The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-12-09
PlrpNSs d COlrtS . Give Good
Government
TNt CONSTITUTION is SILENT
VIII There Be a Special Session o.
consrsss 2-Preoedsnts-
RENE Court Opinion.

called immediately after the regular
session which expires On March an,
IL already being very seriously die
rpss.d aud In considered with creator
interest than almost any other qucs-
ton arising oUt Of the very important
new conditions Which now confront
the country.
Men who usually know what they
are talking about say that there will
h. a spaoial session, while other men
equally well Informed state very posi-
lively that there will not The annex
alton of hawaii has brought about a
condition Of affairs that Is anomalous
IN the history OF the United States II
is even more 30 than u would be- a.
the annexation Of the Philippine. The
United States has heretofore had eN-
periencp In a district form Of govern
ment over uncivilized tribes az a dis
tanCe from che main continent, but Ia
has never yet attempted 10 govern a
progressive people separated by a long
stretch OF water from the other States
and Territories. The Hawaiian Islands
have been well governed during IN.
last four years and their people have
SHOWN themselves to be- progressive
They desired annexation TO the United
States in order TO be- better governed
than they were already II the United
states should fail to give them at least
~ good "A government as they already
had II would create general discOn-
tent 10 is realized, therefor. by all
VI IN" leading statesmen that the
happy O-lucky, haphaZard way the
United States has governed the district
OF Alaska must not be repeated In ila-
wall. Unfortunately the Constitution
Is virtually silent upon the subject,
the only clause which directly relates
10 IL having been entirely ignored az
the district Of Alaska and the district
OF Columbia, which Is the clause guar
anteeing to each State a republican
form Of government. The United
States supreme Court has distinctly
held that In this sense the word State
includes the Territories. II is admit
ted on all hands that Alaska has not
and never has had "A Republican form
Of Government and the United States
has signally failed to carry out the
constitutional guarantee. Any attempt
to place the same kind of government
in Hawaii would meet with determined
opposition in the Islands and ut home.
Such an attempt will not be made.
At the time the slavery question
was al It's height and the matter OF
the extension OF slavery into the ter
ritOry came before the United States
Supreme Court that tribunal held that
the United States could MOI govern col
Ones as such and the citizens Of terri
tories were entitled to exactly the
same protection as the CitiZPns Of
States This clause Of the Cunstitu-
ton has not been passed upon since
that time. II has a very important
bearing upon the kind Of government
which under the Constitution the
United States can give to Its newly
acquired possessions.
The leading statesmen are. there
fore, somewhat at sea as to just what
to do and how TO do It. As the United
States has entered upon new policy
Of territorial expansion beyond the
limits of the continent a great many
men advocate an amendment to the
United States Constitution which Will
set at rest all questions concerning the
government OF the new possessions. If,
however. such an amendment was pro-
posed and failed OF ratification II would
muddle things very much worse than
they are now.
There will be a determined effort to
admit as States the three territories
now within the borders OF the United
States in order that the whole terri
toral question shall relate to outside
territories. This plan now looks feas-
ible owing to the large majority In the
Senat. the gold standard will have
during the next few years At least. All
that has prevented the admission OF
Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona
has been the fact that they would in
crease the silver majority in the Sen
ate by six. This may still prevent
their admission, but as these six votes
would not be sufficient TO control th'
Senate for free silver there Is a strong
movement TO admit all Of these terri
tories as States in order that the ter
ritoral act when passed can be framed
expressly for the benefit of outlying
provinces. II this plan Is carried Oul
there will be colonial office estab'
lished and the territories OF Porte
Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines will
be governed, 80 far as they are gov
erned at all by the general govern
ment, through special department
acting upon them similarly 10 the man
ner in which the Interior Department
acts on our present territories. In thi
way local self government can be pre-
served In all OF the new territories, |
Is thought, without in any way weak
ening the general control of the fed
"ral government.
Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philip
pines all seem to present very differ
ent problems 80 far as the details o
government are concerned and Their
Is n growing sentiment that the seed
OF all OF these new possessions shout
be very carefully considered and
complete peace with Spain perfecte
before any attempt Is made TO form
ulate the plan OF government. Tn
leading citizens OF Hawaii, Porto Ric
and the Philippines will probably b
invited to appear before congressiona
committees and set forth their needi
together with recommendations Of IN