Blount Report: Affairs in Hawaii
[ Previous Page ] --
[ View PDF ] -- [ View
in MS Word ] -- [ Next Page ]
[ Return to Table of Contents ]
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 699
ing here at that time to vote, not thereby forfeiting their citizenship in other countries. Was that intended
to strengthen the white vote?
A. It was intended to strengthen the white vote by enabling them to vote, as they were not willing to
renounce their citizenship.
Q. With a view of giving the white element strength in political controversies ?
A. Yes; to give them adequate representation in the legislature, so that they should not be entirely
overridden by the native representatives.
Q. This constitution was extorted from Kalakaua by amass meeting?
A. Yes; by force of public sentiment manifested through a mass meeting. That demonstration of the
determination and unity of the white citizens so terrified him that he was ready to do what he was
wanted to do.
Q. Now, is it to be inferred from transactions like that that the intelligent people here are of the opinion
that the native population as a mass are qualified for government, capable of carrying on a government ?
A. I should say quite the contrary.
Q. Referring to the mass meeting which extorted the constitution from Kalakaua and to the recent
mass meeting which brought about the change here - are we to believe from these that the intelligent
classes in this community - the whites - do not believe that the mass of the native population are capable of
self-government ?
A. Not without assistance.
Q. What is your view about that ? I do not know these people at all. I am trying to get at the inside
facts of the case.
A. My view is that, while the native people here are lacking in adequate intelligence and force of
purpose to conduct self-government long, they are so well disposed that with a sufficient power of
white guidance - white cooperation - and the removal of racial contention, which has been sedulously
cultivated by the late dynasty, they will usefully cooperate in republican government. They possess sufficient
intelligence and good disposition so to do.
Q. On that point of being led by the white element, and easily in the' absence of attempts to excite
racial feelings, could you trust to universal suffrage?
A. Without limitations we could not.
Q. What limitations could you trust, to in the matter of suffrage?
A. I think the limitations would have to be quite high, as to education and property qualifications.
Q. What would you put them at?
A. As to education, I should require a good knowledge of the English language sufficient to enable
the voter to read and understand the Constitution of the United States.
Q. In regard to property qualifications?
A. I think it should be made so high as to exclude unskilled laborers.
Q. You have about 9,000 voters among the native population - how many would that exclude?
A. The educational qualification would exclude two-thirds - the number qualified would rapidly
increase.
Q. What property qualification?
A. The same property qualification as now required of voters for nobles-$600 income. That would
exclude unskilled laborers.
Q. How many skilled laborers do you think would vote?
A. I do not know. There has been very great carelessness in admit-
Back to top of page
[ Previous Page ] --
[ View PDF ] -- [ View
in MS Word ] -- [ Next Page ]
[ Return to Table of Contents ]
