The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-10-01
Position Occupied by
Honolulu Citizens.
Hawaiian-born Sons of Asiatics
Privileged Characters May
All be Flag Owners"

Ac uOClolOu ny TIE OupIcIuS SOuII
in the case of the register of the steam
ship China is farther reaching than
was first thought, and for the time be-
ing sets at rest the mooted question of
citizenship among large number of
residents. A prominent lawyer, in
speaking of the case, said yesterday:
''The color-line in the matter of citi-
zenship is swept away and the
Hawaiian born son of Chinese
or Japanese parents can shake
hands with the Anglo-Saxon, whose
parents happened to come here before
he was born, and say: Brother, you
are one of us-shake'
Under the decision, all persons
born of foreign parents become citizens
of the Republic. Children of japanese,
Chinese and Portuguese are citizens,
though their parents are not, thus
placing many of our citizens in the
unique position occupied by Mr.. Mac
farlane. According to this decision,
they are citizens, but cannot hold Of
flee or exercise the right of franchise,
and they are exempt from call by the
Government for either jury duty or
military service, their only privilege,
apparently being the right to hold the
registry of vessels owned by foreign
ers.
1.-THE question at once suggests ITSELF
VIII not many of those, born of for
eign parents, Chinese or Japanese, at
once realize their rights as such citi-
zens, and will not the Government of
Hawaii be confronted with the influ-
ence this class of citizens may have in
the politics of the country? For upon
taking the required oath, a formal
ceremony which Colonel Macfarlane
denied on the stand having gone
through they will not only be entitled
to vote, but to sit in the Legislature
and hold official position. Under a
Constitution built upon lines to suit
certain conditions, the Anglo-Saxon
must face facts which are, to say the
least, alarming. The American ship
ping interests and those of the Islands
are jeopardized to a considerable eX-
tent, and it may be question of only
a few weeks or a few months when the
harbor will be dotted with vessels
are lined up in the Custom House wait
ing for Hawaiian registers. It may be
that we will have a new inter
island feet, with Hawaiian-born Jap
anese or Chinese as flag owners, and
along the water front will be steamers
flying the flag of the Nippon Company,
the Quong Hip Low Company, or a
half-dozen others.
THE Supreme Court has been, no
doubt, aided in the case by decisions
of the United States Federal Courts, as
Article II of the Hawaiian Constitu-
ton is identical with the 14th amend
ment of the Constitution of the United
States, and the decision of the United
States Circuit Court, in which but one
Judge sits, is considered to be ample
authority for the position now taken,
although in several cases before the
full bench of the Supreme Court of
the United States the contra opinion
has been expressed. 1t will be inter-
esting to see what effect this will have
upon coming legislation before the
United States Congress in the event of
annexation or what view the United
States Supreme Court will take in case
the question is submitted to that body.
ct will be remembered that some
time ago a Japanese resident of Homo
lulu applied to the Executive for letters
of denization, in order that he may
become the register owner of vessels
intended for the inter-island traffic
His request was promptly denied, but
under the decision in the China case
it will not be necessary to obtain any
such letters. The Hawaiian-born son,
of legal age, of parents of any nation
atty, may demand such registry upon
becoming a citizen. A status of Ha-
waiian citizenship has been established
by the Supreme Court of the land, and
there is no going behind the returns
By this decision, direct competition
will be opened up with the local en-
terprises, by capital from Japan as
we'll as from the United States. To
me the matter is a serious one, and
one to be deplored. l was hopeful IN
til few minutes ago that a special ses-
sion of the Legislature would be called
to repeal the act, but l understand
this will not be done. The Govern
ment worked hard to win the case, be-
cause II lelJ IHdJ lue peluSe 10 Ine
American Minister should be kept, il
it was possible. have not seen Min
lister Sewall today, but 1 understand
that he is satisfied that Minister Coop
er for the Government did everything
possible in legal way to prevent the
issuance of the register, and the result
in no way reflects on its integrity"
Among the Japanese there was a
miniature Hot time in old town" One
young man, with an eye on the main
chance, remarked to reporter: "This
is the best thing that could have hap
pened for us, and am sure advantage
will be taken of it by owners of small
steamers in Japan. China will not be