The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-05-13
Why Not Take a Voter
EDITOR Bulletin

EDITOR BULLETIN
Of the volumes thus far written
on the Hawaiian question, there has
scarce yet appeared a suggestion as
to any method of reducing to GER
tainty some vital facts, upon the ex-
istence or non-eXistence of which
the political future of the Islands
seems now to depend. The main
fact-disputcd, according to the
politics of those discussing it-re-
lates to the actual wishes of the
majority of the Hawaiian electorate
on the question of annexation. Un
fortunately for the cause of annexa-
ton, the direction of the movement
fell into the hands of cabal of
jackal politicians whose policy was to
steal the political rights of the maj
ority by misrepresentation abroad.
The doctrine "down with the kama
ka" was trumpeted by the Commits
sioners up and down every highway,
and by-way throughout the United
States. Certain of the leading mem
bers of the ruling Council openly
and persistently gave it out at home
that ''the kanaka must CO." as poll
teal fact or, in his native land
Thanks to the "Americanism" of
Americans at home, the proposed
tyranny of so-called Americans"
abroad entirely destroyed their enter
prise, as to detail: for the advocates
of true American principles in the
U. S. refused to have anything to do
with a scheme which gave everything
to the classes, and throttled the
masses without due Investigation.
Now, a Commission of the U. S.
Government is on the spot to learn
the truth on which to base future
action. The missionary ohice-hold-
ers voted into office of course, by
themselves are using every effort to
sustain their allegation to the U. S.
authorities, that the majority of the
people favor their cause. They are
now crawling on their hands and
knees to the "kanaka," who so short
a time back they declared "must
go;' They are writing private let
ters and sending emissaries to them
imploring them to sign the annexa-
ton club rolls, on the suspicious
promise that they are in favor of
equal civil rights: and they have
made bold to claim, right under the
nose of the Investigating Commits
sioner, that they have a majority of
voters on their rolls, including a
very large number of natives. 1t is
claimed on the other hand that
what native signatures have been SO
secured have been secured by mis-
representation, the boycott, and un-
due and illegal pressure: that al
though the Hawaiian Commission
ers and the secret cabal of eighteen
self elected men who compose the
star-chamber have swallowed their
vomit, they are insincere: that al
though they now pretend to favor
equal rights to their dear Hawaiian
friends, yet they refuse to say SO Of
licially-thus leaving loophole to
crawl out of their promises as they
did in the sell-out by the same
family compact in 1887: and finally
that it is too far from the laws of
average, to be simple coincidence
that the great majority of native
signers whom they claim as sup
porters, are under some form OF
bread -and-butter" pressure of the
missionary shop-keepers, usurers
and money changers.
Now, to arrive at the FACT, why
not take vote? Let petitions be
signed by the people generally, re-
gardless of party, and let the details
be sufficiently set forth in the bal
lots 50 as to settle not only the bale
proposition of annexation $50 far a:
it can be settled at this end of the
line) bat the question of equal civi
rights-the principle, under annexa
ton Gf the vote be affirmative
whether it is to be zone man, one
vote," regardless of the size of hi:
bundle of sugar-stock certificates, o.
the number of mortgages he annual
ly forecloses. This will test the
.fdIct: if the family compact sign, thi.
|, will also show their good faith. Le
the petition be to the U. S. Commits
sioner, or to the Government Gas the
amenities of the occasion suggest
and those who tlaunt their blu'
badges and boast their american
ism" demonstrate the fact by con
forming to the excellent American
idea of rule by the majority.
1 Ynunt,