The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-04-18
AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC.
Why The Ashford Wilcox Scheme
Would Not Work.

EDITOR STAR This is the precious
programme of Mr.. Ashford for present
use. Into its support he has inveigled
the versatile r. W. Wilcox and his
paper The Liberal. 1t is not probable
that so intelligent a man as Ashford
really fancies an independent Hawaiian
republic to be practicable possibility
To talk of it, he may hope will pro.
cure him a following, and fruitful posi-
ton in the political movement of the
day.
There seems to be a general concen-
sus of opinion that an independent
Hawaiian State under any form of gov
eminent has altogether ceased to be
possibility. The nominal-not-realinde.
pendence of the Hawaiian Monarchy
was thoroughly unstable. Outside for.
eign complications threatened it. The
instant appearance of Japanese force
upon the scene after the collapse of
monarchy only illustrates the resistless
tendency of competing and colliding
forces in the Pacific; forces from whose
crush this Hawaiian group is the last
trembling survivor 1t is the blankest
folly to suppose that Republican gov
eminent as Hawaii could form would
be able to ward off capture or to inspire
respect and confidence from the Pow
ers surrounding it.
Still less does Hawaii possess the in
ternal conditions for establishing state
Republican government, apart from the
guiding and controlling domination Of
the United States as its suzerain. The
existing elements of our population
render the successful organization and
conduct of such government absolute
ly impracticable apart from the power,
full control of United States authority.
Just see of what elements we are made
lup. Nearly one half of our adult-males
are Asiatic. Will they all quietly sub
NIT to being nullity in the new organ.
ization? And will they make practi
cably useful elements in it? OF the re
naming half, one third are civilized
whites, including moiety Of illiterate
Portuguese, well-disposed, but lacking
Information. The remaining two thirds
are Hawaiians, with more or less antag
onism to the whites.
We need not point out the unpromis
ing nature of any scheme for harmon
izing all these diverse and antagonistiC
elements into useful and efficient coop
Grafton in political action. There is toe
great an absence Of intelligence, of civic
virture, of patriotic aspiration, and espe
cially of mutual confidence. The only
ones who might possibly profit for brie
space in republic made up of such
constituencies, would be the carpet-bag
lgers and demagogues-and they would
soon be floored in the general wreck o
anarchy.
Yes, anarchy would be the speed,
outcome of any attempt at Democratic
Republican government in Hawaii a
an independent State. What, apar
from dangerous complications sure t.
arise, might be done by means of auto
cratic devices TO establish safe and Sc
cure government it is hard to say. W.
do not care to contemplate such alter
natives. Our eyes are fixed steadfastl,
upon the one goal of safety that lie
before us; that is shelter under the be
nefcent wings of the great Republic
Those who talk of independence in an,
form are leading away from safety int
a treaCherous sea of hopeless peril
And they well know it. Their talk i
only desperate device for their owl
Temporary advantage.
| The Government of the United State
over Hawaii will be the inspiring ant
invigorating force which will magnetic
all our discordant elements into accord
and which will train and educate GU
population into fruitfol and harmoniou
political activity, Only under, and no
apart from the Great Republic, is Re
publican government practicable il
Hawaii. B.