The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-12
WEDNESDAY, JULY u, 1898
THE APPEAL FOR A PLEBIS
CITE.

Gee simple and simple fec and all
the fees entail seem to have con
WINGED Paul Neumann that the situa
ton in the Hawaiian Islands is SO UNI
satisfactory that nothing less than a
general ballot among the aborlglnes
can settle it. Hence he proposes, in
an open letter to President Dole, that
the kahuna party, led as it is by ad-
venturers whose names are inSeparahle
from the disciplinary records Of this
group, be called upon to decide the
future of the Islands by plebsclte.
Then, of course, if the proletarlat and
sans cHiotteS should conclude to try
the lottery and opium Queen again, in
spite of the men who own seven
elghthS of the wealth and have the
real stake in the soil, why then we
should have Paurs idea of stable gov
eminent. Or, if the result should be
to install PaupS old client, Claus
Spreckes, as Sugar Trust dictator, SO
much the better. Anything which
should end the present era of economy
retrenchment and reform, and re-
nstate old or create new abuses would
seem to fill Mr. Neumann's idea Of
public policy.
This talk of pebiscite by an abo-
riginal race, which is lapsing into
paganism and is led by INSCRIPTIONS
politicians, is obvious cIap-trap While
our people have favored the idea Of
giving the natives, as a condition OF
their acceptance of annexation, a
chance to reverse themselves and grow
into the stature of American citizens,
they never have proposed that the con
duct of political affairs should be
wholly left to aboriginal devices. Even
the late native monarchy restricted
aboriginal suffrage for good and sufti-
Gent cause; and what it did not dare
permit would be folly for the Provis-
ional Government to experiment with,
particularly when it came to stalking its
own existence on the issue.
As we view it the proposal to have a
plebiscite among the Hawaiians may
be fairly met with the argument OF
England against ballot for sovereign
possession Of New Zealand by the Ma
oris, Of Egypt by the fellahs, of North
ern British America by the Indians
and Esqumaux and Of India by the
200, 900, 900 natives whom $4,000
Englishmen govern by force 1t has
come to be a precept of civilization
that the Caucasian race has govern
mental and Outstanding duty to per
form towards the inferior races whose
ancient lands it has come to occupy,
1t would be a crime against progress
IOG EllSldlI, NICI llldi(, IiaINS VI t'N
United States to subject their own.en-
ightened policies to the jurisdiction OF
the simple or semi-savage people over
whom their flags have been raised or
their performance established. 1t
does not matter what numerical adj
vantage such natives may have The
only thing to consider is their capacity
and progressiveness. Where these are
in question pIebiscites would be far
cical.
In these Islands the American has
established himself in power and here
he will remain until the time comes to
connect the country with some great
Caucasian power The Provisional
Governments strong and potent enough
to control the internal affairs Of the
group and will not surrender to any
domestic faction or party. SO much
Mr.. Neumann and his friends may as
well take for granted and hereafter hold
their peace. 1t would be as unpleasant
for them as it was for certain scriptural