The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-12
A DEAD ISSUE

The Royalist ranks seem to be /
divided into two factions. One
declares the eX-queen will be re-
stored and the other says that res
toration has passed like a ship in
the night. One of these Royalist
factions alleges that those who now
advise the natives to retain hopes
of the direct overthrow of the Re-
public are becoming political mis-
leaders" under the circumstances of
international recognition arriving
by nearly every mail, and declare
that future disappointments on the
part Of native Hawaiians must be
laid at the feet of such advisers.
The other faction still urges hope,
where hope refuses to cast a
shadow.
The sensible course to pursue
would be to admit the political and
party failures Of the past and pre-
pare to keep pace with the national
advance now going forward. This
of course will be unpalatable to a
large number of politicians who
have formerly trained with and
partially controlled the impolitic
policy Of the Royalists; but it is
the only practical course left open
after the extended displomatic and
political laundering of the past two
years.
The other faction persists in as
sorting that the present Republic
and future annexation are flakes
and that something or somebody
will turn up that will consummate
the restoration of the monarchy.
This faction, which includes the
anti-Americans and the mission
airy haters," is made up largely
through a coalition of half-whites
and foreign politicians who have
failed themselves and are fully
aware they will stand little chance
of being influential under the new
order of affairs.
To large extent the native Ha-
waiians are standing aloof from
both factions and are taking coun-
sci with their past experiences and
their present good common sense.
They see the promises heretofore
made them by their political lead
ers have signally failed, and most
of them are unwilling to follow
such stumbling leadership further.
They may not be at present
willing, as body, to cast their lot
with their political opponents who
have succeeded, by the force OF
racial characteristics, in establish
ing the Republic upon the ruins Of
an unstable monarchy, but they are
less inclined to be further duped
and misled under the self-assumed
leadership of a needy half-dozen
office-seekers, whose past course Of
playing into the hand of the ex.
queen has precipitated present pc.
litical changes.
The real native position through.
out the Islands at present writing
is one Of evident political supine.
ness, if not intentional political
allegiance. The good results which
are happily following the establish,
ment of the Republic are of such a
nature that support is being
daily drawn to the new political
institutions of Hawaii, and it is
now only a matter of time unit,
the monarchy and restoration will
be relegated, both in thought and
action, to the oblivion of the past.
1t is, Of course, expected that re-
peated efforts will be made by dis.
appointed politicians, and journals
dependent upon similar patronage,
to revive for local purposes the
political ghost of the Kalakaua
dynasty; but, as a practical factor
Of the present, experience will fin
ally teach them restoration died as
a political issue when the United
States ordered the recognition o.
the Republic, and the war ships o.
friendly foreign nations Numbered
salute of acquiescence in Homo
lulu harbor.