Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-02-23
TERRITORY OF HAWAII.


The house committee on territories has
scope to frame providing government
for Hawaii under United States iursdic
ton. Its provisions stand out in striking
contrast to the legislation of similar sort
pertaining to Porto Rico. left to another
committee of the house to formulate.
The Hawaiian measur seems, from the
abstract given to the public. to follow
closely the plan pursued by this nation
in setting up a territorial government
upon the continent. There is TO be a
governor appointed by the president, but
he must be bona fide resident of the
islands. The committee argues that this
is an essential condition, because the re-
mOteness of the territory from the CONT
nent and the distinctive conditions so
different from those on the main land
require a more definite familiarity with
the existing needs than any carpet bag
ger could have. The territorial secretary
is also to be appointed by the president,
and the remaining executive officers,
heads of territorial departments, appoint
ed by the governor.
there are I'D Dt lWO nOusts VI TIE ltSls-
lature, the members to be elected by
direct vote of the people, and there is also
to be a delegate in congress. The tariff
laws of the United States are to apply as
they have in all the territories heretofore
established ard as any honest interpreta-
ton OF the constitution requires. All
the laws of the United States. locally
applicable, are extended over the terri
tory and the Hawaiian laws not inconsst-
ant with them and the American consti-
tuition are continued. The territory Is
made a judicial district of the United
States wherein a United States court will
be established. The navigation laws are
extended to the territory without quail
fication.
TO repeat, the territory is treated by
the committee Just as have all territorial
organizations in the history of the coun'
try up to Porto Rico, and as the best
craftsmanship of the country has regard
ed essential under our institutions OF
government. 1t has been the sentiment
of the people that such necessary policy
has precluded the extending absolute
American sovereignty over such lands
where such scheme of government was
not practicable. Those who opposed the
annexation of Hawaii did so from thu
apprehension that such form OF
government was not compatible to 6
population such as Hawaii possesses, ant
1t must be admitted even now that tn
trial is largely experimental. The com
mlttee places the population in 1896 a
l09,092, of which only 30S6 were Ameri
cans. very small percentage. The re
mainder is made up of l,0l9 Hawalians
8435 part Hawaiians, "a, 407 japanese
81 ,l66 Chinese, l5,l9l Portuguese, 225
British, 1892 Germans, 37S Norwegians
l0l French, and 1865 other nationallties
Including the British with the Amer
cans less than five per cent of the en-
tire population is Anglo-Saxon, a yer
small nucleus about which to frame
popular government, not only of Amer
can model but absolutely American. Blu
it is the only possible course to pursu
legitimately; If there shall prove to hav
been mistake, it lies entirely In extend
inf 'ir jurisdiction over those islands
By at annexation they must necessal
lily become, as Webster put it, I" of us
part of u.s. And so if the constitutio
is needed and the scheme of governmeI
founded thereon that has successful
stood the test of more than a century {
time, must Porto Rico and Guam and tn
Philippines, IL thev are to be absolutel
annexed.-Manche N. H. Union.