The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-07-19
ATKINSON
after MOSES
DECLARES THAT BERKELEY PRO
FESsOR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT
HE is TALKING ABOUT

An irate man was Acting Governor
Atkinson last evening when he read in
the Star the structures which Bernard
Moses, Professor of history at the Uni
Versity of California, saw fit to pass
on the people of Hawaii
'I don't know who Professor Moses
is said the Acting Governor today
but l do know that he has no knowl-
edge whatever of the matter that he
discusses. 1t is not for me to make
any special pleading on behalf OF the
Hawaiian people but when a man de-
liberately puts himself on record as
saying that the Hawaiians have no
conception of government in the sense
that such obtains among civilized peo-
pie he simply writes himself down as an
ass. We have had our troubles here
what country has not? The Hawaiians
have asserted themselves and that fact
alone shows them not to be incapable of
self government but rather accentuates
their right to self government. There
may have been mistakes in extending
the franchise in different parts of the
county but no such mistake was made
here. In this respect I simply want TO
quote the words used by Governor Car
ter in his official report to President
Roosevelt regarding Hawaiian affairs
under date of April p last"
The Acting Governor turned to his
files and read from the official cores
pondence the following paragraphs
which the governor of the territory in
dited to the chief executive:
owing to the exceedingly poor record
made by the Legislature, almost all the
different interests here were opposd to
my calling a special session, urging me
to conduct the government on the basis
of former appropriations as provided in
section "a of the Organic Act. 1t was
claimed that there would be only a re-
petition of the former session, with it's
dilatOriness. extravaganza and scandal.
Yet l felt that the question at stake
was whether or not the voters of this
Territory were fitted for self-govern-
ment and that it was my duty to fair
ly test this question and that an op-
portunity should be given the represen-
tatives of the Hawaiian people to show
their ability to meet a crisis by enact
ing prompt and efficient legislation.
"Of the many serious problems have
had to struggle with, since November
Notwithstanding the fact that l could
hTG no one TO support my contention,
other than members OF the Legislature
itself, finally determined to go 1t alone
and appeal to the people, through their
representatives, to re-establish the
honor and integrity of the Territory.
Having given ten days notice of the
special session, the interim was en-
ployed in curtaillng the expenditures of
the Territory about fifty per cent, so
that the legislature might at once have
my suggestions as a basis for their
work The members of both houses
proceeded promptly to business and
passed fourteen bills within twelve days
when they adjourned. All these bills
dealt with financial problems and the
result has been that there is at once
better understanding between our
banks and the treasury with a safer
feeling in business circles.
"Our Legislature is composed of fif-
teen Senators and thirty members OF
the House of Representatives. OF
these, eight senators and twenty-one re-
presenta atives-twenty- nine out of to-
tai of forty-fve-are native Hawaiians
or partly of Hawaiian blood and l am
glad to be able to state that they res
ponded nobly to the emergency. The
whole session was marked by the best
Of hamOnY between the Legislature
and Administrative departments. The
success of their work is all the more
gratifying as it was in the face of many
forebodings and predictions of failure. y
Governor Carter states the whole
case there" concluded the Acting Gov
ernor land there is nothing to add 20
it, 1t is a little wearisome to hear
some persons airing their views when
such views abe based upon nothing but
the most superficial observation and
that is what Professor Moses has as
suredly done"
Twenty-Five cents pays for a Want
al in the Star A bargain.