The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-11-28
THE FUTURE or HAWAII

The speeches made at the banquet
givsn in honor of ex-Attorney General
smith charted course for the polti-
cal and social polity of these Islands
watch, II followed, ought to bring all
hnnos to a safe harbor.
President Dole struck one of the
ksy-notes Of the evening when he said
tAat II should be the effort of the An
Ei0-Saxon community here, old-timers
ana newcomers alike, TO preserve the
Eood feeling which exists between the
natives and the whites. The natives
aamber q large part of the schooled
population and their civilization, which
II the growth of many years, makes
them peculiarly adaptable to American
i1eas. They are accustomed to close
Fellowship with white society and they
have done nothing as class to abuse
or forfeit the privilege. A reading and
Patriotic people, they keenly appreciate
ths position they occupy but more
ksenly the place they may be forced
into II our growing white society I'M
aertakes to draw the color line. Per-
0itted to go on as they have been 60
ing for many years they will be practi-
cally helpful in the building up Of Ha-
vail. while fouted and opposed they
may become sour and isolated
conmunity standing In the way. Pres
tlent Dole was right in saying that we
want their confidence and aid. and 1t
II . truth which, as he made plain.
needs most to be asserted now while
the population Of these Islands is being
leavened by SO many white strangers.
Mr.. ,Thurston. Mr.. Hatch and others
sp0ke in favor Of immediate activity
In the work of reconstruction which
entrance into United States must
imply. Their theme was American
ism. II was pointed out that the pas
sage of the Cullom bill would suddenly
bring US face to face with the problems
a local self-government. We have
never had that system in the past
Oars was, and indeed is, n paternal
government. Cities. counties. towns
and villages AZ political subdivisions
are unknown among US: we look in
Al governmental matters to a central
authority which concerns itself with
~ smallest doings OF the people.
Boon all this will change and Hawaii
w1ll be endowed with all the political
Subdivisions known to the American
system. II IL for our interest IL the
municipal guarantees OF orderly socie-
y are to be the strongest and most ad-
vanced, that intelligent people should
begin to make up their minds what
they want. We must not wait until
the eleventh hour before we begin to
study the ethics Of local self-govern-
ment in the light Of experience abroad
Mr.. Thurston made the point that Ha-
vail ought to draw upon the wisdom
II all progressive countries. the United
States, Great Britain and Germany In
particular, and begin formulating a
system now that will confer the great
at good upon the greatest number.
The conclusion was undeniably sound.
We cannot delay such matters until the
last thing and then win success by hap
hazard methods. Civics Is a thing for
the midnight oil and not for intuition.
We need all the time between now and
the perfect work Of annexation to study
the ways and means. not only OF good
local government but of the best local
government. There Ia room at once for
q Board Of Freeholders to study the
successful city charters of America,
Europe and Australasia and draw up
m instrument that will be ready for
adoption when the need arises-an in
strument which combines the broadest
Americanism with the most righteous
principles Of equity between man and
man. 8t =.
To sum up the spirit OF the post
prandial oratory, some OF which we
cannot here discuss in detail, it was in
favor of union of all the inhabitants
Of Hawaii In good works for the com
mon country; Justice as between the
races here; a rapid adoption of munich
pal ideas; the best procurable system
of home rule. These are the panks of
a platform which expresses the most
wholesome and vital patriotism. The
closer we cling TO il the better for Ha-
wall.
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