The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-11

Maui. We strongly hope that the pest
may be kept out OF the crowded plan
tation camps, as has been most sue
cessfully done on this island. 1t seems
to be clearly ascertained that the
plague infection was carried to Maui in
Chinese provisions last November.
These remained unopened until a fort
night ago. 1t is a satisfaction to be-
lieve that the infection was from no
defect in the rigid quarantine main
tanned since plague appeared in Homo
lulu.
We have cause just now for the most
serious apprehension as to the kind of
government that Congress is about TO
give Hawaii. For nearly thirteen years.
by means OF a property qualification
for Senatorial voters, We have been
able to obtain Legislatures that were
fairly exempt from gross corruption,
altho a considerable proportion of the
Lower House, elected by general suf-
frage, was bad. The excellent Commits
sion who came and studied our situa-
ton in 1898, Messrs. Cullom, Morgan
and Hit, clearly discerned the extern
sive political incapacity of the voting
population. They perceived the abso-
lutte necessity of limiting the suffrage
by the property qualification, and in
corporated it in their bill for organic
ing Territorial government for Ha-
vail. We now learn that while the
Senate Committee favor this provision,
majority of the House Committee are
throwing IL out, as being "Un-Ameri-
can"
This is vital matter with us. Very
justly, the native Hawaiians are to re-
tain their equal franchise and share in
the government. The large and very
thrifty Portuguese element are also to
participate, while Asiatics are excluded
| from the polls. Now either one of the
| Portuguese or Hawaiian elements could
Outvote the combined English-speaking
elements, if the suffrage is unrestrict-
ed, and Americanism would be crushed.
An educational test (of ability to read
and write English or Hawaiian) would
exclude a majority of the Portuguese.
but admit all the Hawaiians. But while
| a large minority of HaTaiians possess
enough character and intelligence for
voters. that is certainly not true of the
majority. who are dissolute and shift
| less. 4 Legislature composed of men
of their choice would be venal and cor
rupt. Such voters would be the favor
| tie working ground for the worst class
Of bosses.
The proposed qualification for Sena-
torial voters, to possess $500 income or
| 81 500 property. would embrace all of
the better working class, whether ma
tive or white. 1t would exclude main
| Iy the incapable and unthrifty. II
would continue, as in the past, to secure
| for the Upper House of the Legisla-
| ture a body of honest and capable men
who would neutralize the inevitable
yenality of the Lower House chosen by
the dissolute majority. IL American
| ism" means government of the peo-
pie. by the people, and for the people,
| then let us have some method of select
| ing people of some manhood as voters,
and not the slaves of vice. But If
| "Americanism means your disgusting
| Tammany government of the slums by
the bosses and for the thieves" then
| Congress may well hesitate about con-
| ferring such Americanist universal suf-
| frgae upon any of their now outlying
| possessions At least our fairly clean,
orderly and prosperous little Hawaii
may pray to be delivered from this i'm
pending rule of the thieves.
| Let me here notice the false charge
made in Congress that the proposed
/ property qualification disfranchises the
!
| because it places them on a complete
| equality OF privilege with the voters
| of other races. Furthermore, under the
/ two constitutions made by their own
chiefs. the people had been totally dis
/ franchised as to voting for the Upper
| House. The Senators or MOBILES" were
all appointed by the King. The pres
ent qualified vote for Senators was a
| privilege bestowed upon the common
/ people by the white revolutionists who
| forced a new constitution upon Kala-
kaua in 1887. So far from being dis
! franchised, the natives were notably
enfranchised by this qualified vote.
! Probably an upright and wise Gov
ernor of the Territory might do some
| thing to resist the worst corruptionS of
n Legislature such as general suffrage
would insure. But We are about to en-
ter upon a period of municipal govern
ment for Honolulu. It's growing local
necessities can no longer be suitably
provided for by the general govern
ment. But conceive of the sort of city
/ officials general suffrage of our city
rabble would give us. Honolulu would
at once become a paradise for boodlers
and public thieves; and this when the
city's new budding growth needs the
/ best Of handling. Is it not somewhat
| essential to the United States that this
central outpost of theirs in the Pacific,
this chief Gross Roads," should con-
tinue to be decently managed? Our
| large and capable element of thrifty
/ people need to continue their past con-
/ troll of city and Territory. The threat
ened control by the larger debased ele-
ments of population will convert Ho-
nolulu into worse pest-hole than the
plague could possibly make II.
/ will merely advert to the fatal dem
oralization which that ascendancy Of
the evil elements is sure TO inflict upon
the weak Hawaiians. We witnessed
much of such evil effects from the de-
baucheries OF Kalakaua, who was a de-
stroyer of his own race. Every true
lover of the natives must pray that the