The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-03-29
Continued from Isl PdNe.O

increased by law, but does not pro-
vide that it may be lessened by that
same means. The effect of such a
high property qualification for the
right of franchise can well be inn
agined.
"The last census shows that on
the Island of Hawaii the population
is 26,75i. | have not the statistics
giving the number of electors eligi-
bic to vote for mobiles on this island,
but have been informed by parties
that | believe to be entirely trust
worthy that the number is about
four hundred. 1t will thus be seen
that very small majority of the
actual voting population of the
country has right to participate in
the election of one important branch
of the Legislative body, 1t in a
measure DISTINGUISHES a large por-
ton of the native Hawaiians. While
they can all, or very nearly all, com
ply with the educational require
ments, the property qualification
DISTINGUISHES probably more than
four-ffths of them. This does not
work a greater hardship on the ma
tive Hawaiians than to the poorer
and middle classes of other nation
alities. am informed by citizens
of the islands that laborer earning
$40 per month and his board is not
, permitted to vote under the income
qualification, the construction being
placed upon the law that the board
part of a laborer's compensation
cannot be counted as a part of his
| income.
During the session of the legis-
lature which recently closed, a
struggle was carried on between the
parties favoring change in this
section of the constitution and those
who advocated it's retention. For
the greater part the contest was
between the house of representatives
and the house of mobiles, or between
those elected by the whole people
and those chosen by the favored
classes. An attempt was made to
secure the calling of a constitutional
convention, with authority to modi-
fy the instrument. This effort prov
ed unavailing. The queen, after the
Propagation of the legislature, pre-
sented new constitution to her
cabinet and asked them to sign.
"This they advised against and
declined to approve. The queen then
made speech from the balcony of
the palace, advising the people, who
always gather in great numbers on
the occasion of the adjournment of
the Legislature, to go to their homes
quietly and in an ordinary manner,
and await until such time as they
might be able to secure constitu-
ton more to their liking.
"The party who had compelled
the former king to modify the con-
.stitution saw in this action of the
queen an opportunity which favored
the carrying out of a scheme they
had for some time wished to see ac-
complished, namely the overthrow
of the existing government and the
annexation of the islands to the
United States, and SO adroitly was
the whole matter planned, and SO
skillfully was it executed, that these
men astonished themselves by the
sudden success which followed their
efforts.
"The United States Minister and
the commander of the man of war
The Boston, then lying in the har,
Dor, were made confidants in this
plan, if we are to accept the state
ments of parties engaged in the
scheme to overthrow the govern,
ment. If confirmation of this testi
mony were needed it was abundantly
furnished by subsequent history
The evening before the day on which
the seizure of the government wa.
made, about two hundred men were
brought off the Boston, and will
muskets, double belts of cartridges
and Gatling guns, paraded the street:
in front of the queens palace, anC
finally went into camp on the oppo
site side of the street from tn,
palace grounds and Immediately il
front of the palace. A small detach
ment was sent to the residence O.
the United States Minister and tC
the Office of the United States Con
sui. The report was freely givel
out that the Boston boys had come
ashore to protect United States pro
perty. What property the United
States owned anywhere in the Wei
nifty of the royal palace or govern
ment buildings was never able tt
learn-though here the Gatling gun!
and the main force of men wer,
placed.
son the following day, Januar,
18th, the second part of the pro
gram was carried out. The citizens
left their stores and shops with theil
Winchester rifles, marched in front
of Uncle Sans protecting army
into the building, and took posses
sion of it. That they would have
attempted this movement without
the intimidating effect of United
States soldiers placed squarely il
front of the palace, is not to be fo
a moment thought of.
THE strength of public opinion
against this movement was certainl,
) sufficiently strong to have prevented
any such undertaking without tn
, assistance of an outside militar
: force.
at may be asked, who are tn
dissatisfied parties, and what is tn
element desiring this change in tn
government and what are the power
a full causes that provoke this desir
for change.
4 iDDnIuvip,, rf jvvJJ1 l