The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-07-19

The native Hawaiians viii soon get
some good advice and an abundance
of very bad advice, about what their
political conduct ought to be in the |
future.
Our Congress in Washington, will
probably pay little attention TO what
the natives may want, or what we, the |
naoIes may want, in the way Of special
advantages, unless it treats us quite
differently from the way it usually |
treats the territories. Congress says |
in it's democratic way to the hundreds |
Of communities that appeal to it for |
special aid and privileges: Work out
your own salvation"
The natives will find it very difficult |
to understand what the relations of
this little territory are to the large |
States, and the great Republic, and 1T
will be still more difficult for them
TO understand the political machinery,
or the meaning of the words Re
publican" Democrat" "Populist,"
''Mug-wump," "Protectionist" and
Gree trader" They will be soon
asked if the usual territorial form of
government is created here, to take
sides in the party strifes, and become
''Republicans" or Democrats" or
Silver men"
But the natives should understand
what the relation is of this little ter
ritory to the Federal Government and
the States. We therefore say briefly
to them:
The inhabitants Of the fOrty-tiYe
States live under two distinct govern
ments One is the State, and the
other is the Federal or United States
Government There is no conflict be-
tween these governments. The Fede-
raj Government looks after foreign
commerce, and the commerce between
the States, after customs and foreign
affairs, and it makes war or peace.
The other, the State Government
looks only after local affairs, and in
the making and administration OF
laws governing local affairs, it is just
as independent as the Federal or Unit
ed States Government, and 1T cannot
be interfered with. The two kinds OF
governments work in harmony, pc
cause they have different objects III
view. If one interferes with the other,
the Supreme Court of the United States
settles the differences, and prevents
any resort to force. Each has just
as much sovereign power as the other
to do certain things. The Constitution
of the United States regulates these
powers. and it is the supreme law of
the land.
A territory is land owned by the
United States, and is not permitted TO
govern itself as a State, until Congress
sees fit to make it State. Until that
time arrives, Congress governs it in
it's own way. A territory is like a
child until he is twenty-One years OF
age. 1t is a minor and has no right
to govern itself unless Congress per
mits it to do so. When territory has
about 100000 white inhabitants,
then it is believed to be of age, and
is made up into a State by law OF
Congress and is independent in its
power to govern itself in local mat
tiers. and the United States cannot in
terfere with this local self-government
unless it violates some provision of the
Federal or United States Constitution
Congress has established during the
last hundred years, laws for the gov
eminent of the territories but 1t treats
the inhabitants as children. These
laws provide that the President of the
United States shall appoint the Cover
nors. and the chief officers of the ter
ritories, and they provide for terri
torial legislatures, that are allowed ;
limited power to enact laws. Blu
Congress may refuse to allow thes'
laws to operate.
Congress may pass new laws regard
ing the territories, which the people
of the territories may not like, To-
they are regarded as political child
ren, who are living on milk and no
on solid food. And if often happens
that the political children in the terri
tories kick, and howl, and make faces
at 'Uncle Samuel" the Federal Gov
eminent, because they do not like hi
laws. But they have to submit, be
cause he is an awfully powerful ole
gentleman, and won't stand any non
sense.
So, in the first place, the natives
must understand that they, and all tn
haoles as well, are children unde
the Government of the United States