The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-12-01
COMPLETE SELF-GOvERNMENT.

It is argued that because the colonial
Americans began their career as ma
ton with complete self-government
and thrived under 1t the mixed electo-
rate Of Hawaii may be safely entrusted
with nearly the same powers. The
cases, however, do not seem to rs to
AFFORD a parallel. Long before the CO.
l0nial Americans had gained their in
dependence they had, out Of their own
consciousness Of what was just and
safe. developed self-government along
ideal lines. They did not have to be
tutored or watched as they went on
with the work, for by character, cdr
cation and temperament they were 1T
ted to undertake the most urgent du-
ties Of democracy. With their sturdy
moral code, their religious convictions.
their scorn of the base and unworthy
in politics, they formed the best mate
rial out of which to make a State that
their age afforded.
But suppose they had been mixed
race with the Anglo-Saxon element in
the minority? What then? The ne
groes of the South have not been able
to make good use of the suffrage in
these times, despite two centuries of
white example; suppose in those times
they had outnumbered the whites in
the thirteen new States and that tn.
electorate constituted in part by them
had been able to choose every official
but the one highest. In that case we
should now be considering a more per-
feet parallel. But this journal has toe
much respect for the intelligence of the
Hawaiian Star. to whom these consid-
erations are addressed, to think that
1t would, in such event, find much his
tOrical cause in the annals of early
American self-government to ask that
all the great Offices OF the coming Ter
ritOry of Hawaii should be put at the
disposal of our voters. ,. ... .. ...
Any one might have predicated wha,
the compatriots of Jefferson and
Franklin would do With their privi-
leges, but who can tell what the com
patriots of Bob Wilcox and J. w. Bipi-
kane mighs do with theirs? We hope
for the best but we do not know. The
natives will vote and they may out.
vote the annexation whites. II is SC
vital a matter. this one of the outcome
of our Island polling. that the trainers
OF the Territorial bill acted most wise
ly. as We think, In making the higher
officers OF State appointive rather than
elective. We get surer pledge OF
safety than could otherwise have been
had. tai
The Star demands an opportunity
for the voters 10 show whether they
are or are not 1T to exercise their priv
ileges. 1t asks: How Is any one go.
ing TO Judge OF the capacity OF the Ha-
walian voter for local self-goyernment
IL no opportunity II given To him OF
proving that capacity" But is the op,
portunity 40 be withhold The voters
VIII have all 10 say about municipal ol
county organizations they viii ais,
choose The Legislature II they boal
these responsibilities well, II viii b.
time enough then 10 ask In their nam,
for wider ones. Those who are place,
aver the many things should hrsl prov
themselves faithful over the few M
proeeFs Ne applied 20 the HaSailal
electorate II fair IA alli Il Involves ~
real hardship II may save liasaI
fro'a ,sa,s VI mlsruls aud lll.repule
In snlsrins tbs portals " the yrea