Hawaii holomua = Progress. [volume] (Honolulu) 1893-1895, 1894-05-30

thus springing from the ruins of
the Monarchy has administered
public affairs until the time has
now come to re-adjust the civil
system upon more representative
lines.
Tie work of making a consti-
tuition for the government OF these
islands upon republican basis is
beset with perplexing questions
which require for their solution
large degree of patriotism
wisdom, industry and courage.
To express in constitution and
laws the political ideas of peo-
pie with a common origin, com
mon religion and common pur
pose Is an easy task in compar-
ison with that OF formulating a
system for the government OF
mixed races without a common
origin, religion OF purpose.
Il believe, however, that We
may achieve success in our un-
dertaking if there is secured to
all coming under such fundamen-
tai rule a system of impartial
Justice and wise administration,
and there be established IN the
minds of those who may be, from
the exigencies of the situation.
excluded from participation in
the government, sentiment of
confidence in the integrity of the
rulers.
The final test of the work
which we are compelled to take
up b. the revolt of the deposed
Queen against the organic law
whence came her sole authority,
will be measured in the minds of
those who are watching 1t. by our
success in holding power with
out abusing it, and in adminis-
tering government for the benefit
of the many by the authority of
those whose exercise of political
power is based upon capacity to
discharge political duty.
Although the establishment
of fundamental law which shall
as far as possible, provide for the
safe and permanent administers
ton OF affairs upon the principles
of a republican form of govern
ment will be the paramount OBJ
ject of your deliberations, the
original purpose of the Provision
al Government to negotiate a
treaty of political union with the
great and friendly nation that lies
nearest to us, must, | respectful
ly submit, be as fully recognized
by you as vital policy of the
new republic as it has been of
the Provisional Government
Il would urge uponyour atten-
ton the accepted view that tie
franchise is duty or function of
citizenship conferred by the state,
rather than right Aud it is duty
which may only beperformed with
advantage to the state by 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
means of approximately arriving
at reasonable standard of
mental qualifications that the
requirement of property qualfca-
tions $ legitimate. Such 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 educa-
tional qualifications, which in
practice is more difficult of
The question whether the fran
chise should be limited to citizens
Of the republic will demand your
serious consideration in view o
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 /
function.
The powers which the consti- |
iution should confer upon the
President is subject which calls
or careful study on your part IN
rider that the Office may not be
lllowed to become q menace to
ivil liberty from having too
much authority on the one hand. |