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Blount Report: Affairs in Hawaii

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               HAWAIIAN   ISLANDS.	1015
Q. What is the reason the whites say they do not want the natives to have suffrage?
A. They have an idea that the natives would have control of the Legislature. That is the whole idea. They wanted 
to have the whole thing in the hands of the sugar-planters.
Q. The sugar-planters are not many in numbers. How would they have it in their hands?
A. Of course, they have the high qualifications.
Q. Were many sugar-planters elected nobles to the last Legislature?
A. Some of them. I don't know how many. On the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai the nobles are controlled 
by sugar-planters. This is the only island they can not control.
Q. All the islands except this elected candidates of sugar-planters- nobles?
A. Yes. Here the most popular would be elected. Generally sugar-planters are not popular on account of cheap 
labor.
Q. They do not like the sugar-planting interest because it brings cheap labor?
A. Yes; the workingmen are against that.
Q. Do the Chinese intermarry much with natives?
A. Not very much.   The Chinese merchants marry natives.
Q. How about the Japanese?
A. Not very much.
Q. Do the Portuguese and natives marry very much?
A. They marry among themselves, principally.
Q. The principal intermarriages are between the natives themselves?
A. They marry sometimes with foreigners--nearly all half-castes are Americans-that is, their fathers are 
Americans.
Q. What is your attitude in the matter of the present Government? I mean, how do you feel about it? Do you feel 
that it ought to be continued or ought to have been established?
A. For myself, I tell you frankly, I am not for the present Government.
Q. What is your objection to it?
A. My objection is that this Government is a government de facto of the Missionary party. It is not a popular 
one. It is against the wishes of the natives and a good many white people. It was established by Mr. Stevens, and 
in my heart I could say I am a lover of justice. I do not believe in a government established by a strong hand. If I 
am defeated I am all right. I am a revolutionist.
Q. What do you mean by saying "I am a revolutionist ?"
A  I mean that I have started several.
Q. What was your motive for the revolution of 1889?
A. The constitution.
Q. What did you want then?
A. I felt something like the people here felt about the constitution of 1887, that it was forced upon them. 
Kalakaua was forced to sign it.  
Q. What was your plan to change it?
A. My plan was to restore the old constitution, with some little amendments, to suit the view of the people-not 
to have a high qualification of voters.
Q. Well, to do that you took the Palace, and then, what was your next step?
A. I took the Palace with a view that I would be supported by the King's guard. Of course, if I had that 1 would 
have had everything in my hands.  

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