Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22


affairs. A considerable proportion of our
white. and especially of Hawaiian, men of
voting age are VIGOROUSLY incompetent to
choose fit legislators. If not as unfit as the
South Carolina negroes were. they would
do little better. The only safety, is In Sc
curing such proof of competent intelligence
and character as the habitual acquisition
of as much income as a diiigent artisan can
gain, say $500 per annum. This has been
for six years the qualification for senatorial
electors and has given US a. good. and able
senate. We absolutely need a continuance
of this restriction on voters.
Territorial Government Wanted.
We now OCCASIONALLY observe that Hawaii
in some discussions is ignorantly classed
with Porto Rico and the Philippines, and
counted on as one of the foreign colonies,
which must undergo long period of tute-
lage and be educated to self-government.
Were this not sheer ignorance it would be
a gross outrage, because the Newland reso-
luton annexing Hawaii expressly provides
for territorial government. in accordance
with the previously discussed treaty of an
nexation, and because our Hawaiian gov
eminent accepted annexation with that sol
emn understanding, that we are to be
territory and not a colony. That this sol
emn covenant is to be violated We do not
apprehend in the assurance that Congress
and the President will strictly MAINTAIN
their well-understood obligations.
1t still however, may be in place to point
out that Hawaii possesses a large, wealthy
and powerful clement of white population,
which is either by birth American else
in a high degree Americanized by residence
here They number 10000, or 16 per cent OF
the whole population. excluding Aslatics-
Five-sixths of the adult males of this class
of whites would meet the $500 qualification.
OF the remaining 10000 chiefly HaWaians,
part whites and Portuguese probably one
fourth of the adult males could meet the
same qualification. This viii give us a
10 of tel
who can be depended upon to secure US an
able and reliable legislature.
Pent of Universal Suffrage.
This is our qualification for seif-govern-
ment 1t can be completely ruined by
blind maintenance of the principle of man.
hood suffrage, whose value is found only
in communities of high grade of charac-
ter and intelligence. With reasonably
restricted suffrage Hawaii can govern her
self. as she now does, magnificently But
unless Congress does continue this restrict
ed suffrage and refuses to let an incapable
rabble rule u.s. there can be no good self
government here. The only sound alterna-
tive to such restricted suffrage is govern
ment by governor and council appointed
from Washington, with no elective power
in Hawaii. Either give us a selected cleo
torate or no electorate at ALL UNIVERSAL
suffrage in Hawaii simply means ruin.
But, of course, with due precautions, Ha-
ter than Washington can do it for US. One
feeels confident that Congress will eNer-
else common sense on this subject and
simply continue the excellent system under
which we are so prosperous; that is, a
strong senate chosen by restricted suffrage.
Decline In sugar stock.
Our great boom in sugar stocks has very
naturally suffered a decline. 1t is little
over a month since the Olaa assessable
20 mold
were subscribed for three times over, and
now the shares that 50 was paid down for
are sold at ST. The reason is simply that
a large number of the original purchasers
bought on speculation, and are afraid to
hold on till the next assessment, whuch Is
not far distant.
There is also a large decline in the ex-
oessive premiums paid for stock in planta-
tons which are yet half developed. or
less. Waialua, for example, which once
reached s225 ION 5000 and stood long time
at S1T5, is now down to $40. The estab-
lished plantations have not declined in
price, being good in the San Francisco
market. And the great Oahu plantation
which Is just grinding its first crop. con-
tinues to be steady at 5000, or thrice its par
value. There seems not the slightest rea-
son for abatement of confidence in the fu-
ture success of Olaa as the banner pianta-
ton of the islands. Operations there are
rapidly developing on the largest scale A
first-class railway will in few months be
in operation through the tract, half way to
the Volcano.
The builder of that road, 3. F. Dilling-
ham. has Withdrawn from his intended road
from Hilo to Hamakua. about sixty miles.
This was on account of Il strong competi-
tor appearing determined to occupy the
same route. The second party will immed-
lately proceed to build. Thus Hlo will soon
have some ninety miles of railway, ter
minatng at her harbor. including one to
East Puma. The estimated amount of sugar
to be carried is over 100000 tons. an aver
age distance of twenty-five miles. This
means big boom for that little city.
KAMEHAMEHA.