The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-04-17
Conditions in Hawaii.
HoN. ALEXANDER STEWART, Nj. c.,
Washington, d. 9.

Washington, d. 9.
DEAR SIR: Can you kindly send
me at once the bill recently passed
by the Senate providing territorial
government for Hawaii? l notice it
is to be taken up in the House April
Sd and voted on at 4 o'clock April
5th.
Last year l spent 6 months in Ha.
waii, making quite thorough study
OF conditions there. l am familiar
with the bill reported last year but
do not know what amendments have
been made to the one now before
the house.
To my MUD the radical defects 10
last years bill we're in providing that
the legislature OF Hawaii may create
town and city municipalities in the
islands, leaving it optional with that
body, and also the several PROVISIONS
OF the bill restricting suffrage in so
far as they discriminate against the
native Hawaiian population. The
citizenship clause as originally re.
ported by the commission which
prepared the bill-section four
covertly couched as it was, disfran.
chised the great bulk of the native
Hawaiian population, and the other
provisions Of the same subject do
not make it clear as 70 the manner
ia which these people may register
and vote. 1t provides that those
who were citizens OF Hawaii August
II, 1898, are citizens OF the United
States, but at that date, through the
effect OF the registration laws OF the
Republic which Disseminated
strongly against them, few native
Hawaiians could vote. 1t might be
we'll to understand in what position
the passage Of this hill would leave
these people, or who in fact were
citizens on August 18th, 1898, and
who, were not.
The educational restriction in the
bill is all right. Native Hawaiians
will suffer no more by that restric-
tion than would the people of any
of our states. The average of ill.
iteracy is no higher among the ma
tivss than it is in the state OF Mas
sachusetts, but the property quail
fication will work an injustice to
them. The bill provides as quail
fication to vote for Senator, the
ownership of $1,000 worth of real
estate or an income of 5000 per year
This would result in getting an up.
per house OF Is members, elected by
the few. This email body could
block or defeat any legislative meas
ure. 1t would shut out from voting
the great majority of intelligent Ha-
waiians. Just think OF how many
worthy citizens would be turned
from the polls in your own Mar
athon county, or this county OF
Langlade-both OF as high average
in intelligence as any county in tie
state--if such property qualification
were required! Many a worthy la
borer owning neat little home,
supporting his family and honestly
paying his bills, could no more vote
than could the chronic pauper,
whom his taxes help to support. 1t
is even worsa in Hawaii. The specu-
lative foreigner has now most of the
large holdings OF land and has turn
ed them into vast sugar plantations.
A small corner of fertile soil is suf-
fcient to support the ancient owner,
he is generally content with his XII,
LEANA OF few acres, or even lesa
than an acre, where he can raise
enough to feed his family and visit
ing friends. No one understanding
the situation can honestly urge
that any danger in good govern
ment will follow from giving
these people a liberal franchise.
Participation in town and county
government is the best school in
which to learn the workings and
drink 10 the spirit OF our constitu.
tional system. 1t will do as much