The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-03-27
NO CoERcIoNl

The Adgeyfisey takes a lugubrious
view OF the Japanese question, as
follows
The convention between Hawaii and
Japan contains something like Ia
vored nation clause and the Japanese
Government claims that this entities Its .
subjects TO the franchise upon the same /
terms as those of other nations. IL is /
very questionable whether this claim is /
well founded but It is backed by more |
guns and more men than the opinion OF
the Hawaiian Government, and in inter /
national complications opinions which |
have this substantial kind of backing |
are the most apt to prevail.
If the japanese Government insists
upon its Interpretation of the treaty, we
believe there is but one course open TO |
the trainers of the Hawaiian Constitu-
ton. and that is to exclude from the
voting privilege all but Hawaiian
citizens. There is no other alternative
except 70 make peaceable cession OF
the country to Japan.
We have a better remedy than
that. If Japan or any other for
eign power interferes with force in
the domestic concerns of this group
and what is more domestic than
the suffrage? - the Government
should invoke the aid of the Mon
roe doctrine. For fifty years the
safeguards of that doctrine have
been thrown about these Islands by
American choice and initiative;
and within the last ten months
President Cleveland's representa-
tives have, on occasion, declared
that foreign interference in the
concerns of the group shall not be
tolerated. Even the McCreary
resolutions, critical in tone as some
of them were, contained the same
expression. 1t is clear that, no
matter what the relations have been
between President Dole's Govern
ment and the executive of the
United States, the latter would be
as quick as Republican President
could be to protect Hawaii from
alien coercion in a matter involving
the use of our voting privileges. In
fact it is likely that, to rehabili-
tate himself and his party
in the good graces of the
American people, he would
be even more prompt and vigorous
in the assertion of the Monroe
doctrine here than he was in Brazil
and fully as rapid in his protective
action as he has been in regard to
the landing OF British marines at
Bluehelds.
On these accounts the STAR re-
pudiates the idea that Japan's dis
play of ships and men, however
superior in the former respect tc
any array of force that Hawaii her
self can show under her own flag;
will or should have the slightest
influence upon the Hawaiian Gov.
eminent in the performance of its
duty. Weak as Hawaii is" as
has been said before, "she is
stronger than any European OF
Asiatic power with the Monroe
doctrine behind her"
The STAR has at times
felt that it would be wiser
and safer to give the Japa-
nese, exclusive of contract laborers,
a share in the suffrage than il
would be to let in the Chinese and
affront the good will of America
but if it comes to a question o.
Japanese ships and guns we should
resist any compromise of that sort
and call upon the United States fol
their powerful and decisive aid.
No American colony, worthy Of
the name, will permit itself to be
coerced with impunity, nor to be
driven into any changes of its law
which will initiate against those
residents, enfranchised under the
Constitution Of 1887, who have
been the defenders of Hawaii in its
hour Of peril.