Evening star., 1932-02-02
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
/. G.. NJ.

|
THE GOVERNANCE OF HAWAII: A
Study in Territorial Administration
BY Robert M. c. Littler. Stanford
University Press.
1t was In the Mckinley administra-
tober, became a part Of the United
States. The islands were eager for this
issue, accepting In willing sincerity
their status as Territory under Federal
direction and control.
Probably this initial concord between
The two parties concerned accounts in
q measure for the relatively tranquil
end progressive life of the islands under
the new order. Since the admission of
Hawaii both Porto Rica and the Phil
ippines have, as tokens Of war. become
a part OF the United States 1t is pos
sible that the restless psychology of
war still fingers with these two. Or 1t
may be that the old colonial conditions
against which they SO constantly
chafed and strained accrued to a habit
OF discomfort and resistance. Whatever
the cause may be, certain it Is that
neither of these has accepted its rela-
tionship to this country in spirit
comparable to that shown by Hawaii
1t is by virtue Of such accord that
Hawaii becomes an illuminating study
of Americas s territorial experiment with
people preponderantly alien-an ex-
pertinent in the main unhindered and
OF lack OF cooperation.
X r
Robert Littler here offers a study of
its present position and promise. Pro-
fessor of political science in the Uni
Iersity of Hawaii, DR. Littler no doubt
saw, as a student in his line would see,
that there was a specially clean-cut OBJ
ject of pursuit, political unit singu-
larly unmixed with defeating side issues
of interference CT other forms of resist
ance and Illustration. And so he set
about the task. At the start this writer
makes it clear that the study in hand
bears no relation to the subject of CO.
lOnial government, where native peO-
piles are brought under foreign domina-
ton. India, a case in point Northern
Africa another. Instead here is a sit
uation of understanding and free CO.
operation between the two elements Of
political consideration. Here is an eX-
elusive study of territorial administra-
tiOn projected as q unit of significant
current history
1t is well within the past century
that the South Sea Islands have come
into the open OF general attention End
interest. Before that. explorer and dis
cOVerer, Wh3ler and trader, held a mo-
nopoly of the outside information con-
corning them. Then rumor began to
circulate, as rumOrS will Of the sur
passing beauty OF these mountain tops
thrusting out from the surrounding
seas, Of a climate Incompatible And.
in no very long time there drifted to
this beckOnIng quarter adventurer and
romancer, painter and poet and sheer
vagabond. Stories came back and songs
and pictures. Gaugin, Stevenson.
BROOKS. OBrien, Lindsay and host of
others joined the chorus of praise for
the South Seas Business. too. began
to take p hand in the publicity pro-
gram. For upon examination Hawaii
appeared to be the old home town of
sugar and the pineapple Where ad-
vantage lay it is certain that the white
man would be on hand Money and
work were needed. They came. The
first from the English, German, Ameri-
can, Russian peoples. Labor from I'M
HDQ
Koreans
The writer has listed a census Of
these various racial elements of Hawaii
ana the relative numbers as these at
the time prevail. A helpful list, this
racial count, for those who have peri
odlc feyerS about Hawaii soon to be
overrun by this or that supposedly in
ferlor race from the East.
Right now Hawaii is 2 COSMOPOLITAN
entity OF industry, trade, politics and
progress as outstanding features. An
important station, vital point at the
croSSWayS OF Pacific interest and ac-
tlVity mecca of the tourist, a bea
con 10 the promoter and financial agent
When along back, Admiral Mahan
declared Gibraltar and Honolulu to he
the world paramount points of military
strategy, We, the average no doubt ac-
cepted the former While holding off
from the latter. Today Honolulu is one
OF the very great military bases. sup
porting an army ready for action. pro-
wang a thorough and comprehensive
course OF training in different depart
ments OF warfare, by land and sea and
air
1t is Of this rapidly oncoming and
oeeply important community that DR.
Lltt!er makes political study in its ad
mlnlStratlVe aspects. Climate. physical
features, natural resources. earlier his
tory, the advent OF the outsider. growth
ol enterprise and industry, racial i'm
pact ana eHect-all these are elements
contributing to the general good or i'll
OF Hawaii under the direction of west
ern civilization under the direction o+
the United States
y
a6 hv frajp;np
Vlsage words and signs as THINGS 7
was much pleased to find a good mar
OF Hawaii meeting me at the door nj
TINS adventure in politics and other
common interests. Oh, yes, everybody
knows exactly where the Hawaiian
group lies and how 1t looks. But he
does not. Here is a chance to make
good the lack while gathering a spnSe
OF reality in the matter.
Peopllng these islands in a quite oh
Jectlve effect, DR. Littler brings vital
point in respect to the future of Ha-
wan as member OF an organized political
ana social world. Hawaii has a back
ground OF political achievement cal
cuIated to advance it rapidly in its
new program. Under the guidance of
Or. Llttler We find that Hawaii at its
nelgnC was an independent nation. A
N4AiSoOiiA III Iy succession of in
herlted power. A people united bv
generally common interests of national
Well-being and safety from Invasion
With laws and regulations and occu-
pations and modes of life far in ad
vance OF the wild tribes proving upon
one another, so uniformly accepted in
respect to this distant South Sea area
These political and social attainments
OF an elementary character, to be sure
compared with the intricate technic of
modern political theory and practice
but, clearly, a fine preparation for lust
the experiment now going on Yin Ha-
waii for fuller partaking in democ-
racy itself This, the high point of
possibility and promise, it seems to
me, for the future of the Hawaiian
people.
Beyond this historic survey the au-
thor gives in detail the exact plan of
government for the islands and cir
cumstantial report of the workings of
that plan. Here are the local nnitS