The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-06-30
CORRESPONDENTS.
Ashford Advocates An Alliance,

OF approval and caution may not be
ont OF place from me, at this stage
OF the political game in Hawaii. l |
observed with some alarm that the
Hawaiians were disposed to "herd
by themselves" in political sense,
aud feared they might carry the
programme OF exclusiveness to a
dangerous extreme. 1t seems to me
it would, q cardinal error for them
to place themselves in an attitude
OF hostility to both the great parties,
as recognized in America. While it
may not be less reasonable there
than in America, that independent
or third parties" should be thought
preferable to either of the old par.
ties, yet / think it would be pecu.
liarly disadvantageous to the Ha-
waiisns 10 try the third party ex.
pertinent, or Mt least to carry it 10
the limit OF making and maintaining
a party practically upon racial
lines, for there can be little doubt
that the aboriginal voter will need
all the friends he can muster in the
American Congress OF the near
future. 1t can hardly be doubted
that he would ALLEVIATE, or at least
render Indifferent, many party
friends in that body, when it shall
once become apparent that racial
lines have been drawn by him. in
Island politics, and that neither Of
the two prominent parties have any
thing to expect from the native
voter, in the way OF party advantage.
But l rejoice to see in recent
issue OF The INDEPENDENT that there
is prospect of at least an alliance
or fusion between the Independent
party and the Island Democracy.
Though 1 have been in sympathy
with the Republican party, until its
discreditsble record on many OF the
leading issues Of the present forfeit
ed my confidence, l now feel that
that party stands to-day for much
that it has battled against in the
past, and that much, is unfortunate
ly the worst of what it has in the
past opposed. A. part from it's at
titude. upon many of the larger
questions OF the day, it cannot be
expected OF any really sane Hawaii
au who is blessed with q memory,
that he should prefer the party OF
Harrison, aud Stevens, aud McKin-
Icy, aud Davis and Lodge, to the
party of Cleveland, and Gresham
and Blount When the Hawaiiane
look for those who have oppressed
and traduced and imprisoned and
hunted them, in the past, they will
find these "friends a." in the Re
publican ranks; while those who
have stood for their rights and theil
independence, while there remained
a chance for its preservation. and
after it had been wrenched from
them by the Republicans, contenteo
for all The privileges OF American
citizenship for the Hawaiian, are
almost to a man, to be found in thu
Democratic party to-day.
If, therefore, there be left an,
, logic in the addage that We shoult
, learn what our enemies desire us t.
do, and then do the contrary, i
y does not take sage TO see that sci
q interest and self respect point tn
, Hawaiians to the Democratic, as op
/, posed to the Republican party
I While it 10 not unnatural that tn
+ Hawaiians should prefer to organic
;. upon party lines which will elimin
ate much OF what, to them, ia tn
A mystery of American party politics
!. vet they should recognise the vii
y doms of Her Majestys advice, t
= the effect that for the future the
70 are to be American citizens, and i
y the light of that fact, they shout
lose no time in placing themselvf
in touch with American ideas, n
le,s in rsgard to political matter
~ than Others.
~ But | assume that the natur