Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-07

enanfinG the government to identify Asiatic
immigrants under bonds to confine them
selves to agricultural labor, was now de-
f noaneea a. = scheme OF the planters to
were piled with this talk and made hostile
to registration Still more the natives. a
large proportion Of whom are still hostile
to the republic, were told that the regist-a-
ton was a scheme to compel them to COM
init themselves to the support of the re-
public, and became much excited. Alto
gether the ciamor and cutlery became so
strong that the executive and legislature
deemed 1t best to yield. and the obnoxious
law was repealed.
Temperance Liquidation.
The other notable piece of legislation took
place in the very last hours of the session,
and was the passage Of the sake duty bill
over the presidents veto by a practically
unanimous vote of both houses. Sake
{sukky) is q vile rice wine from japan,
containing large proportion of poisonous
methyffc alcohol. 1t had been coming IN
under a very trifiing duty, enjoying also
an export bounty I'm Japan, and was sold
to exclude the less unwholesome California
wines. 1t was found to be especially in
furious to the native Hawaiians. OH whom
1t had markedly poisonous effect.
There had been warm protest against
this sake competition from the California
Wine dealers, on account of which an act
had just been passed to admit such grape
wines free Of duty. Now a new act had
also Just been passed imposing a duty Of
10 cents a gallon on all wines rot made
from the grape and of IA per cent and
urder of alcoholic strength, and of 81 a
gallon IL between IA and p per cent. This
was intended to reach sake wine. although
rot specifying it. Quite Unexpectedly
President Dole, on the last day of the ses-
sion. sent In his veto Of the bill. The only
reason assigned by him was his sense of
- he aertona ha I'd ~ MI Z
be to Japanese of small means to in
crease the cost of their accustomed slim
ulant." His real reason was believed by
the legislators to be a concession to a
vigorous japanese opposition. They at
once, by common consent Of the members
or both houses. passed the bill over Mr..
Dole's veto. thereby refusing to join him
m yieIdlng TO Japanese pressure. There
was only single dissenting vote, that Of
the speaker of the lower house, q Hawaiian,
Lima Naone, who declared himself afraid
to Illustrate the wise caution Of Mr. Dole
IN no. OFFENDING Japan.
1t was know that Mr. Dole had received
strong protest against the bill from a
pody OF japanese merchants and others
Minister Cooper Of foreign affairs. upon
that fact being spoken Of declared that
Mr.. Dole had already resolved unon the
veto before that protest had been received
Respect for Japan.
1t Is now known, however that the Ian.
Is believed. to protest against the bill as
discriminating against Japan. This cannot
be shown to be true. because the act makes
no mention either Of sake or of Japan, and
Is general in its terms. In view Of all the
circumstances there can be no doubt that
the legislators were Justified in believing
tne president to have been governed in
ms action by fear Of giving ofrense 20
cur great and dangerous neighbor across
the Pacific.
The reason actually assigned by him no
uoubt also indicates one phase of the ques-
tlon as he views it. He is, not without
cause. apprehensive of the effect upon onr
restless japanese population of raising
the cost OF their favorite beverage. II
would not be strar ge If they should become
lfritated by the effect of this law. 1t is
Quite possible tnat it will dangerously in
crease liability, always existing. of poIft-
caI trouble from this large class of our
population How long is Hawaii to be un-
DER this perpetual menace from japan and
TINS Japanese population? Annexation is
WI iS ieHeuy kAMEHAMEHA.