The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-04-13
Hawaiian Star Newspaper
Company, Ltd.
THURSDAY, APRIL Is, 1898.
THE MISTAKE OF LENIENCY.

been as thorough as the revolution in
Brazil and Chile or as that of France |
in 1871, there would now be no de-
batable issue between royalty and lber-
al progress on these islands. That
matter, at least, would have been
definitely settled. An end would have
come to plots and pretenders, of roy
alst leagues and intrigues, and the
only grave question left before the PEG.
pie would have been as to the form OF
popular administration and external al.
liances. The right of the revolutionists
to rule so long as they could hold theii
ground would not be seriously question
ed anywhere.
Suppose Brazil had kept its Emperor,
paid him a salary and let him be cen
ter of plots against the new republic2
Would not foreign powers have inferred
that the new authorities were too weak
to enter upon full control of the land
and that they feared the effect of decisive
measures upon their own political fort
unes? If Napoleon III had been per
mitted to return to Paris after Sedan
and had lived there in his own house,
surrounded by his mischievous clique,
laying plans to confuse his adversaries,
would the credit of the republic have
been worth nickel in any market Of the
world2 1t is said that woman who
hesitates is lost Is not the revolution
that compromises with the enemy at
least in danger of being lost2
Here in Hawaii, the mistaken
leniency which enables the old Queen
to hold court and work the wires Of
politics right in the face of the Provis-
ional Government, has left most in
congruous spectacle. The stranger
within our gates is often puzzled to
know which of the contending parties
is in power. He sees an American
Commissioner arrive to enquire, among
other things, whether the revolution
represents an overturn of monarchy,
and popular uprising against the per
son of the monarch, and behold the
royal carriage of State is ready for the
Commissioner to ride in if he will and
the royal Chamberlain, representing a
Queen who still draws pay from the
treasury makes an official call upon
him. Nor is that all Royalist leagues
organize in open day to oppose the
new government, royal adherents are in
office, royal colors are worn on the
streets, royslist newspapers stir rebel
lious blood against the Provisional
regime, and the henchmen of monarchy
:. make their dangerous cabals. What
respect, let US ask, can the world have
for a revolution which stopped, as if in
fear of results, of its own complete
SUGGEST What will Congress think OF
taking country upon the offer Of a
government whose right to cede it is
disputed on this very ground by the
imperious voice of a monarch whose
title to authority finds tacit admission
in the fact that her name has not yet
been stricken from the salary list or her
supporters thrust out of office Is it a
mere truce with monarchy that now
exists2 If it is, then the United States
would be right in considering the claims
of the royalists in any matter which
concerns the common weal1 Is it a
compromise with the Queen1 Then
where are we left when the Queen
chooses to Withdraw from compromise ?
Is it, on the other hand, the result of
triumphant revolution that We have2
II that is SO then why in heavens name