The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-09-16
MISLEADING THE COMMISSION.

MISLEADING THE COMMISSION.
II is plain 20 those who have watched
the remarkable proceedings before the
Commission that a strong attempt Is
being made TO use legitimate inquiry
as A means of doing anti-Republican
politics in this Territory. The object
OF a local politician In raking up the
events of 1893 can hardly be otherwise.
Now 1898 marks "A very sore spot IN
Hawaiian politics-one which progress
sive ideas lead away from. 1t was
crucial period one In which the mon
archy went down and the provisional
government went up, and II naturally
left heritage of angry passion and
prejudice, now happily growing DOR
mant which IL is not wise from any
standpoint, least of all from poltlcai
one TO revive. But 1t has often hap
pened when a demagogue wished TO m
flame the Hawaiian voters, he went
hack to 1898 for material. In that way
he could the most easily arouse them
against the Americans and the white
men and secure retrogressiNe politics IN
this Territory. We who have lived here
long enough to know conditions ana
men in Hawaii can readily see through
the scheme. 1t suits the professional
demagogue who is trying to lead the
commission astray, even as TO nSures,
to have Home Rule victory this fall.
If that result can be reached he pro-
poses to charge the failure of the Re
publican campaign against Governor
Dole. in the hope that, when the Gov
ernor's commission expires, strenuous
Garnet bag Governor may be appointed
in his stead. The demagogue in ques-
tor is acquainted with one who wants
the job; and incidentally, being but
thirty-three years old, he wants the
age limit of the Governorship reduced
and has urged the Commission so to
recommend.
The pretense for the resurrectionlst
policy urged upon the commission Is
that the Queen needs the archives OF
1898 to make good her claim against the
crown lands. Now If she has Il valid
claim, it is right that she should be
recompensed for her loss; and If the
United States deprived her of her lands,
she should De given every fair chance
to get them back. But this is not the
place to investigate the conduct OF the
Federal government towards HaWah'
the place is Washington. If orders were
sent here to use the Bostons marines
in dethroning the Queen, surely there
are no documents on file here TO prove
IL. They must be looked for in the
portfolio of the State Department
which contains the correspondence OF
the Department with the then Ameri-
can minister; and in the portfolio oil
the Navy Department, where Is to De
found the official communications be
tween the Secretary Of the Navy and
Captain Wiltse Of U. 8. S. Boston.
What is on f1te here certainly cannot
be inh point. but its 7fprDduction and
publication would, by arousing old
,lx a n 100 IN
candidate who is trying to range the
Hawaiians against the Republicans and
to the demagogue who hopes to become
n leader of the native party and who
was its ally and adviser willie he sat on
the bench.
Furthermore, was 1t the intent of the
Senate to have this crown land matter
made an issue? Two resolutions were
UP, according to the advices which
came here. one required the commas
sion to look into the Queens claim; but
this form appears to have been dropped,
for the final resolution. the one adopted.
has no reference to the claim. Its form
is as follows:
"Resolved That the committee on
Pacific Islands and Porto Rico be, and
is hereby authorized and directed to
investigate the general condition of the
ton of the affairs thereof, and for the
purposes aforesaid said committee, or a
subcommittee thereof, appointed by
the chairman, shall have power to send
for persons and papers, to visit the Is
lands, to administer oaths, to sit during
the recess of Congress, and said COM
mittee shall report at the beginning OF
the next session of Congress the result
of ITS Investigations; the expenses of
said investigation to be paid out of the
contingent fund of the Senate
Do not let us be misunderstood. The
Advertiser does not wish the Queen to
lose an acre or nickel which may be
due her. If the United States, believ-
ing her wronged, should choose to give
her ST, 900 900 for Quit-claim deed, and
call 1t square, Hawaii would greatly
benefit by having that amount of money
in the market The cash would prob
ably be loaned to great enterprises and
become of benefit to all. But what we
urge upon the Commission with all re-
spect is that ii shall not revive our
civil war politics. Ii it must go into
the affairs of 1898 we hope it will see
the wisdom of doing so at Washington;
and if it thinks it requires documents
from here and that public policy should
permit 1t TO get them, let 1t seal them
and take them to Washington for re-
view after our elections have passed
or why not recognize the fact that 4
previous Senatorial Commission-tht
one of which Mr.. Morgan was chair
man-has gone through this whole mat
ter and made its report. What is tht
use Of threshing old straw Why no
use the wheat that the straw original!
yielded and which is still in bags?
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