The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-29
GOVERNMENT FOR HAWAII.

INTEREST is beginning to be taken in the
form OF government which independent
Hawaii would adopt, and annexationists,
as their plans go gmmering toward the limbo OF
things that have failed, discussing it.
1t might prove good idea to give the people
back the ballot taken from them by the Dole oil
garchy and let them have voice in the present
government What is now called the government
OF Hawaii has never been submitted to the people
at all. A majority OF the constitutional convention
was appointed by Dole and that majority con-
tnued him in power without submitting his can
didacy to the people. Since that revolution the
Presidency of the United States has changed from
Harrison to Cleveland and from Cleveland to Nc
Kinley, and still this country is doing quite we'll
The Cabinets which govern several other large
countries have changed several times since Dole set
himself at the head of republic in which per
cent of the people vote and even these are denied
the right to change the Presidency by voting for
that officer. OF course mr. Dole is one of the
anointcd but he is rather too close a corporation
for republic
Why not try the experiment Of terminating his
term, letting the people vote again who were
electors under the constitutional monarchy, and
going before them a candidate for reelection?
Presidents in this country have to go before the
people, and when they are beaten they have to quit
successors. Perhaps if guarantee the indeptn-
dence OF Hawaii the people may for the first time
try constitutional republic there In place of the
present ogarchy, which is a cross between the
Tammany tiger and the autocracy Of the Ameer of
Afghanistan
Surely the delegation of Hawaiians now in
Washington pleading for the independence and
autonomy of their country have no other issue at
present They do not propose the overthrow of the
Dole crowd They only ask that that gang be not
permitted to sell the country to the highest bidder
for cash The annexationists have bid 100000
in cash. to pay Dole's debts and $40 a ton on raw
sugar to benefit the planters. The Hawaiians COM
Plain that not only do they get none of the pur-
chase money, but they are not even promised any
participation in the future government of their
country.
Again, suppose that these Hawaiians ask what
form of government we are 70 give the islands if
we annex them? Who can answer that? The al
ready defeated treaty does not answer it Senator
Morgan's proposition to steal the country by joint
resolution does not answer it. The Presidents
message declares frankly his inability to answer
it. II annexed the future method OF governing
Hawaii is in the air. Therefore those people who
are to be governed have better right to ask how
we propose to govern them than we have to ask
how they propose to govern themselves. It is only
fair to assume that whatevertheform of government
they will choose it will conform closely to our
solemn declaration that governments derive their
Just powers from the consent OF the governed than
any that we can impose upon them without their
consent.
1t is also safe to that whatever form we
impose upon them will be entirely repugnant 70 Our
own scheme OF government and will establish be-
tween the island people and ourselves that Unequal
ity against which whole constitution canonizes?
We tread on perious ground for ourselves when
we propose to convert our equal system into a
monster Of inequality No nation has ever done
this without punishment, and there is charm in
the life OF this republic to hold it harmless where
others have suffered.