The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-23
THE CLAIM OF THE HALF
Castles.

to be peculiarly representative OF the
ex.sovereign
The half-caste Hawaiian VINO finds
here his mother country is already an
important factor in our social system,
and the census statistics show that they
are a healthy and prolific race who IN
few decades will f rm large and the
largest element Of our population. The
half.caste is sturdy Phoenix rising IN
determined and fateful strength upon
the heels of the departing aborlglne,
and has every right to his heritage OF
an independent state, aud distinct
nationality.
A Royalist counting out of the native
from the political equation simpltes
living problems materially. 1t leaves
the halfwhite as the acknowledged
claimant to the Governments on the
ground that he is to be the Polynesan
survival, numerous enough In his col
lective character to control the group
by votes. He and his kind look for
ward to becoming "dlstlnct ma
tionality" after the aborigines shall
have departed. 1t is the queer notion
of these Improbable people that they
will be able to maintain themselves as
a separate race, although by the con-
slant intermiXlure of white blood their
posterity are certain to become more
and more Caucasian until the Poly
nesian hue disappears altogether and
the Anglo-Syxop, Latin and Teutonlc
strains predominant. Rapidly as the
aborigine may be eliminated the half
caste population will vanish with nearly
equal speed. 1t is bleaching out with
each short, tropical generation Some
of its eXemplars are as fair to-day as
Scandinavians. There is absolutely no
future for it outside of the Caucasian
fellowship.
But it is noticeable that the half
whites do not intend to wait for the
evolution of new race, but are claim
ants for political primacy now. Let us
inquire Of them upon what superior
right do they base this imperial pre-
tension? Surely it cannot be upon
numbers, for the half castles are but
$3.50 all told, while Hawaiian born
foreigners. whose natural rights here
are equal to theirs, number 7,495, If
the claim is based upon superior cdpac-
ity and intellect, superior chTrocler
and attainments, 1t will be sufficient,
we think, to contrast such Leading
native.b IN whites as Messrs. D lie,
Damon, Smith, B shop and Emerson
with such leading half whites as Parker,
Cummins, Co.burn, Tesla and Bush.
The showing is representative and 1t
teaches an impressive lesson
If the issue is TO be one Of wealth
of a real stake in the soll-the am
bilious half-castes are still at a telling
disadvantage. By Mr., Thrum's recent
table the corporate holdings Of the
"sturdy Phoenix" which is said to be
rising in determined and fateful
strength" reach a sum total Of S567,-
I32, not taking account OF the mort
cages with which thay are encumberedj
mortgages held by the whites; while
on the other hand, Hawaiian born
Americans have $4,4oS,474; Amer
leans, $aI,7oO,6S9; Hawaiian born
British, $429, zoo, and Hawaiian
born Germans, $6S,oo4. Surely
a helpless and imputent minority
of the men who have commercial and
business control here-underings near
ly all of the great agents of Hawaiian
Development surely these small factors
are not lacking in assurance when they
talk about their importance TO the
present and future Of the Islands.
Should they vanish to night in thin air
and foam their absence tomorrow
would not ruffle the surface OF business,
commerce, agriculture or politics.
They would be missed from no great
function of society.
1t is useless now and forever TO talk
about any form of Polyneslan doml'
nance-useless as regards the natives
because Of their political lncapaclty
and the conceded fact that they are
going the way of all inferior peoples
useless as regards the halt-whltes be-
cause they are so few, so Impoverished,
Sd INDECENT and SO certain to be
absorbed by the white population. AS
a commercial arena and dependency Of
the white race this archipelago can
never go back to the aboriginal or half
aboriginal hand Its destiny has been
sealed and time will only prove the
circumstance,