The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-17
JANUARY SEVENTEENTH.

gave place TO a Republic, and the Re-
public has given place TO u Territorial
condition, dependent upon the will of
Congress. The evolution has been dis
integrating, in this, that Hawaii in
stead of maintaining her rank among
the nations, has become the general
property OF great nation, that Will
not at present allow her to retain the
least evidence of sovereignty, not even
the sovereignty of State. This ex-
change of prominent, and singularly
prominent condition of sovereignty for
what seems like a long estate of de-
pendence, was, beyond question, the
great good fortune of the people of
these Islands.
The rapid changes during the last
six years have been without friction,
excepting in the circumstance Of a brief
insurrection, in which valuable life
was lost. The freedom from disturb
ance has been without precedent in the
history of communities made up of
mixed nationalities. The reasons for
such a peaceful revolution will become
in time the subject of historical study.
In no place have there been more IA
cial antipathies, which generally pro-
woke disturbances and wars. At the
same time there has been comparative
Iy q harmony and absence of friction
nm the racial relations. The Anglo
Saxon people living on these Islands,
though limited in numbers, possessed
wealth and intelligence, and displayed,
during the last six years their usual or
ganizing power in securing peaceful
period of change. But behind the An
glo-Saxon leaders stood the larger por-
aion of all nationalities who, whatever
their political views were, insisted on
the maintenance of order.
The singular absence of disturbance
during this period, is also due largely
to the general prosperity of the peo-
pie. A prosperous people are generally
cOntented, and cOntented people are
conservative 1t has not been to the
advantage of the labOrers TO create dis
turbance. There has been no large
number of young men in this COM
munity who, as rule, are the fomen-
tiers of revolutions. The continuance
OF prosperity has been the ilrm guar
antee of good order.
During this period of change, the
laws have been wisely administered,
and the public money has generally
been expended as the Legislature mas
directed it should be spent.
Those in the community who could
not consent to, or aid in the political
changes, have not effectively opposed
these changes. Events have taken their
courses Those who were positive ana
active in bringing about these changes
suspended partisan feelings, so far as
American politics was concerned, and
presented a solid front on the question
of annexation. To the spectator there
appeared the picture Of men conhdlng
in. and loyal to each other in common
cause.
After annexation there came the
usual disintegration that follows &C
complished results. Only polltcai
dreamers could hope for any long con-
finuance of the high order of admins
traJlOn 6StaOnSneO Dy lHe IOiiliitOi
consent of the revolutionists. When
the revolutionists sought President
for their Provisional Government, they
sought him The office sought the
man. The man did not seek the office.
The permanent establishment OF or
der. and the guarantee by the Federal
government of peace, now permits the
enforcement of more practical rules
in politics. and the first signal illus
tration of this, was, on the raising OF
the Flag, in the hearty acceptance by
some of the maxim that the man
should seek the office"
These are. however, only incidents
in the growth of the community. All
things are better than they were yes
terday. The movements from January
II, 1898, to January II, 1899, have been
always progressive and upward, be
cause there are no backward steps IN
human affairs.