The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-11-25
THE FUTURE OF HAWAII

! The speeches made at the banquet
given in honor of ex-AttOrney General
Smith charted a course for the politi-
cal and social polity of these Islands
which. if followed, ought TO bring al!
hanus to a safe harbor
President Dole struck one of the
key-notes of the evening when be said
that it should be the effort OF the An
glo-Saxon community here. old-timers
and newcomers alike, 10 preserve the
good feeling which exists between the
natives and the whites The natives
number large part of the schoOled
/ population and their civilization, which
is the growth of many years. makes
them peculiarly adaptable TO American
ideas. They are accustomed TO close
| fellowship with white society and they
| have done nothing as a class to abuse
| or forfeit the privilege. A reading and
patriotic people, they keenly appreciate
the position they occupy but more
keenly the place they may be forced
into if our growing white society un-
| dertakes to draw the color lire Per-
ing for many years they will be practi-
cally helpful in the building up of Ha
wall, while fiouted and opposed they
may become a sour and isolated
community standing in the way. Pres
ident Dole was right in saying that we
want their confidence and aid, and it
is a 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.. ThuTston, Mr. Hatch and others
spoke in favor of immediate activity
in the work of reconstruction which
entrance into United States must
imply. Their theme was American
ism. 1t was pointed out that the pas
sage of the Cullom bill would suddenly
bring us face TO face with the problems
of local self-gOvernment We have
never had that system in the past. |
Ours was, and indeed is, Il paternal
government. Cities, counties, towns |
and villages as political subdivisions
are unknown among us; We look in |
all governmental matters to a central |
authority which concerns itself with |
the smallest doings of the people.
Soon all this will change and Hawaii |
will be endowed with all the political
known to- the American
system. 1t is for our interest if the
guarantees of orderly socie-
~ are 10 be the strongest and most adj
vanced, that intelligent people should
begin 10 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-
waii ought to draw upon the wisdom
Of all progressive countries, the United
States, Great Britain and Germany in
particular, and begin formulating a
system now that will confer the great
EST 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
he perfect work of annexation to study /:
the ways and means, not only of good
local government but of the best local
There is room at once for {,
4 Board of Freeholders TO study the
successful city charters of America,
europe and Australasia and draw up
IN instrument that will be ready for
adoption when the need arises-an in
'trument which combines the broadcast
Americanism with the most righteous
principles of equity between man and
nan.
To sum up the spirit of the post
)randial oratory,' some of which we
,annot here discuss in detail, 1t was in
avor of union of all the inhabitants
If Hawaii in good works for the COM
non country: justice as between the
aces here; rapid adoption of munich