The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-01-06
- Project.

Prom the fact that the opening discussion In Con-
gress has been on the subject 81 the purchase 81 tho
telegraph lines q the country by the Government.
the chances are that some more than ordinarily pow
erful effort 20 effect that change, viii be- wade this
Winter. The force of the example set by England
has, O. all appearances. been Zoo strong 10 be resisted.
The Peep started into a motion will blindly make a
spring at the precise point where the bcll-wether
jumped, though the obstruction may have been re-
moved. We believe, aud VIC have no objection 10 adj
nit the fact, that the assumption % the control ~
the telegraph lines by the Government has worked
vel in England. We h5ld at the same time. how
ever. that this Is no argument why NC shoald pursue
the same course, for the simple reason that this ~
not England. .
Ne have no royal sud Interchangeable Government
here. We have no hereditary aristocraoy. On the
contrary VIC have a form Of Government which. la
order 60 keep in full accord with the wishes % tho
masses. is constantly renewing itself To give a
Government Of the latter description the control 81
that means Of communication by which the ears Of
the masses can be most readily and speedily reached
Is 10 encourage it 10 prolong its own existence to
strive after permanence and independent function,
and 60 bloom forth in time into monarchy.
In all matters which have even the remotest con-
nection with politics. we are always compelled 20
take the very lowest view. for the reason that there
Is and can be no certainty in any Office 81 an uu-
broken chain Of faithful and conscientious public ser
wants. We have in such cases always 10 make provl-
sion against the bad. corrupt, ambitious man who
may, ct some time ia the future, manage TO creep
into power. Thus while we do not believe that any
danger 10 the liberties Of the people might result
from the assumption Of the control Of the telegrAphic
wires by any administration likely 20 attain power
during the next quarter Of n century, yet we cannot
shut cur eyes TO tho fact that at some time mea
might be ia possession Of the reins Of Government
who would not scruplc AZ using the means placed at
their hands by the eugrafting Of the Geographic sys-
TEN Of the country upon the Post Office FOR the con-
tiuuauce Of themselves in power.
Though the mail aud telegraph appear 10 be cog
nate services, yet il will be found that they are very
dissimilar, especially when considered with reference
10 Government. In the mail, scaled letters and
packages are conveyed The Government has no
right 10 obtain any knowledge as to the nature OF the
communications kept mp, except in case Of civil war
and danger 10 the whole country. The telegraph IL
a totally different affair. The messages sent are all
open. They have signatures, IL Is true. but sigma
lures which cannot be verified like those nppendcdto
a letter. There will always then be an opportunity
for the dissemination Of false news, and for general
deception, 50 long as telegraphiBg exists in its prce-
ent state. A President Of the United States. bent
upon continuing himself in Office. could carry out his
ambition d thousand times easier aud more surely
with the Geographic system Of the country under his
thumb than with an army at his back. The army
we could confront and possibly make short work Of.
but what Roadway could be made against systemauc
lying, for the detection Of which no opportunity was
furnished.
The telegraph is the means by which the masses
are enabled 70 think simultaneously. In n free
country il should be free. Least of all, should any
interference on the part Of .he Government with II be
permitted. We can, without much effort Of the i'm
aginatioD, call up the use that would have been made
Of such an %enginery during the semi-royal progresses
Of Mr.. Andrew johnson, facetiously termed by n free
but irreyercnt press % swinging around the circle
We should have heard Of ovations and screaming en-
thusiasm, without n chance Of n statement Of the real
fact till the slower mail came to hand. The tradi-
tiOnal seven-league boots Of falsehood would be en-
dOwed with quadTuple powers Of losomotion. Steam
would never be able to catch up with the lightning
LHIa.