The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-01-07
Defeat Of the Ministerial Ticket !
UNEXPECTED VICTORY
Workingmen's Independent Ticket
1872 Majority!

1872 Majority!!
Never perhaps in the history of this nation has
a more important demonstration of popular in
dignation against the one-sided governmental
mode of conducting our popular elections been
made than at the election in this city on Monday
last. The voice of the people has at last begun
to be heard. In order to be understood, we will
go more into detail.
Our elections for Representatives formerly
yearly, but now biennially) have heretofore re-
suited generally in the nomination of government
officers or persons approved of by the ministry, and
such ticket has met with little or no opposition,
especially in Honolulu, where four representatives
are chosen, and where such ministerial influence
has been more apparent than in the remoter dis
tricts. The result has been, that in every house
of representatives thus far a majority. and some
times even three-fourths Of the members have
been in the service of the government, and, of
course, expected to do and vote as the Ministers
desire.
A government ticket was nominated this year
in the same manner as in former years, and con-
sisted of
Hon. JOHN Ii, Associate Justice on the Su-
preme Court Bench, and member of the Kings
Privy Council
WIN. WEBSTER. Esq, His Majesty's Land
Agent
J.. W. E.. MAIKAI, Adjutant-General in the
Hawaiian Army and
R. G. DAVIS, Esq, Consul for Peru.
All the above, with the exception perhaps of
Mr.. Davis, are most decidedly ministerial in their
views, and, after their nomination, no one doubt
ed that they would be chosen at the general cleo
ton.
On Thursday or Friday last an Independent
ticket was nominated, with very slight hopes of
being successful, owingto the influence which the
Government had heretofore had in the elections.
However, by the choice of active canvassers. this
ticket has been elected by a small majority, as
will be seen by the vote below:
James I. Dowsett, independently 1,13e
Paul +. Manini, l,129
John Hammond, " 1,O55
l. Kahai, 1.O95
The following is the vote on the ministerial
ticket, which has been defeated
John Ii, 965
Vim. Webster, q69
Robert G. Davis. 975
j. W. Z. Maikai, 975
The average majority of the independent ticket
is 1872. The total number of votes polled was
2,111, which is less than at the last general cleo
ton, two years since. Owi-g to the strong
efforts made by the friends of the different candi-
dates, a good deal of interest was manifested in
the election. Six or seven wagons, with flags,
fife and drums, were kept in constant service,
bringing in the voters from the outer limits of
the district. Less than the usual disturbance in
cident to election days occurred, and the polls
appeared to be conducted with fairness, and with
less official interference than usual. But it was
amusing to see the lodges to which the Hawaiians
would resort to get a vote in. One chap
came up to vote the government ticket, saying he
had voted the opposition, and thought they would
like the other ticket now. A boy came up to
vote, a minor, and said he was married and had
a right to serve his country at the polls. But
the best joke was, our friend Captain W
marched up and declared that he could swear
that he had resided here three months, and COM
manded a Hawaiian vessel, the Faith.
The result of this election is as gratifying as it
was unexpected. We do not contend that the
ticket elected presents any strong display of legis-
lative talent, indeed the ministerial ticket has all
the advantage in this respect, each individual on
it having sat in the house of representatives one
or more sessions, and become familiar with the
duties of a representative. But, notwithstanding
the acknowledged superiority OF the defeated can
didates, three of them are highly Objectionable as
representatives, from the fact that they are in the
service IF the Government-an objection we have
contended against, and shall continue to do, how
ever capable the candidates may be in other
respects.
The point developed by the election is, that
the popular voice must be needed. The ministry
have heretofore had their wi way. right or
wrong, and suited their own pleasure in carrying
out or not the DEGREES of the legislature. And
though we do not expect that this year will pre-
sent a list of members free from Government
control, sufficient to exert any decided influence,
yet a beginning has been made. And the people
will wake up to see that they have constitutional
rights, which no ministry can despise.
RETURNS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS.
WAIALUA, (Oahu)S. H. Kaakua, (elected) 122