The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-01-14
A. FALSE ACCUSATION.

At the annexation meeting a few
days ago Senator McCandless, in his
speech, accused the Hawaiiaus Of
lack OF self-respect aud virtually of
being beggars.
The Senator shows his ignorance
Of the Hawaiiaus and Hawaiian life
when making such a statement.
There are no more independent
people than the Hawaians. They
never beg. If Mr., McCapdless
would spend some of his wealth
gained in Hawaii--in travelling to
other countries, his eyes would be
opened to which races and nations
comprise the most numerous "beg-
gars."
The Hawaians have found
champion in their constant friend,
Judge Charles f. Hart, who is treat
ing the false statement OF the Sena-
tor in the following letter addressed
to the Advertiser:
Mr. EDIToR:-Senator j. A. Nc
Candless is reported in your issue of
this date as giving utterance to the
following rather remarkable state
ment: "The HaWaiians hare never
been taught what americans term self
respect. 4 y We meet them,
and if the man strikes our fancy
(sic), and asks for ii, we will give him
a quarter, and he goes off and buys
a meal. The Hawaiian is
not to be blamed for this; they have
not been taught differentlyp Italics
and notes of admiration are mine. |
cannot, sir, help wondering what the
descendants of the band OF men ard
women who came to this country to
christianize the worshippers OF Pele;
| say cannot help wondering what
they will say to this emphatic state
ment of Senator McCandless. lam
not unaware, sir, OF the great divers
ity OF views as to what constitutes
the proper teaching of Christianity,
but have yet to learn that a mega
tion of the principles Of SELF
respect" has ever been a part OF any
system followed by honest, earnest
workers, being believers in, and fol-
lowers Of Him who said: "Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Fa-
ther, which is in heaven, perfect"
Perhaps the gentleman and Senator
is wrong in his dog statementl
The gentleman holding the high
and honorable Office Of Senator
intimates that any man of Hawaiian
nationality asking him (the Senato)
for quarter, he (the Senator) would
give him one. This munificent trait
OF liberality ought not to be passed
by without notice, and l will, sir,
with your permission, add a few
words more on the subject.
Gentlemen, being descendants OF
the missionary fathers and mothers,
will better deal with the question of
whether no Hawaiians have been
"taught what Americans term self
respect" but | should liSe to say
that, in my long intercourse with
Hawaiians, dating from February,
1851, | have never once been asked to
give money without being offered an
equivalent either in labor or
property. Over and over, and over
again, | have been importuned by
men Of the race, to which both
Senator McCandless and | belong,
for money, to be given without any
consideration, but never once by a
Hawaiian, although it is nearly 80
years since l first trod the soil of
these fair Islands.
The sweeping statement made by
the'Senator touching the non-teach-
ing in the past of "what Americans
term self-respect" but i'll accords
with the statement OF the late Hon.
John l., Stevens, formerly Minister
to this country, and who in the