The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1894-12-12
SUFFRAGE IN HAWAII.
Elk Minister Stevens Gives His Views
in Answer to Inquiry.
Boston Daily Herald, Nov. %, 1894.

In reply to a letter of inquiry from
Mr.. Gorham d. Gilman, Hon. John
L. Stevens gives his views on an oft.
mooted subject OF discussion relative
to the republican form OF govern.
ment at the Hawaiian Islands, and
the course pursued with the colored
people Of the southern states.
Whether the Republican "recon-
struction measures" in respect to the
colored citizen suffrage, which Con-
gress finally adopted, were entirely
wise, or the essentially different mea-
sures OF President Lincoln and Sec
Rotary Seward, which they would
have urged had the former not fallen
by the assassin, would have been
better, Is not now . practical ques-
ton. II is now quite obvious that,
were the Reconstruction" issues to
be dealt with anew, they would be
settled in some respect differently
from what they were settled. Wheth.
or this be 90 or not II is correct to
say that the southern situation, in
the years Immediately after the war,
was essentially unlike the present
Hawaiian situation.
The Hawaiian situation should he
considered distinctly by itself aud
on its own merits and facts.
The real, pressing, overshadowing
question In Hawaii is not at all be-
tween the permanent white residents
and the native Hawaiians.
IL should be- kept in mind that
there is harmony aud fraternal sym
patty between the best OF the whites,
the supporters of the new republic,
and the best Of the natives, and that
the latter were we'll represented in
the convention that made the new
constitution, and gave their warm
support to its provisions. The na-
tives are now a decided minority Of
the adult population Of the islands
and are rapidly growing less. The
chief danger feared Is not at oil in
respect Of the native HawaiiaDs.
The real danger, the burning issue,
in the minds Of the responsible citi-
zens Of the islands, Is in respect OF .
large Asiatic population, and newly
arrived adventurous, who own little
or no property, who seek to lead all
the irresponsible elements In the
islands against wholesome laws aud
honest administration. Open to new
corners from all parts OF the world,
the friends of civilization and of free
institutions, Americans in blood and
the allies aud friends OF Americans,
including all the more advanced aud
more responsible portion Of the ns-
tives, see the absolute necessity Of
limiting the suffrage for the present,
a. q security against foreign hostile
dangers ~ we'll rs domestic evils.
Reduced to the smallest Dimensions,
or narrowed TO . single issue pass
inKly pending, IL Is this-shall Amer.
lean civilization and interests hold
permanent sway on the islands, link.
ing their destiny for all time with
the United States.
Or shall the islands be over run
by Asiatic and adventures Of all
lands, thus in an essential degree
sxtinguishing tho noble aud sacriiic.
efforts of American missionaries,
teachers, physicians aud others run.
ming over the past 10 odd years.
1t should be kept in mind that the
suffrage rule In the new Hawaiian
constitution il = strictly impartial
ono. II grows out Of al imperative
necessity. Its objects are patriotic,
Christian aud wise.
As soon rs the island. come under
the United States flag, United
States protection aud United States
laws, thus securing them from out.
side dangers, II will be perfectly safe
to adopt in Hawaii the best suffrage
provisions Of the best American
states.
IL should not be forgotten that
there are two ways to obtain domi.
nation in the islands hostile to the
United States--one by new incom
ing population; the other by mill
| tary domination coupled with for
sign intrigues. The former method
carries with il the use OF the iHnor
ant and entirely irresponsible por
tion of the natives, who still adhere
to heather notions, aud are largely
Influenced by the heather sorceTers
Our foreign rivals, who fully under
stand that the new republic secures
American ascendancy, do not fail /,
make use OF all the ignorant an.
irresponsible elements against tn
suffrage and other provisions Of tn
new constitution. That constitu
ton is a solid fortress for the deienc
Of American civilization and Ameri
can interests, against dangers al,
foreign interests, and intrigues gu
tirely unlike the difficulties and cir
cumstances which surrounded tn
colored suffrage question in tn
Sourh at the close OF the war, O
that still surround il.
This is strikingly illustrated b.
the fact that the Intelligent leader
and best representative men OF tn
native Hawaiians aided in maxim
their new republican constitution.
These Hawaiian Representative
men correspond somewhat to FREQ
erick Douglass, John Lynch and ,
NJ. Langston Of the American colo
cd men.
Nothing more clearly indicate
that the Hawaiian situation stand
by itself, aud canaot be compare
truthfully with the question OF co
ored suffrage in the sout bern Unite
States. JoHN l.. STEVENS.
Augusta, Nov. II. 1894.