The Honolulu Verdict - •
The feeling aroused in the United States by the verdict, of manslaughter returned by a Hawaii jury against an American Society woman, a naval lieutenant, and two naval ratings for the homicide of a Hawaiian native who had joined. in a criminal and common assault, on the lieutenant's wife, can only be fully appreciated' in the light of the attitude of the average Southerner, and: to a less extent the average Northerner, regarding relations. between coloured men and white women. That lies behind nine-tenths of the lynchings for which. the Southern States are still notorious. There is; of course, an essential background to the Honolulu affair, a. -back- ground of • pleasures lightly taken and restraints: :too easily cast off, of beach parties associating .American women on holiday and athletic surf-riding natives in abundant familiarity. But it is fair to remember in that connexion that the special investigator despatched from Washington found no evidence of anything in the way of abnormal sexual irregularity to distinguish -Hawaii from other holiday resorts frequented by Americans: There is not much warrant for basing broad generalizations on this particular affair. If the natives guilty (as they clearly were) of the original assault had -not . escaped punishment- owing to the jury's disagreement the 'attack on Kahahawai and the conviction of his .assailants for manslaughter would never have taken place. The action of the Governor of Hawaii in immediately commuting the sentence of ten years' imprisonnient. to detention for one hour is not likely to have been taken without communication with Washington.
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