The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-08-23

consider the proprietY oil The eession,
and not onlg 10 look at the question
of physical ability, but Likewise TO
ascertain the preferences OF those
whose political status is so vitality
involved. A republic sp;ingiug from
universal desire should not accept a
deed of empire without reference to
| justice. | have observed statements
to the effect that the fact that the
present regime had been maintained
for some years is conclusive OF the
power to negotiate the pending
treaty. AS have said, this is u a
sense true. The President and Sec.
rotary of State appear to rely upon
this proposition. But when it
appears that the authority OF the
would-be grautors is based alone
upon the support received from
armed men, and that those whom it
is designed to bring within our juris-
diction do not wish to come, l. am
prepared to ignore the pretences OF
the de facto government, 80 far as
the attempt to destroy nationality is
concerned, although | do not hest
tate to join in recognizing it for the
purposes Of governmental inter
course.
Ii the natives are at all capable
of compromising their situation,
they should be consulted: if they are
utterly incompetent we should not
bring them in. l will not discuss
the means employed to accomplish
the overthrow of the ex-Queen, nor
the participaucy in that coup of
the forces Of the United States.
Suffice it to say that no one has
claimed that the native Hawaiians,
numbering about forty thousand
souls, ever agreed to the government
al change or had anything to do
with the adoption of the present
constitution. AS a condition pre-.
cedent to vote under the Hawaiin
act providing for a constitutional
convention, the elector was compell-
ed 10 swear that he would bear full
allegiance TO the provisional gov
ernment, and would oppose any at
tempt to reestablish monarchy. Up
on complying with this requisite he
became qualified to vote. The cleo
ton was, therefore, confined to the
narrow precincts within which those
who conducted the PROVISIONAL gov
eminent moved, The natives who
took no stock in that government
we're shut out; and the small but
powerful oligarchy managed the
election to suit the occasion, This
programme has been followed over
since. A constitution is supposed
to be the very basis of the govern
ment.
When a people elect delegates to
convention called for the purpose
OF framing an organic law, it is ex-
pected that the nature and form OF
government will be thoroughly dis
cussed and solved; but the patriots
who now propose to give Hawaii to
the United States so prescribed the
| qualifications OF the electors who
chose delegates to the constitutional
convention that all opposition was
removed, and no one not in sympathy
with the prevailing usurpation was
allowed to be heard. The alleged
Hawaiian Republic is bogus repub
lie. 1t does not exist pursuant to
the will of the governed, but not
withstanding such will.
The people of the Hawaiian ISL
ands are worthy of consideration
True they belong to an inferior race
They are not equal competitors in
the world wide field OF modern ag-
gressiveness Had they possessed
the nerve, the snap, the bravery Of
the Anglo-Saxon, this proposed
treaty would never have been for
mulated. | have called attention to
the circumstance that witnesses CON