The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-02-06
VIEWS OF THE
COMMISSIONERS
THEIR GENERAL COMMENTS ON
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS-PRAISE
FOR HAWAIIANS.

The text of the Mitchell commissions
general comments on the government
and other conditions in Hawaii con-
tains some interesting statements of
the views of the commissioners as to
Hawaiian affairs. In the following in
PRODUCTION to their recommendations
the commissioners show how the evil
dence that was given them here affect
ed their views.
Your committee was somewhat sur
prised at the general centralized char
acter of the government of the Terri
tofy, and the manner of conducting the
business of the government in Hawaii
In very many respects is the organiZa-
ton Of the Territory SO dissimilar to
that of any other of the organized Ter
ritOries of the United States, and par
takes so little in it's organization ana
practice of what is generally under
stood to be a government republic
form and in practice, and has so many
o fthe old elements of monarchy still
prominent, both in its organization and
practice, that it is somewhat difficult
to determine-as they are so very
slight-as to the extent and character
Of the changes in the form andp racti-
cal operations of the government from
those of the old monarchy.
This results partly from the peculiar
conditions existing in the islands when
they passed from the republic to the
United States, and partly from what
your committee believes to be certain
oversights and omissions by Congress
in the enactment of the organic act of
the Territory. These omissions, and
certain amendments to that act which
your committee will recommend, will
be stated later on in this report.
Your committee fully realizes, how
ever! that it was not to be expected
that the rapid transition from a monar-
chy to a republic, and from republic
to a part of the United States, in the
form of a Territorial government,
which marked the history of these ISL
ands in such a briefg period, would be
| characterized by very many radical
changes, and it should not therefore,
| be a matter of very great surprise that
many of the old mOnarchical forms and
| practices should still cling to the pre-
! sent government
But it is the opinion of your COM
mittee that the time has arrived when
| the real interests of the people of Ha-
| old, ancient, unrepublican and undemo-
| cratic forms and practices should be
eliminated; that the Capitalization of
! power now in vogue should in a mea-
sure be eliminated by legislation both
! Federal and local based upon the well
! recognized principles OF fepuSllcan re-
preventative government. Especially
! does this seem to be important in view
Of the fact that there are among very
many of the leading men Of the islands
! as well those in power as others
evidently strong disposition to adhere
with a strange degree of pertinacity to
these old form and practices which
existed under the monarchy, which
We're transmitted to the republic, and
as suggested, are still prominently APP
parent in the present government.
Your committee believes that a
greater degree than exists at present OF
the real spirit of republican represen-
tative government of genuine demo
cracy and home rule, and of true Anne
ricanism which is the legitimate out
growth of the principles which form
the base of our Republic, should be in
jected into national legislation relating
to this Territory and also into the prac.
t.sll administration of both Fedora
and local laws therein, 1t is by this