The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-12-08
A. PRO.HATCH
RESOLUTION

If this Territory had been acquired
by conquest or purchase, and had pre-
| viouSly been in an uninhabite and
unorganized condition, the facts would
| have been different, but, even then,
| Home Rule, not as a party designation
but as an American principle, equally
endorsed by all parties, would have
been applicable. Under our system
| irrespective of surrounding circum-
stances, territor-' is added to the ma
tional domain for the express purpose
| of conversion into States, with the
attributes of State sovereignty as lin
! tied by the Federal Constitution. The
! proposition was specifically incorpor-
ated into the ordinance accepting the
Northwest Territory and in the treat
les for the acquisition of Louisiana
and Florida, and it has pervaded our
national extension. At the time of
annexation, in every respect but the
tropical labor situation and the pre-
ponderance of Asiatic population, the
Hawaiian Islands were ripe for the
adoption of a State Constitution and
for admission into the Union, under
Il State government. They were so
I treated, and. to recede from that atti-
unfair, but it would disturb the bal
ance Of our constitutional system.
1t is common and proper where, I'M
der the provisions of a State or Ter
ritorial statute, some possible Federal
claim or question is involved, to Sc
cure Congressional endorsement and
thus reduce the emoluments of the pro-
fession to which 1 am attached. But,
after definitely comforting the power
upon a territorial legislature, am
not aware of any instance in which
Congress has undertaken municipal
legislation in territories. There may
be such a precedent, but l am I'M
conscious of its existence l do not
believe, therefore, that Congress will
attempt, and / feel that it ought not
to undertake to pass upon the County
Government Act, as enacted by the
Hawaiian legislature or to legislate
municipality for this Territory. 1t may
restrict or liberaliZe voting qualifica-
tons. 1t may act upon franchises
granted to corporations or individuals.
There are many directions in which it
may beneficially exercise its functions.
But to abridge or interfere with self
government in established commune
ties, and emphatically in the special
case of Hawaii, is not within its legit-
innate province.
1t follows that, as an individual cit
lien, I antagonize all proposed amend
ments to existing laws that attempt to
withdraw from the people of this ter
ritory the right of self-government and
to officers judicial and executive, Sc
lected from among themselves, and
particularly with any interference by
Congress with local municipal legisla-
ton, which includes the County Gov
eminent Act.
I have an aloha in my heart, en-
dorsed by my mind. for the Hawaiian
Islands and for the Hawaiian people, |
which have become merged, but not
submerged, in the grand and rising |
current of American nationality. Hav- |
ing cast in my lot with you, I pro-
pose to be loyal to my new relations. |
glory in your scenic splendors, ad-
vancing from softest beauty to incom-
parable sublimity. l realize the be-
neficence of your tropical climate, tenn
pered by the trade currents, and at
once stable and diversified. Your pro-
auctions can be varied and increased
beyond prediction. The volcanic for
ces of the earth under providential d.
rection. placed you in central stua-
ton. in the mightiest ocean, rapidly
becoming the scene OF the most adj
vanced movements of the human race.
Commerce and trade, the converglng
lines Of human progress, could not II
they would and would not If they could
escape from ever-increasing contrihu-
tons to your material, intellectual and
moral growth. The men of keen WIS.,
ion. of exact training and yet whirl-
wind energy. who are the commanding
figures in the worlds expansion, can
not pass you by. The worn, feeble
and SCARED veterans Of peace and
war. can here find health and repose
Beauty and utility are here indissolu-
bly, embraced. And here disciplined
strength. elevated souls and gentle
correspond to the converging
tcontnues on page ID !