The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-08-30
POLITICAL PARTIES.

the newly constituted Hawaiian Am
erican citizen Is, whether or not he be-
longs to one of the American political
parties. and. II so, which.
As evidence OF its vitality and Am
ericanism, Hilo has already taken the
field with the declaration OF number
of her leading citizens that they are
simon pure, true blue Republicans, the
genuine brand.
Some OF our esteemed fellow towns
men think that II Is time to wake up
the boys" in Honolulu and organize
a Republican Club here.
II there is anything to be gained
either to the individual members. of
the organizations or to this communi-
~ through the organization OF poll
teal clubs, divided on the lines Of the
national American parties. let them
be organized by all means, the sooner
the better. We want all the practical
as well as theoretical benefits of Am
erican citizenship. But before we
launch forth on the broad ocean Of
American partizan politics let us make
sure that, for the common good. we
will benefit, and not injure. ourselves
by so doing.
| IL may be that the Hilo idea Is the
right one, and the Advertiser has no
harsh words for any one who feels the
spirit of patriotism swelling in his
bosom to such an extent that he must
tell right away whether he sympa-
thizes with the Republicans. Demo-
Gratis. or Populists: but the following
suggestions are tentatively made:
In the first place. the Joint Resolu-
tior of Annexation annexes Hawaii,
but leaves practically all details for
future settlement by Congress.
Among these details is the question
of citizenship and the privileges of
voting.
Although we are all now under the
national protection of the American
Government SO far as laws and stat
utes are concerned We have only the
voting privileges granted by the laws
OF Hawaii.
Until Congress shall otherwise pro-
vide, no person, whether previously an
American citizen or not has any power
to vote in Hawaii on any subject what
sOever' except In accordance with the
laws OF Hawaii. and for the purposes
which such laws set forth.
One of the subjects which the Com
mission now visiting Hawaii will re-
port upon and concerning which Con-
gress in due course will act, Is this
very question of who shall vote, what
the conditions of voting shall be, and
what we shall vote for.
This, and many other questions In
which we are all vitality interested, will
come before Congress at its next ses-
sion and probably several succeeding
Congresses.
The present Congress is Republican
in the House of Representatives: in
the Senate, not quite half is Republic
an, while the Democrats ana Populists
together constitute Il majority.
Under these circumstances, is 1t wise
for Leading citizens here to be declar-
ing themselves to belong to this, that
or the other partizan organization? Is
II not sounder for us to go to Washing
ton as united Hawaii and simply as
Hawaiians, asking as non-partizans
from all parties in Congress that which
is fair and just to all?
1t is true that the Republican party
more than any other has been respon-
sible for annexation. But the Repub-
Leans could not have carried annex
alton but for the assistance OF both
Populists and Democrats. While eX-
pressing all due appreciation of the
support given W Jul 'ausc W ii'si-
dent Mckinley and our Republican
friends, we can never forget that in
season and out OF season that staunch
Democrat, Senator Morgan, and the
leading independent Populist, Senator
Kyle. have been annexationists and
supporters of our cause to as great
an extent as IL they had been the direct
Representatives OF Hawaii.
To accept OF their invaluable assist
ance and now, at the very first mo-
ment, before our territorial pin
feathers have started, when we have
no vote on any subject whatsoever and
are still suppliants at Washington for
rights and privileges, is 1t good policy
for us to slap our Democratic and Pop
ulists friends in the face, and tell them
that having made use OF them We have
no more use for them, and proclaim
ourselves members of a party hostile
to them?
To organize parties AT this stage or
national lines, would seem to be pre-