The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-03-08
PUSILLANIMOUS.
The Government Afraid of Shadow

1esLeTuay albeTuOou Ine ooNolh
, ment presented its def to the people
in the House of Representatives in
reply to their demand for modifi
cation OF the oath Of allegiance to
the Republic.
The matter is really of no intrinsic
Importance since 10000 men are
willing to follow the example OF
Judd, Dole e. Co. at the next cleo
ton by swallowing any oath that
is required by the Constitution.
Oaths in Hawaii are practically but
stepping stones to political posi-
tions, so degraded have they become
We quote from the report Of the P.
G. Advertiser as follows:
Minister Cooper said, on the pro-
posed amendment:
Mr.. Speaker:-The introduction
OF this amendment to the funda-
mental law OF the country is indeed
matter OF Importance, and on
which it may we'll be expected that
the Government should define its
position. 1t has been considered a
question Of so much Importance that
it has been freely discussed in the
Executive Council and our position
in regard to the matter has been
agreed to. While | think it is quite
unanimous among us that il it was a
question whether or not this condi-
ton should now be incorporated in
the Constitution we would stand as
unit as being opposed to any such
action, yet the trainers Of the Con
stitution saw fit to place that pro-
vision in the fundamental law Of the
land; and it is there now as one of
the conditions OF the right of fran
chise in this country. The institu-
ton Of the Provisional Government
carried with it the conclusion that
the monarchical form OF Government
had disappeared for all the time in
this country. Under the conditions
that existed at that time it was quite
proper that this qualification should
be exacted from all those who
sought to be identified with the
Government. | was opposed person
ally to this condition being placed
in the Constitution at the time it
was framed; but nevertheless it is
there, and | feel that it would be a
mistake now to change that provi-
sion, principally as it would be mis-
understood by the friends of the
Government as we'll as the oppo.
nents of the Government. l believe
it would be sign to those who have
been watching our advance, that we
had changed the fundamental policy
OF the Government, il We should now
advocate change in this provision.
1t is not a mere matter of sentiment,
it is matter of substance; and
would probably carry with it, if the
Executive should support this
amendment, the conviction that we
no longer cared for the proposition
of maintaining the Republic, and
that it was matter Of difference to
us whether or not a change was
made. 1t 10 likely that legal con-
struction OF this provision OF the
Constitution would 60 80 far as to
prevent man from making any
effort to change the form OF Govern
ment, even by ballot; and this seems
to be what is now objected to. II il
is of sufficient substance to be re-
pugnant on this ground to those
who have heretofore refused to be-
come identified with the Govern
ment, then there is every reason to
retain it in the Constitution. The
Constitution provides that all per-
sons born within its jurisdiction or
naturalized are citizens thereof. 1t
is said that the provision now sought
to be stricken from the Constitution
is the only reason why many OF our
native born have declined to become
identified with the Government. II
this be true, then there should be
no modification OF the Constitution
at this time for fear of its being mis-