Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-19
Features of the Constitution of the
New Hawaiian Republic.
NON-INTERFERENCE OF UNCLE sam
The British Ministers Sympathy
With the RoyaIists' Cause.
LABORS OF THE CONVENTION
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

On the 18th We received the text of the
resolution concerning Hawaii passed by
the United States Senate on May 81 Min
lister Willis promptly communicated to the
provisional government copy of the same
This was accompanied by a letter from
Secretary Gresham. closing with the state
ment that this declaration that the people
OF the islands have the right to establish
and maintain such Institutions as they
think best aiaptei TO their wants Is en-
tirely satisfactory to the President" This
resolution supplies the official declaration
Of non-interference by the United States
which we have long waited for. 1t has
Struck CONSERVATION into the hearts of the
rOyalists. They can no longer cherish the
expectation. which has hitherto .buoyed
them up. that President Cleveland would
soon carry out his purpose of last year to
restore The deposed queen. The supporters
or the gov eminent have for six months past
felt no doubt of the attitude of Congress on
this subject, or tina. the views Of Congress
and the American people would prevail; II
Is nevertheless great comfort and support
70 have at length this positive declaration
from the Senate Endorsed by the President
This official notice from the Department
OF State supplies something positive to
show TO the natives In proof of the utter
hopelessness Of the expected aid of which
the royalists have boosted. A report was
generally prevalent among them on the
18th that orders would arrive on the NOR
ROW to restore the queen. and that Admiral
Walker would execute those orders on
Sunday, the 18th. 1t will hardly be posi-
BILE hereafter for any portion Of the COM
fhunity to become sgttated by such rumors,
- they have constantly been for more
than year past The natives will grad
daily take in the settled attitude of the
United States toward the islands, and will
In time come to understand how hopeless
Is the cause OF monarchy. There has been
blflSterinR a 40
Wilcox and others that as soon as the fact
vas ascertained that the United States
government would not carry out the prom
fsed restoration the royaliSts would delay
no longer In patient waiting. as they have
done, They would Immediately take the
business into thei- own hands and help
might and sweep into the sea the usurping
government of the missionaries" Boasts
Of this sort will not materialize. The mass
OF tses 4o.OOo natives and half-whites may
be more or less in favor of the overthrow
Native monarchy. but they have no serious
grievance to stir them up. They enjoy
outlet and prosperity. Poi. their chief
cessity. never was cheaper. Even If they
felt pressing grievances. the natives have
no stomach for fighting white men. 1t
would be impossible TO rally any number
OF them TO face the rifles of the organized
battalion OF the government.
Blustering Organ.
Just now the Holomna, the very disreput-
ing both Minister Willis and Admiral Walk
er. as well as President Cleveland. 1t vitu-
perates the admiral for consorting with the
''missionarIes'' instead Of with the royalist
leaders. as Col Blount used to do All his
representations to the President have been
in favor Of the cause Of the provisional gov
eminent being that Of order and civiliza-
ton Minister Willis has conducted himself
In like manner. All this Is extremely dis
couraging to these anti-missionary sup
Art. ST 10, 49,.
impression is current among the royalists
that in case of any uprising on their part
the American forces would be landed to
suppress them. For the first time In seven
month, the United States forces were land
ed for shore drill on the 10th. Such land
fngs were suspended at the request of the
government at that time. since they excited
the populace with the idea that restoration
%as intended. A special street riot drill
vas executed on Tuesday in formidable
style. showing the royalists what they
might have to meet. These shore drills will
hereafter take place weekly
The constitutional convention, which OPEN
Cd Its sessions on May 80. has completed
the third week Of its deliberations The
draft OF the new republican constitution
prepared by the executive was placed in the
hands OF the members on June . Since
then the convention has labored industrf-
ccsly In amendment and revision of the
Graft. The last article was reached a week
ago upon the first reading. The past week
has been coupled In considering a number
or important articles which had been re-
ferred to committees. The first reading Is
now completed. and the revised draft has
gone to the printer.
The views of the members have mainly
crystalzed. and the shape which the lead
Ing features of the constitution will take
has become tolerably clear Those views
coincide In the main with those of the ex-
ecutive. and there will be no radical changes
the constitution as proposed 1t Is found
that the great majority of the delegates are
conservative in their sentiments and sup
port the defensive provisions offered by the
executive even more steadily than do the
no doubt that the constitution will be passed
py large majority Of the votes of the
elected members Of the convention The
nve native delegates stand solid for all the
Conservative provisions. None are more
deepiy sensible than they of the necessity
mat the government should be solidIy on
trenched against capture by demagogues
Working through an ignorant and semi
The New Constitution.
The constitution is strictly republican.
with government by the people The state
70 termed The Republic of Hawaii" There
president. a cabinet Of four ministers.
council Of state, with small powers. and a
legislature of two houses senate and rem
resentstives. The representatives are TO
De elected by voters with good knowIed9e
=. Ehgnsh, or OF Hawaiian only II of native
y m.
In the suffrage for senator's there is a de-
parture from strict democratic principles
ana defensive provision Is made by re-
strtctins the suffrage to voters having
WO OF annual income. or else either 81 800
Of real estate or $1,000 of personal prom
erty Ordinary mechanics and skilled
workers would come easily within this
Qualification. The original draft placed the
Income at 800. and strenuous effort was
made to keep 1t at $3.50. A large ma jority.
however. including two of the executive
Council. felt that 5000 could be made a safe
limit. This has been the qualification of
ypters for mobiles under the constitution of
1SS.. In that case u failed to secure intel
llgent voting. in consequence Of large num-
Ders Of voters falsely claiming the REQUIRED
ipcome. and being registered Accordingly.
Ihe new constitution contains very full pro-
Visions fo- rigid Inquiry into all such
Claims of voters. BY special boards of regis
tratiDn. The convention we're satisfied that
this would sufficiently exclude the danger
Gus class Of voters
To the senate, elected by the FOREGOING
limited suffrage, is intrustet a larger share
OF power than to the lower house in some
Important points. The president is to be
elected By Joint ballot OF the two houses
each containing fifteen members, but he
tiust have also majority OF the senate
~ case " fsiluSe to el.ct, the retiring pres
dent holds b"er. His term is six years; he
cannot succeed himself. The cabinet mus,