The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-05-31

such progress, or of those who may
contemplate such conspiracy with
helpless indifference because unable
to understand the magnitude OF the
injury with which they are threat
ened.
The Provisional Government thus
springing from the ruins of the mon-
arcby has administered public affairs
uutil the time has now come to read
just the civil system upon more rep
resentative lines.
The work Of making a constitution
for the government of these islands
upon q republican basis is beset with
perplexing questions which require for
their solution large degree of patri-
otism, wisdom, Industry and courage.
To express In constitution and
laws the political ideas of q people
with common origin, common re-
ligion and common purpose Is an
easy task in comparison with that Of
formulating a system for the govern
ment of mixed races, without COM
mon origin, religion or purpose.
/ believe, however, that we may
achieve success in our undertaking II
there is secured to all coming under
such fundamental rule system of
impartial justice and wise administra-
|
minds of those who may be, from the
exigencies of the situation, excluded
from participation in the govern
ment, sentiment of confidence in
the integrity of the rulers.
The final test of the work which we
are compelled to take up by the revolt
of the deposed Queen against the
organic law, whence cs IS her sole
authority. will be measlGed in the
minds of those who are watching it,by
our success in holding power without
abusing it, and in administering gov
ernment for the benefit OF the many
by the authority of those whose ex-
ercise of political power is based upon
capacity to discharge public duty.
Although, the establishment of q
fundamental law, which shall, as far
as possible, provide for the safe and
permanent administration of affairs
upon the principles of a republican
form OF government, will be the para
mount object of your deliberations, the
original purpose of the Provisional
Government to negotiate treaty of
political union with the great and
friendly nation that lies nearest 10 US,
must, L respectfully submit, be as
fully recognized by you as vital
policy OF the new republic as it has
been of the Provisional Government.
L would urge upon your attention
the accepted view that the franchise
is duty or function of citizenship
conferred by the State, rather than a
right. And it is duty which may
only be performed with advantage to
the State 10y those who are mentally
qualified for its responsible decisions,
as none but the able bodied citizen
may serve his country to advantage
on the battlefield. 1t is only as a
means of approximately arriving at q
reasonable standard of mental qualifi-
cations that the requirement of prop
erty qualifications is legitimate. Such
a method, though imperfect and in
some cases harsh to the individual, is
yet in the main an effective ally to the
more direct effort to reach the same
result through educational qualifica-
tions, which in practice is more diff
cult of application.
The question whether the franchise
should be limited to citizens of the
republic will demand your serious
in view of the accepted
practice of other civilized nations.
and the danger of allowing those not
under the obligations of citizenship
and owing fealty to possible hostile
TO exercise this impor-
tant function.
should confer upon the President is q
subject which calls for careful study
On your part, in order that the Office
may not be allowed to become a
menace to civil liberty from having
100 much authority on the one hand,
and that it may not degenerate into
useless feature from having too little
On the other.
The question, also, whether the
President should be eligible for elec-
ion TO the presidential term succeed
ng his own incumbency will require
examination, in view of the tempta-
ion to the prostitution of the author
ty and official patronage belonging
% the office, which such eligibility
creates.
The unsatisfactory experience of the
country with a legislature composed
'f one house makes it imperative for
Iou to investigate the comparative