The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-31
AN AMERICAN NEW ZEALAND.
Radical Political Theories ON the Pro-
gramme in Hawaii.

Honolulu Letter in New York Post.
The Territory of Hawaii promises to COM
mand the attention of the United States,
perhaps of a large part of the outside world,
as a small American New Zealand in the
In no American Territory or
State nave so many of the so-called adj
vanced political notions been put into prac-
teal experiment as the present Hawaiian
Legislature-the first under American rule
seems likely to incorporate in the laws of
Hawaii. Single tax, proportional representa-
ton, the government liquor-dispensary sys-
tenn, municipal charters made after the
models of municipal-charter leagues and
supposed TO represent the best theories yet
developed. and a law rigidly quarantining
the whole Territory against consumptives
and all other persons afflicted with con-
tagious or infectious diseases, are among
the pet measures of the ruling party in the
Legislature of Hawaii.
The Legislature is in many respects a
very remarkable body. 1t is the result of
the first election held in American territory
beyond the borders of our continent. A very
large proportion of the men chosen in this
American election on American soil are men
who bitterly opposed the union of Hawaii
with the United States, as did Hawaii's DEL
egate to Congress. Robert w. Wilcox. These
men were elected under the leadership of
Wilcox and other Hawaiians who, during
the campaign just ended, attacked with all
their powers of native oratory every one
who helped to bring about annexation. In
some cases the speakers even went so far as
to tell their ignorant and credulous hearers
that the the success of Wilcox and the
home-rule party might bring about with
drawal of the United States and restoration
of ex-Queen L~iliuOkalani. Some of the legis-
lators do not speak English. A majority
have never travelled beyond the Hawaiian.
islands. and have little conception of Amer
lean institutions. Some, judging by their
campaign u~tterances, are in this American
Legislature with Down with the haoli
(White)" as their strongest sentiment. These
men are 10 make laws~for whites and ma
tIves alike, and under the guidance of a
few intelligent leaders of rather social
istic tendencies they have united upon some
OF the most prominent of the many mil
lennium-bringing reforms that are being
discussed in America to-day.
The result of the deliberations of such
a body, with its leaven of white men
strongly opposed to the more radical
schemes, but in a minority. is an interest
ing subject TO the whole country, while In
Honolulu it is a matter of absorbing con-
Germ.
Already the opposing Republicans and
some OF the Democrats are prepared to
SluSSle 10 the last against some or the
proposed measures already mentioned, as
well as against others of a more purely
local application. The commercial inter-
ests will leave no stone unturned to stop
an award of $250,000 to the ex-Queen, to
the support of which measure most of the
Independents are pledged. Business inter-
ests will fight equally hard, though, per-
hapS, unSucceSSfully, against the payment
of a vast aggregate of claims growing out
of the destruction of Honolulu's Chinatown
a year ago by a fire started under the di-
rection of the Board of Health to destroy
a building condemned because of a case of
plague beneath its roof. The liquor inter-
ests are prepared TO do all they can against
the diSpensary law.
The contests viii. not end on the floor of
the House. Some of the measures will
probably be passed over Governor Dole's
vetoes. Then there will be a campaign in
the courts. The proceedings Of the Legis-
lature may be attacked as illegal because
some of the members cannot speak English
and must perfOrce speak In Hawaiian and
have addresses in English translated to
them, while the organic act by which Con-
gress provided for a territorial government
for Hawaii declares that the proceedings
OF the Legislature shall be In the English
language. One of the leading Honolulu
papers, representing the Dole party, has
already given notice that this will be done
If the Independents insist upon footing
the treasury" as their appropriations for
the ex-Queen and Chinatown fire claims
are called.
The single-tax system would revolution
lie taxation throughout the islands,, as it
would In any other American community.
1t would throw almost the whole burden
of taxation on the sugar interests. On
every island of the Hawaiian group nearly
all the cultivated land is owned by the
sugar plantations. a single plantation on
one of the islands covers $4,000 acres. In
Hawaii sugar interests are
They dominate all The pas
sage of a single-taX law would be n unique
example of a Legislature opposing capital
united as capital is united In few, If any,
other places in the world-and this by leg
~iSlatorS OF q race whose past history in
such affairs fairly reeks with palpable
bribery. At the start. however. there are
srave doubts about the passage of single
tex.
The dispensary law appears almost sure
TO pass. There is very good authority for
the statement that IL is approved by Gov
ernor Dole. It's adherents claim that they
can pass IL over a veto If necessary. The
system proposed Is that of South Carolina
with some notifications. Liquor is to be
sold only at government stores or dispen-
saries. in sealed packages. which may not
be opened where sold; the contents are not
To be drunk in any public place; the dis
pensaries are not to supply the same man
twice in one day, and are not 20 sell TO
habitual drunkards at all; and. finally. the
location OF dispensaries Is TO be a matter OF
local ~option-the Territory is TO be divided
into districts, each OF which shall decide
by vote whether It wants a dispensary or
rot, and the question can be raised for
special balloting at any time.
In addition 20 the measures Spoken OF.
the Independents and some Democrats and
vigorous OPPOSITION. 10 provide for the In
corporation of Honlulu and Hilo as munic-
qualities with model charters.