The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-06-03
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
HE WANTS TO COMPROMISE
WITH ROYALTY.
The Native Voter-The American Popu.
lation-The Japanese Request
Problem of Defence.

Problem of Defence
Honolulu, May 8, via San Fran
CISCO Cal, May II, 1893 All is quiet
here. Nobody molests or interferes
with the Provisional Government, and
it is, to all appearances, becoming al
legislature, and may some day take
down its provisional character and en-
deavor to become openly permanent.
As l reported in my last letter. when
it gets that far it will have very grave
question before it-namely, whether 1t
means to rule with the consent of the
people or against them. There are
persons here who believe an oIigarchy
would be a nice thing-with the pres
ent rulers and their friends the oil
garchs.
am a democrat myself, but | see
clearly enough that a popular govern
ment may not be best for a country
like this, with a curiously mixed popu-
laton. In fact, nobody SO far proposes
a real democracy for that would in
volve giving the vote to the Chinese,
Japanese and Polynesians equally with
the native Hawaians and the few
n
If the present rulers want to become
permanent government, however as
| believe they do, it seems to me that
common prudence will force them to
devise some way to secure the good
will of the natives and hllf-Castes, who
are the predominant number of voters,
and who, as have already reported TO
you, are opposed to the provisional
rulers, mainly, think, however, be
cause these propose annexation.
The Hawaiian is an easy going per-
son, but he is proud of his flag, of his
traditions of independent government.
He does not banker after republic
Nothing just now would please him SO
much as to see the Queen once more
in her place.
MAY WIN NATIVE SUPPORT
l belve that if the Provisional Gov
eminent, whenever it makes up its
mind to give up annexation as hope
less, should have the good sense and
tact to replace the Queen under such a
constitution as would rank her among
constitutional monarChs who "reign but
do not govern" they might get the con
sent of the Hawaiian voters and their
support at the polls SO long as they
should rule justly and wisely.
| say they could get the native sup
port at the polls in such cases, and you
must not forget that some day or other,
no matter what system prevails here,
there must be an election. Whatever
government may turn up, some day it
must appeal to the people, because they
have been long accustomed to live
under constitution and they express
themselves at an election An oil
garchy even would find it prudent-or
let me say, necessary-to do that.
This is not Samoa.
The Ha Waiian native voter reads his
newspaper, and while he is easily led,
he is as easily led to good as to bad.
That he is politically corrupt is one of
the falsehoodS which have been the
stock in trade of the annexation peo-
pie. The facts | sent you recently
about the white petitioners for the no.
torious Lottery bill show how baseless
is the cry of native corruption.
The bill was passed by the Legisla-
ture and signed by the Queen under
the impulse of numerous petitions from
white men for such a bill, some Of
which were, am assured, demands
not mere petitions-by their language
White men have been at the bottom OF
much Of the corrupt or bad legislation
which it is now the AnneXatonsts
fashion to charge upon the innate cor
rupton Of the natives-whlte men who
call themselves respectable, and some
of whom were Jealous promoters of the
January revolution.
WOULD VALUE MR.. CLEVELAND'S ADVICE
The paternal advice of Preslden
Cleveland would be highly valued here
if he, after reading COMMISSIONS
Blount's report, should be willing tt
give it. His interference by force would
be purely mischievous, but his advic,
would have great weight, especially
it was known he would not interfere
but that the two parties here must solv
their own affairs.
| believe forcible interference s.
purely and cruelty mischievous that
should dislike to see even the Quee
restored by American forces, thong
nothing is clearer than that her deposi
ton was the result of an intrigue fostere
by the American Minister and emba
RAISING to the United States.
If the President should comman
that affairs here should be put baC
where they stood, say on January
he would only be right, SO far as gu