The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-02-28

tions as to residence may be length
ened."
"Will the President be chosen by
the Senate?u
81 think not. Ny belief is that he
will be chosen by popular ballot.
There will not, in my opinion, be any
property restrictions applied to the
office Of President. Only age, proba-
bly, 30 years or over, and a residence
on the islands for a certain number of
years, and educational qualifications.
There is difference of opinion as to
the length of term of Office. Some
advocate four or six years without the
privilege of the incumbent to imme-
diateIy succeed himself. Others think
the duration of Office of President
should be indefinite, and / am in
clined to favor that proposition. In
that event, as with the English
Premier, upon a vote of want of conf
dence being passed by the House and
Senate, the President must vacate his
office, holding it only until his sue
cessor shall have been elected"
"How will the new constitution be
proclaimed?"
"My belief is that constitutional
convention will be held, delegates to
be chosen by those in sympathy with
our present Government. This con-
vention very likely will also include
the members of the present Govern
ment. When assembled, the conven-
ton will agree on the new constitu-
ton, which will then be proclaimed
by the executive. Among other things
this constitution may embody a clause
upholding the Provisional Govern
ment until the elections shall have
been held. 1t has been suggested that
there might be clause empowering
the present Advisory Council to be-
come the upper house or part of it.
There are fourteen members of the
present Council. The balance of the
Senate would then be chosen at the
same general election when the MEM
bers of the lower house would be
elected. The terms of those Senators
becoming such by now being members
of the Advisory Council, would expire
at the various intervals. This might
be called safety clause"
When will this constitution pro-
baby be proclaimed?"
mot until we receive final advices
from Congress. The elections, / do
not think, will be held for some time
ing hastily, as the business COM
munity, as a rule, are satisfied with
our present Government"
"Is there any danger of an upris-
ing?"
a think not. The new constitution
will embrace a popular form of gov
eminent, and that is what the natives
are clamoring for"
"Suppose the new Government
should be in favor of monarchy?
"Such will not be the case. Besides
the constitution would embrace a
clause making it unconstitutional to
return to or to advocate monarchy"
"Has any foreign power recognized
the present Government as govern
ment de jure?
"Russia has. All other nations re-
cognize us as de facto Government.
Until the new credentials to the
French Commissioner shall have
arrived / do. not know what position
France interds to assume"
Suppose Congress assumes the at
titude that the United States will
wash her hands of the entire affair,
leaving the Hawaiian Islands to take
care of themselves, but looking
toward the interference on the part of
any other foreign power as an act
unfriendly toward the United States,
then whatY"
awe should then feel that we could
recognize the right of the United
States to dictate to us. We would
feel at liberty to deal with any foreign
power as we might see fit, whether we
should wish to make an exclusive
commercial treaty, whether we should
request annexation or protectorate
from any other nation. We feel that
we have made frank proposal to the
United States for political union. If
she refuses we feel at liberty to look
elsewhere for the same or any other
course if we should so decide"
"How about the cession of Pearl
harbor to the United States?"
81 am glad that you have asked
me that question. The treaty made
with the United States expires the
latter part of this year. Upon the
expiration of that treaty we need only
give twelve months notice to the
United States to vacate, after which
we would feel free to cede it to any
other foreign power. I know that
American statesmen unofficially have
questioned this right, looking upon
the cession as permanent one, but L
think it was Secretary Bayard who in
his official capacity took the ground
that all obligations on our part end
with the treaty now in force"