The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-20
EDUCATION AND PROPERTY THE
TESTS FOR VOTERS.

News.
Honolulu, January IL, via San Fran
cisco, January 10. per steamer Monawai.
There has been no important change
in public affairs on the Island since the
| advices carried by the Australia. Strong
remonstrances have been addressed to
Minister Willis by President Dole in re-
gard to his menacing attitude toward
the provisional government. 1t is
privately learned here that new con-
stiturion is all ready to be promulgated
at the proper time. Chinese laborers
are to be imported until Japan is ready
to continue the supply on satisfactory
terms. 1t seems to be definitely ascer-
tained that for several weeks past and
prior to Minister Thurston's visit the
provisional government has been work
ing out the form of the constitution for
All independent Hawaiian republic.
which is now substantially settled upon.
Its form is like those of the states of the
Union, with a president, vice president,
and an upper and lower house of the
legislature. For voters for mem bers of
the lower house, the chief qualification
is ability to read and write the English
language, which will exclude most of
the Japanese, In this house, the native
and half white vote will greatly predomi-
nate. For voters for mem bers of the up
per house. there will be required consid-
era BILE educational and proper rty ouaiif-
cation, sufficient to secure the predomi-
nance of intelligent white citizens, who
will also control the choice of the Exc
cutive. Certain special powers will be
conferred upon the executive and upon
the upper house, acting in concurrence,
which will enable them. when well
agreed, to prevent, the obstruction of
necessary legislation by the. lower house.
Under this constitution, the native
element will possess all the share in
legislation which it ever had and the
royal executive power will practically be
transferred to the control of the more
intelligent and capable white population.
The government will not proclaim this
constitution until after learning from
Minister Thurston that there is no
present prospect of any form of political
union with the United States There
is no doubt, whatever, that such q con-
stitution will be heartily approved by
the rank and file of the supporters of the
provisional government, who will gladly
privileges to secure the
Results of the Revolution
for which they have for years faced so
much danger together. To make the
right of suffrage unlimited would bs
simply to throw away all they have
worked for. No constitution in Hawaii
was ever submitted to a vote of the
people, but all have simply been pro-
claimed by executive authority, which
precedent is lik ely to be followed in the
next similar case.
In an interview, Kaiuolani's guar
dian, L. H. Davies, said it was difficult to
forecast the future of Hawaii. The pro-
vislonal government could not possibly
go on. 1t was simply the rule of mob,
answerable only to popular clamor. His
desire was for peaceable. compromise be-
tween the Queen and Mr.. Dole, on which
suitable arbitrators should have ad-
Justed new constitution, reducing the
royal power SO it would be like that of
Victoria. But he was made aware that
the provisional government would listen
to no propositions of that kind. Mr..
Davies claims to be entirely disinterested
in his views and claims that he stands
on the highest ground of principle, op-
posing the great wrong of attempting to
convey away nationality against the
will of the people. He censures as unfair
the appeal constantly made to the preju-
ulce VI Gne American people against the
British, while denying that the hostility
OF himself and other Englishmen to an
nexatlon is due to anti-American preju-
dices.
Correspondence still continues between
PRESIDENT Dole and Minister Willis about
the latter's "menacing attitude" as the
former expressed it. Mr.. Willis's last
letter made complaint of the allegations
as onenslve and disparaging to his gov
ernment and demanded specifications and
evidence. 10 this, the President re-
sponded this week by an extended state
ment rec1tlng all the ways in which the
community and the government has
been given cause to believe, especial
ly, after the arrival of the Corwin. that
the minister was
About to Land Naval Forces
to restore the Queen. His repeated re-
fusais TO say anything to remove this be-
lief are specified. Mr. Dole recounts the
evils OF this distressing state of anxiety
and ALARM and the injury to business
credit and the authority of the govern
ment. This correspondence will probably
not soon be given to the Honolulu pub
lie: On the coming 18th of January
is the hrst anniversary of the abolition