The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-06-06
LAHAINA.

A serious defect In our territorial
system of Government, a defect inner.
tied from the monarchy and from tn,
Republic. Is the absence of local rule
And there Is no better illustration OF
this than the condition of the town
OF l.ahaina. 1t is in a most attractive
location on the leeward side of the isl
and. and extends for long distance
along the ocean beach by the side OF
this beach runs a street for the dis
lance Of fully half mile. and it is
protected in some places from the ac-
ton Of the surf by parapet, or stone
wall. The appearance of the town Is
repulsive, because 1t is dirty and bad
ly grOomed." The sidewalks are mar
row and unpaved. The Asiatcs fiji
the place and fix its character. The
labor Of the people who live in the
place and in the neighborhood pro-
duces vast amount of wealth, which
goes out untaXed for local government
The same amount OF earning. distrib-
uted in any town OF the United States
among independent proprietors, would
create a most attractive village. Con-
centrated industry makes the place "A
dirty hole. The earnings of the plan
tation. distributed evenly among the
people would be expressed in efforts
to beautify the place. The population
numbers about $500, which is quite
large enough to claim the rights of a
township, II the question of nationality
Is avoided.
For these $500 people, more or less,
the water supply is utterly inadequate
A small expenditure would supply 1t In
quantity. The place does not appear
to have any friends in court. The In
terror Department does not seem to
care for ii. The plantation is under
no legal obligation to provide for II.
The natives and Asiatics do not know
how to make themselves felt in the
Executive building. The cry for water
Is driven out to sea when IL tries tC
cross the channel to Honolulu. The
department provides, in a way, for Ho
nolulu, because the comfort of the
members Of the Government is de
pendent upon Il good water supply
and there is pressure from the people.
I.ahaina is concealed, and when W.
wish to show the glory of our civiliza
ton we keep the tourist away from
that Japanese village
There Is no local officer who plead
for sanitary improvements. and takes
some pride in making the place AT
traCtive.
II was said in the convention which
| framed the Constitution of Hawai-
that II was wiser TO govern all the isl
ands by centralized authority IL
| Honolulu than 1t was to establish any
local self-goycrnment. So 1t was, il
the local self-government was elective
But Board OF Supervisors selected In
each island by the Government, and
empowered to provide for local needs
would have been better than an In,
terror Department that cannot enter
into the details of the needs OF the
different places The difficulties which
are created by the presence OF alien
races are no doubt serious, but II il
not necessary that they should at
present, determine who the local OH
cials should be
The regulation of the local affair
Of the large Island ~ Hawaii by the
Department Of the Interior cannot
courluo for any long period II the poo,
pie Increase in numbers, bocluso ah
minlslraliuu carried on by officers rr.
sidlng Al distance Is most unsalIs,
factory in strictly loral affairs
II strictly local self government IA
not practicable, the Ices We talk about
American civilization, the lees inrOa'
slsloDl We shall be-