The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-29
"GooD GOVERNMENT. >

y FEW Americans IN Hawaii are asking them
I ! selves what good government" means in those
distant possessions. Two white laborers, bound
by q contract with penal clause to labor on the
Honomu plantation, found themselves subjected TO
such treatment as made negro slavery in this country
revolving, and away, deserted, just as slaves
used to depart by the underground railroad. They
were pursued, hunted down, and by district magis-
trate sent to jail until they would return to bondage
They demanded a trial by jury their right under the
constitution OF the United States. and were refused
and, when they appealed to the Hawaiian Supreme
Court that tribunal affirmed the court below and de-
prived them OF constitutional shelter by holding their
involuntary servitude legal and they either rot
in jail or 60 back TO bondage Remember that these
bondnen white men, lured to the Paradise OF the
Pacific to find it q hell
The constitution OF the United States says:
Neither slavery nor involuntary servude shall exist
within the United States or any place subject TO their
jurisdiction
By joint resolution OF Congress Hawaii was an
nexed to the United States and made subject to their
jurisdiction nearly a year ago. The laws OF the
United States forbid contract labor and the consttu-
ton forbids involuntary servitude.
Since Hawaii became subject to our jurisdiction
about 10000 Asatc coolies have been imported to the
islands under contract, and some white aborers ured
there have been constrained to accept contract bond
age with the coolies. When Senator Morgan was
asked by the native Hawaans what they would get
Tor merging their sovereignty in the United States
and coming under jurisdiction, he replied that
they would get good government"
Ii appears, then, that good government in our dis
tant possessions consists in denying the right OF trial
by jury and the enforcement OF involuntary servtude
IS il possible that the American spirit which was
reused by the return OF negroes to bondage has so
completely died that all consent the return
OF fugitive white to slavery? When the militia
& MASSACHUSETTS, was called out to execute the writ
OF the courts OF that commonwealth and return the
negro Anthony Burns. to slavery, Wendell Phillips
addressing great audience in Faneuil Hail, said:
At the head OF every judicial writ issued by court
in this State runs the legend God bless the conmol-
wealth OF Massachusetts, But If these writs are to be
used human beings to slavery let the legend
be changed to read, God damn the commonwealth OF
Massachusetts
That climax reused the nation like tocsin. and
the current OF feeling until under the leadership
OF Lincoln slavery swept away and the constitu-
ton OF the republic made to canonize against in
voluntary servltude in any place under its jurisdiction
The Call persistently warned the people OF this
country OF the results OF Hawaiian annexation When
President Dole said that after annexation "a way
would be found to get satisfactory labor for the pan
tations, foresaw just what is happening now and
warned readers OF it Unhappily, the most i'm
porant guarantees OF the constitution trial by Jury
and prohibition of involuntary servitude are abro
gated in the good government we have established
there An election being ordered for members OF the
local Legislature the men who conspired for annexa-
ton, being in fear OF the reaction which Appeared
among those who love liberty induced President Nc
Kinley to forbid such election. SO we have another
! Ar1er tittitJn orb -,iaJ
Could any Asiatic despot do more? When one re-
fleets that there is in Hawaii no resistance to
authority but, the other hand patient subsection
to annexation, there is absence OF any legal reason
for denial Of jury trial and refusal OF the habeas cor
pus and destruction OF personal rights In the alb
OF any emergency, in the presence OF profound