The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-03-28
IN EMMA SQUARE.
MILD DEMONSTRATIONS BY
THE PATRIOTIC LEAGUE.
The Band Boys Play Popular
Airs.

Several hundred men, womel
and children gathered in ant
around Emma Square last Satur
day evening to hear the Hawaiian
Band boys play popular music, anc
also to hear a little speechmaking
The crowd was plainly not of one
mind, and one or two of the speak
ers were freely characterized by
some of the spectators as double,
face" ''liar," and other fattering
epithets of a similar nature. Very
little enthusiasm was manifested.
The following is condensed report
of the principal speeches:
a. Rosa made a few remarks giving
a brief outline of the aims of the So
ciety. He then introduced the next
speaker,
J. R. Kahookano. 1t is the duty of
our league to instruct the people con-
corning the questions of the day.
! Some evil minded men are trying to
make you believe that the object of
this league is to barter your indepen-
| dence. During the reign of Kalakaua
Pilipo, the statesman, said in the leg
islature that the Reciprocity Treaty
was the initial step to revolution.
That prophecy lay buried in the
ground for twenty years, and on the
toG In Of 10y cd 70.
truth. The Provisional Government
Commissioners on their way to Wash
ington, circulated the statement in the
cities through which they passed that
you Hawaiians were unworthy of po-
litical rights and therefore should be
disfranchised. Voices Hilahila.
Shall we then remain quiet and let
these false remarks go down to his
tory as truth? Voices: Aole.) What
kind of government do you expect to
get if we are annexed. Is it terri
torial like that of Alaska, with all
the head officials sent from Wash
ington to rule an ignorant people? Do
you want that kind OF annexation? |
Voices: No. Do you favor any kind |
of territorial government? "a voice: |
Which is the greater evil, Protector
ate, Provisional Government, or An
nexation?) We are only discussing
the importance of civil rights tonight.
c. w. Ashford: Ladies and gentle
men-I do not want to go into ancient
history, but you must remember that
the conditions in Hawaii to-day are
such that the world has never seen
since the sun commenced to shine.
We have no record in history where a
government which has been in exist
ence for fifty years was overthrown
almost in an hour, and commissioners
sent to distant land 2100 miles away.
The conditions which have been eX-
listing in Hawaii for half a century
have been overthroWn and new con-
INSTRUMENTATION in its place.
We must examine the question pend
ing in a calm way, and ten to one
when the wants of the people are
made known to the United States
those wants would be respected. 1t is
one of the fundamental principles of
this league that every honest man in
Hawaii who wants to perpetuate civil
rights, local government and home
rule (hear, hear should be enlight-
ened. That is why this league is
bring together the people
because we recognize that principles
must come first and forms afterwards.
It makes very little difference to a
slave what is the color of the flag that
ioats over him. 1t makes little differ
ence to q man in a chain gang what is :
.he color of the man over him. For
5hese reasons civil rights are above
md paramount to everything else.
The civil rights of the people ought
not to be taken away when we can by ;
,ur own voices prevent it. There is {
certain degree of conservatism in
very civil government. The j
conditions must bring {
hem into better condition [
han the one left behind. !
f they offer you better conditions I'M /
Ter annexation than you before en-
Dyed, then you would be very foolish
lot to accept them; but if not better, c
hen you would be foolish to accept |
hem. We all know what rights we {
We had the right to elect Mobiles and I
We let go those rights, unless we are l
ertain that the new conditions would
re better. The civil rights of the peo- t
ne were Illc | Il
rchy. Let US see whether under the b
lew condition of things the people s
would be protected or not. We all 2
now that annexation is in the air. 7
Laughter. 1t has been talked by :
men and women. We all know that U
{ is favored by the Provisional Gov t
We must examine and see ?
whether it is favorable to us. 1 am
onvinced that a government of the f
,eople, by the people and for the peo- O
lie is government by the majority. v
Sut it is very evident that the people t
Who have the government in hand do t
lot assure you that Hawaii will enter g
S State. They do not favor State, t
because they know the Hawaiians i
you'd have the control of the cleo C
ions. The Provisional Government {
hut their mouths. Our best informa- v
ion is the utterances of the Commits O
toner's sent by them to Washington. a
,ince the arrival of the Claudine in s
AN Francisco and up to the depart
re of the Australia, the Commits e
toner's have been wagging their heads v
nd saying that the kanakas must be a
horn of their rights, or we wont O
ave the upper hand. We find in L
anOrtS of Sunday School meetings in n