The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-02-15
A NOTED WRITER
CONTINUED from Page oae)

% the natives, and thai 10 knows DO.
country, IN which many OF the leading
families have been long settled.
IL is announced that bills have been I
brought into Congress for establishing .
form OF territorial government In the 4
islands. l have not seen these bills. /
and in any case could not find space. in 4
this letter for commenting on them. \
But il is TO be hoped. for the sake OF 4
the Islands. that the territorial govern
ment 20 be created will not follow n. 4
usual lines of the frames OF govern |
mRnt set up in territories on the Amer I
lean continent. The American people /
will certainly expect that the govern i
menc 10 be established in Hawaii shall /
be pure and shall be just 20 all alike. g. I
e, shall give full protection 20 the four
backward races Of the isles. Now. if 10 Is /
20 be pure, the territorial constitution |
must not admit TO the electoral SUI
frage a sufficient number OF the back |
ward races to enable them TO turn the !
elections. IL is no kindness to thrust
upon men functions they are unfit To |
| perform. y Legislature controlled by |
these four races. two OF them AsiatiC
strangers, and the Hawaiian natives
nowise politically superior. would be q
| body either useless or misChIevous.
Probably, however, even IL these races
held the mass of the votes. the Legisla-
ture would practically come under
| white control. But how? Most likely
| by bribery. The man who doesn't
/ know how. or doesn't care, to use his
vote is willing TO sell II. White pur-
chasers would be found. and the sys-
TEN thus created would demoralize the
advanced part of the population with
out benefiting the backward part.
while throwing the Legislature into
INSCRIPTIONS hands. All Englishmen
who know India and the crown col
lonies will say to- Americans, Beware
OF. extending the suffrage in Hawaii"
Utterly opposed as il may be to all
democratic doctrine that 5000 Amsri-
cans and Europeans. with perhaps
small infusion of other races. should
legislate for 100000 AsiatiCs. Hawaii
ans and Portuguese. this is a less evil
. than that the Zoe. 900 should be grant
ed power to injure themselves. and the
Americans. and the Government rs a
whole. The principles OF the DeClara-
Ition OF independence are species OF
baggage which the American people
cannot carry with them into their
tropical dominions. In this matter
nature has been too strong for US Eng
liSh, and she will be too strong for you.
But the conscience of the American
people also desires that the Territorial
Government OF Hawaii should be just
TO all races. and extend full protection
TO the weaker. How is this 10 he Sc
cured, especially If the vast majority
of the weaker are excluded from the
suffrage? Several methods suggest
themselves by which the difficulty may
be reduced. IL not quite overcome. In
the first place, full private rights OF
citizenship, as distinguished from pu-
litiCal rights, would be secured TO the
members OF all races alike. with free
access to all courts OF law. Secondly.
special officers might be appointed TO
look after the interests OF the back
ward races and protect them. Thirdly.
il might be considered whether sort
of council to advise the governor could
be established. on which places
could be found for one or two OF the
leading and most intelligent men be
longing to each of the four backward
races. Fourthly. the system of local
government, whatever IL Is, which low
exists. might be turned to- account. and.
if necessary. so revised as TO secure for
these four races some share in the
management of IL. and also some tram
ing which might draw them together
and give them the rudiments OF politi-
lcOntrol of the home government That
government. If | am rightly informed,
Ideals with the territories through Con-
gress and its committees on territories,
These are nuctuating bodies, and act
by way of legislation. Might there not
. be some advantage in putting the EN-
lecutive Department of the Federal
Government into direct contact
with the Governor OF the Ter
ritory of Hawaii. 80 that the
former could give advice to the Gov
ernor and the latter could obtain sup
| port. il he needed il. for any action ne
might feel bound TO take in the interest
of the unrepresented Masses Lastly
lit is of supreme importance that the
Governor of the Territory should be 9
man OF the highest character and Capa'
city. who Will feel his responsibility
for the protection OF those back
ward masses, and will have both IN,
Itact and the courage to defend their IN
: terests. \ man may be good enough q
DC Governor of Arizona or OSlahom.
and yet far below the standard needet
for the administration OF Hawaii who's
duty IL may become. not only 10 eNer
else boldly his veto against the loc1
Legislature. but even TO proclaim hi
views of policy. formed on the spot
. against those of n committee on terri
tories or the Executive At washington
. Such n man. raised above the suspicion
OF having personal or political aims q
serve. may do much TO smooth th'
path. beset with difficulties IS it mus
Q needs he. along which the new Terri
tory would have TO travel.