Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-11
THE HAWAIIAN BLUNDER.
boston Herald

When, some years ago, the control |
ling interests in the Hawaiian Islands
were using every means in their power
to bring about the annexation to the
United States of the archipelago we
insisted that, so far as the interests
which these gentlemen represented,
and so far as the wellbeing of the peo-
pie of the United States were concern
ed, II would be far better to leave mat
tiers in the condition that they then
were, and not run the risk of making
them much worse by endeayoring to
improve them through political
change. At the time we gave this ad-
vice we might, so far as those who
should have profited by II were con-
cerned. have talked to the winds. What
we said was that the. oligarchic form
of government, which had been formed
In Hawaii after the overthrow of the
native dynasty, was rule admirably
adapted to meet the conditions there
existing. The ruling class consisted OF
a few individuals of broad experience
in affairs, of high intelligence and Of
great financial responsibility. Tho
great mass Of the people, the natives
and those who had been brought in as
immigrants from Asia, were entirely
untitled to take share in the political
control of the country. The Hawa-
iians had the opportunity of a free ac-
cess to the American market for the
sale OF their products, which was quite
as much as they could hope to obtain
II they became annexed. on the other
hand, as an Independent nationality,
acting under the protection, of the Gov
eminent of the United States, the Ha-
waiian rulers could make their own
laws controlling political, economic
and immigration questions, without
having to take the traditional and &C.
cepted practices of the United States
into account.
The members of this white Hawa-
iian oligarchy were not willing to lis
ten to reason. 1t is possible that they
feared that the American beet sugar
growers would succeed after time in
bringing about a repeal Of the Hawa-
iian reciprocal trade treaty, and, APP
parently, they preferred to have the
responsibility of government which
they had voluntarily taken upon them
selves, assumed by the United States,
y They also, with a cTedulity which is
far from flatterlng to their knowledge
Of America and Americans, seemed to
! assume that, If Hawaii were annexed to
the United States, II would still be
permitted to continue restrictive laws
: respecting political representation, and
: maintain its own laws respecting Asia
tic immigration. over and over again
we pointed out to them in these col
q umns that, in holding opinions such as
these, they were shutting their eyes to
!, the most patent political facts, The
!, result has been very much as we fore
!, casted. President Dole became Cover
nor Dole, but shorn by the change of 0
large part of the effective administers
tive power that he enjoyed as chic
magistrate of the Hawaiian Republic
Suffrage has been accorded to the ma
tive Hawaiian with a free hand, ant
. they are making use Of II in a manner
= which can hardly fail to be democrat
Il izing to good government.
=, The authorities at Washington can
not change this. For the Republican
+, party, now in control of national af
fairs, to affirm by law that the Hawa
iians are unfit to enjoy political suf
y frage, when large proportion OF then
- can read and write, and at the sam
% time to insist that the colored men II
- the South, the great majority of whom
d are grossly illiterate, are quite compe
!. tent TO take a full share in the gov
eminent Of the state and the nation
would be to indulge in inconsistencie
I, to an extent which would embarras
even the leaders of party that is nov
: practically without congressional op
- position Again, II the people of tn
- continent of Asia are to be kept out o
the United States, and to great ex
tent are to be prohibited from landing