The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-18
THE PLATFORM.

The article which advocates an equit-
able income tax is excellent, but rather
vague. The last Legislature intended
to provide for an equitable" income
tax. but the courts declared the law
ineduitable The voters should be
told what the principle Of an equitable
tax should be- A single man, with an
income of $1,000 per year, may be
much better able to pay a tax on that
income than a man who has an income
of $4,000 a year, with wife, five chill
dren, old parents, and some poor re-
Iations to take care of.
The article pledging the party to
aggressive endeavor" to further re-
strict Asiatic labor is excellent, pro-
yided the sugar interests are to be set
adrift, or compelled to look elsewhere
at once for Iaborers Over $50 Asiatic
laborers have entered this port within
the last ten days, but the Party is not
very aggressive over it, nor is any
body very aggressive over it. We are
not discussing the question of immi-
the words aggressive endeavor" We
assume, of course, that the Party is
thoroughly sincere.
The article which declares that it is
zone of the first and highest duties"
of the Party to promote immigration
of American farmers, laborers and
artisans, must be cordially approved
by every one who desires to see Anglo
Saxon institutions maintained here,
not by force, but by the will of the
people. The last Legislature, repre-
senting substantially the views of this
Party, utterly and shamefully neglect
ed the whole subject. 1t did pass law
providing for Labor Commission, but
did not provide money enough to pay
for it's postage stamps. 1t had before it
the report of the Labor Commission
of the previous year, which insisted on
the vital need of American immigra-
ton, but it entirely ignored it, al
though Mr.. Murray and Mr.. Emme-
luth were members of the Commits
sion. Perhaps Senator McCandless can
explain why a subject which was,
above all others but that of annexa-
ton, the most urgent in this little
country, was flung aside. To place
American laborers here, by the side
OF the men of strange races, is diff
cult task 1t can be done. But it re-
uuires time, patience, tact and money
to do it successfully. This burning"
question has been before us, every hour
for the last four years Several indi-
viduals and one corporation have done
something, and are willing to do more
in this behalf, but the community, the
Republic and the Party is, at the pres
ent hour, three sheets in the wind"
on the subject, making no Roadway.
The question does not burn"
We understand perfectly the embar-
RAISING position of the Party. We as
sumo that it desires to do more than
it has done The subject is not free
from difficulties. We, who have for
four years, regarded this scheme Of
immigration, as one Of most vital i'm
portanee, and, at this moment, carry
more of it's burden than is equitable,
hope that the Party will now beat the
drum and take up the march. If an
nexation takes place before March, the
altered situation may, however, pre-
vent the carrying out of any general
plan of Government aid in this matter.
The remaining articles in the plat
form, regarding the extension of the
public school system, the proper sew
erage of Honolulu, the cable commu
nication and the public park at Aala
are, of course, excellent.
The declaration that 'tthe peaceful
and prosperous condition of the coun-
try" is the work of the American
Union Party, rather ignores the pros
perity due to the Reciprocity Treaty,
and leaves out of consideration very
many able, faithful and valuable resi-
dents, who do not belong to the Party,
but have, at all times, most efficiently
aided in maintaining the peace.
Whatever defects there may be In
the Platform, the candidates nomi-
mated are good men, and should COM
mand the respect and support of all
those who anxiously look forward to
the end of political uncertainty.