The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-08-24
Live Issues in Hawaii.
Three Parties Loom Up in Our New
Territory.

Three HaItleS LOOM W IL Oai -'e"
Territory.
Standing of the Natives-The Bum
ing Question is Whether They
Will be Epfranchised-If So, The
Missionary Party Must Take a
Back Seat-The Outs VIII Try to
Defeat the Dele Faction.
The question of paramount impor-
tance in Hawaii now is the form OF
government to be erected in the
islands. The question is important
for Americans too; but in Hawai1
little else is talked of. The burning
question of the hour is the extent
and limitations of the franchise
which the commissioners are to con-
fer. 1t is the prevailing belief here
that the three American commits
sioners will be called on for informa-
ton regarding island affairs.
Royalists and anti-annexationists
in Hawaii are little sore that they
should have no representation upon
commission, but they are willing to
waive their right to be recognized if
only the commissioners will enfran-
chise the Kanakas and restore to the
natives portion of his rights.
There are several we'll defined
functions in Hawaii. One group
cares nothing for political rights or
forms. Its sole wish was to make
the islands American, and its only
desire now is to keep the Kanakas
yoteless. These men were ardent for
annexation, but are now entirely in
different politically. 1t was com
mercialism and not patriotism that
animated them. Royalists and men
who have regard for the natives are
hoping that the native, Hawaiians
may receive the franchise as an act
OF Justice. 1t is difficult to see how
they can be deprived of it if the ter
ritory of Hawaii is formed on lines OF
constitutional precedent. The pres
elt government. is not representative.
Property and income qualifications
govern the franchise, and this, to-
gether with the oath which contains
promise to assist no royalist upris-
ing either directly or indirectly has
successfully barred three fourths OF
the natives from the polls. Those
not caught in the money net were
debarred by the oath, for there sre
few natives without royalist leanipgs
Ask any native you meet if he is q
P. G. provisional government man
and he will show all his teeth and
tell you he likes the chief.
1t is probable that the property
qualification will be abolished. bui
there is some talk of substituting an
English educational test. Almost all
Hawaiians read and write their own
language, and there is no country in
the world where the percentage ot
illiteracy is SO small. But many oi
the natives do not read and write
English, which is a foreign language
and an English educational franchise
would discriminate against these
men, although it would be declin-
ing evil, as young Hawaiians who
attend school compulsorily, are all
instructed in English. Nevertheless
an English education qualification
will leave the missionery panty in
power for another term OF years.
1t is conceded that if the native
Kanaka receives the vote it will mean
the end of the missionary hierarchy.
In spite of diminished numbers and
the loss of lands, the natives still
outnumber the whites, nor do they
need any telling as to who it is that
has caused their downfall. So small
portion of the native vote that it
scarcely deserves to be counted is in
favor of the missionary party. Only
ultra-religious natives are there. A
wealthy native who is the owner OF
shipping said to me yesterday:
The white man is too sharp for
US. Once my people owned all lands
out Eva way. That was Kane
homeha's land. Now it all belongs
to the white man. II the mission
aries had taught US politics and the
white mans way in business as care
fully as they taught US to pray, we
might have Kept our lands. But
they taught us religion and were
careful to keep US ignorant of their
methods, and now we have nothing"
The fact everywhere conceded,
that the enfrancbisemeut of the
native Hawaiian means the end cf
the present leeime, causes office
holders much serious thought. 1t
remains to be seen whether the COM