The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-09-14
REPUBLICAN,
PLATFORM
Continued from Page One)
Continued from Page OneJ

|
We reiterate our firm belief in
protective tariff as the basis of the
prosperity Of the American Nation,
and particularly of the Territory of
Hawaii. The development of the ag-
rIcultural interests of this Territory
requires the continuance of tariff
protection in order to shield our
products against ruinous foreign COM
petition.
We believe in the payment of sub.
sides for the encouragement of the
American merchant marine. the pro-
motion of the commerce of the Paci-
fc, and the perpetuatlon of the Amer
lean flag on the high seas, believing,
further, that such action is immedi-
ately necessary to prevent the disap-
pearance OF American ships from the
ocean.
We commend the patriotism dis
| played by the President and members
of Congress in advocating liberal APP
propriations for the defense of the
harbors OF this Territory. and the es-
Enlistment of navy yard at Pearl
Harbor. A due regard for the asp.ra-
|
| statesmen high and patriotic appre-
citation Of the strategical Importance
of this frontier of the nation We
desire the retention in the Pacific
Ocean of a naval force OF sufficient
strength to meet all possible require
menus.
We stand for the equality of labor
and capital. We uphold the Terri
Jorial Executive in the strict enforce
ment OF the statute requiring that all
! labor on public works shall be per-
| formed by citizens of the United
States, or those eligible to become
such. and We believe in the extension
of this principle to labor on Federal
works.
We believe that the sea fisheries
should be open and free to all the peo-
pie, and to this end We favor the con-
demnation and purchase by the Fed
eral government, of such fisheries as
are at present held in private owner
ship.
We denounce the avowed policy of
the Democratic party expressed in its
memorial to Secretary Garfield, and
ratified in its platform, to favor the
extension of the Federal land laws to
Hawaii and the transfer of their ad-
ministration to the government in
Washington because, among other
reasons: Cd That would be a weak
and ignominious surrender of most
important powers by the people Of
Hawaii to Federal control, and would
forever preclude a further grant of
power to the Territorial or ultimate
State legislature to enact or amend
laws relating to this most important
subject; (2) such transfer would de-
prive the Territory of its large rev.
enues from the public lands; 90 as
pointed out by Secretary Garfield, the
Federal land laws have now become
unsuited in many respects to condi-
tons on the mainland and are wholly
unsuited TO conditions in Hawaii and
1t would be practically impossible to
procure their amendment with regard
to the special needs of Hawaii; and
| C4) it would be useless to advocate
such a transfer against the views of
both the executive and legislative
branches of the Federal government,
the latter of which expressly declared
in the Joint Resolution of Annexation
that the public land laws of the Unit
ed States should not apply to Hawaii.
We fully recognize that changed
conditions call for changes In the land
laws, ut we firmly believe and it is
most feasible as we'll as most desira.
Bile that they should be specially
amended to meet those conditions
rather than that less suitable laws
which were framed with reference to
different conditions should be extend,
ed here without possible hope of adap-
tation of local conditions. Congress
may well be expected to amend for
the benefit of Hawaii the laws made
specially for Hawaii but can hardly
be expected to amend merely for Ha-
wall the general land laws of the
United States. The Republican party
is practical; it believes neither in at
tempting the impossible nor in blindly
plunging into greater ills in order to
escape those We now have; it believes
in curing those We have
The Republican party is therefore
pledged both to oppose the extension
of the Federal land laws to Hawaii
and to obtain such amendments of
the Hawaiian land laws as will con-
serve the public lands as far as pos
sible for the benefit of citizens. and
persons eligible to become citizens,
who will be bona fide homesteaders
and secure the disposition of such
lands to such persons at low prices,
on easy terms of payment, and in
such manner as shall prevent specu-
lation; an dby these means fully de-
velop in this Territory the real spirit
and intent of the American land sys,
tenn. AS an earnest of this pledge we
call attention to the fact that the
Territorial administration has al,
ready, in partial accomplishment of
this object, inaugurated such changes
IN the administration of the land
laws as can be made until amend.
ments can be obtained, and has TAX.
en- steps TO obtain the amendments re-
Quirpd for its cop,nIoto