The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-08-15

toward Jnelr IOTuueI COuulIy. Inc 0TSJ
legislature seemed to justify the con-
tentions Of those who opposed man
hood suffrage; but how splendidly sue
ceeding legislatures have proved the
contrary! The entire body of Hawaii
an statute law has been put in COM
pact and harmonious form and added |
to by numerous other laws remedied |
and constructive. Government by the
fictitious benefcent despot or even by
a commission would be unsatisfactory, |
demoralizing and unworthy of people |
at all capable of self-government; for
the same reasons, government by linn
ted suffrage cannot be justified where
unrestricted suffrage is compatible
with safety While the Hawaiians,
composing the majority of voters,
have not as a rule exhibited strength |
in initiative or administrative quail
ties. they have displayed in a remark
able degree qualities more essential in
an rate,-amenability to reason
and a disposition and capacity to make
right choices. The chief executive Of
flee has been filled by men of rare
singleness of purpose breadth of view
and courage of conviction; the high
standards of aims and methods and
results which they have established
under special difficulties will be hard
to maintain. 1t is true, the Territory
must confess Illumination for a time
through corruption ond inefficiency on
the part of several subordinate offi-
Gals, but the lesson from this and
from the promptness and vigor with
which the condition was met has prov
ed quite as valuable as that condition
was painful. The judiciary also expe-
| rienced turbulent times for awhile ow-
ing to the grave and difficult questions
that arose out of the new conditions
and the disposition of some to bring
the courts into politics, but has long
since been restored to the high status
previously enjoyed for half a century.
Local government has been establish
ed without the baneful results predict
ed-more expensive at present and
perhaps in some respects less efficient
than centralized government, but on
the whole more satisfactory and edu-
cative to the masses Public bank
ruptcy, threatened by the transfer of
import duties to the federal govern
ment, has been averted, and equili-
brium restored between public revenue
and expenditure. Recovery has been
had from a calamatous pestilence, ac-
ton, in the capita,; scientific investi-
| cation has been begun for the ultimate
eradication Of the most dreaded dis
ease; the public health has never been
better safeguarded than now from dan
gers within and without. Our indus
trial system has survived an excess of
expansion followed by period of low
| prices, epidemics of plant diseases,
and scarcity of labor. Disastrous ex-
perimentation with one of Hawaii's
| gravest questions has had its natural
elimination in saner control of the
liquor traffic. The schools have grown
in quality of work as well as in num-
bers of pupils Notwithstanding a per-
| iod of abnormal inadequacy of funds.
Progress has been made in the appli-
cation of advanced pathological princi-
pies, especially as applied to Juvenile
delinquents. Evidences of moral and
religious quickening are apparent on
| every hand. Much has been accom-
plshed in the construction of public
works, preservation of forests, settle
ment Of public lands, introduction OF
labor of citizen-making material, es-
Establishment OF diversified industries,
execution of irrigation projects. utili-
cation of water power. And thus the
list might be continued, but what OF
the future?
The good work thus Jegun in so
many directions may be expected to
continue and new work be undertaken
in other directions. Our great presi-
| dent has the interests of the Territory
deeply at heart. The recent visits of
many members of congress and the
appropriations made by that body at
it's last session to an amount bearing
appropriate relation to the revenue
obtained from the Territory, indicate
that acquaintance with our needs is
sufficient to insure our due at the
hands of the national legislature. The
developments of seven years call for
changes in the Organic Act of the Ter
ritory with a view to greater simpli-
city in the machinery of government,
greater economy and efficiency in its
administration and greater elasticity
and scope in its powers. WHAT we ask
of congress is indeed reasonable and
in the main for the national veal as
much as for the neutrality-suspicious.
for harbors, light houses, naval sta
lions, military posts and Notifications
the public heaIth-at this halfway sta
ton between the occident and the orr