The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-08-23
NATIVE LOYALTY.


However vexatious the native Is in
falling to follow his own best interests
in the readjustment Of all political re-
lations here, he Is still open to only
the mildest criticism when he refuses
to acknowledge allegiance to the new
flag. 1t would be better for him IL he
did, for he Is, with his entire race, only
a single mustard seed in the hollow OF
the American hand. But the reason for
his failure to do SO must be fully
recognized. 1t Is a tolerable reason. 1t
is aptly expressed in these words:
Like all great passions and devo-
tions, love of country is, In its last
analysis, instructive. 1t Is In the tru-
est sense rational, and pursued to its
sources, discloses the most command
ing sanctions of the intellect and OF
the moral sense; but no passionate
love OF country was ever yet ground
ed upon process Of reasoning; 1t has
its roots deep in the soil Of the spirit
ual nature"
The German loves his Fatherland.
and its government, though the Ameri-
can would not tolerate that govern
ment. The British love the little Is
land, and a government which the av-
erage Americans have ridiculed for a
century. In the same way, the native
Hawaiians love their country and the
Monarchical system under which they
were born.
The Monarchical system, as 1t exist
ed previous to the Overthrow in '93,
and subsequent to the year 1910, was
essentially anti-Polynesian. 1t abol-
ished the despotism of the old Kings;
it also abolished serfdom, and made
the native land holder and citizen.
This was not the work Of natives, = but
OF aliens. 1t was beyond the compre-
hension OF the natives. There is hardly
trace of the native Hawaiian laws
or usages in the Constitution, or the
laws enacted under it. 1t was an Anglo
Saxon frame work which the mission
aries" persuaded the native King and
chiefs to accept on faith.
1t was enough for the native that
his ruler was an ALA native. He did
not look beyond the Throne His eye
rested only on his ruler, and he cared
not who guided that rulers hand.
The constitution of 1910, given by
Kamehameha III, and the subsequent
constitutions were essentially Anglo
Saxon, and quite foreign to the Poly
nesian habit and tradition. They were
to the natives, political exotics, not
understood when they were created.
They are not understood by the natives
today. Only the one great result OF
this singular innovation the native
understood. Justice was done. The
government of law and not OF men, be-
gan.
The person OF the ruler is In the eye
OF the native the symbol OF govern
ment. It means his country, just as
the British Queen stands for country
to the British.
There is strong and unfortunately
growing sentiment here among the
whites who are the recent corners, that
ignores the natives and holds them in
contempt. They see that the native
has. with his eyes open, thrown away
his magnificent opportunities. Even
II he has, those who wish to protec,
him. only ask that his attitude bt
clearly understood.
1t Is, We believe, the fact that the
native born whites. and annexation
lists too, felt more grief when the Ha'
waiian flag was struck from its stat
than the natives themselves. Why
Because II is only one generation o
natives that has lived under flag. 1T
meaning is largely unknown to them
II is another exotic. The flag has ,
profound meaning to the men and wo
men OF the civilized races. 1t is tn
theme OF prose and verse. Is there !
line of the native mele that mention
a flag?
Those, therefore, who charge the ma
tives with lack Of feeling. fail t
understand their education, and racia
thoughts. To them the ruler was tn
mag" and the symbol Of sovereignt,
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