 10 ne
| income of these lands. but now that Hawaiian
| sovereigns have ceased to exist the "oVe'"me''
| claims title to the whole
FINANCES OF THE ISLANDS.
| Nv the courtesy OF the Minister OF Finance nave
| o,,.,ned the following statement OF the Hawaiian
| nub,ic debt as 1t stood three days ago:
o,,, issue OF bonds February 2S...s2 foS 20 90
| i,oai of Education. 20
Act Of September 81 -, Goo 40
Act OF August 3. 1SS2. '., w
| - '.