The Hawaiian gazette., 1877-04-25

ed from the mists of barbarism, with universal
manhood suffrage. This gift was not made in
response to any solicitation on the part OF Its
recipients; on the contrary, events proved
them to be so untitled for its exercise that
subsequent King, with higher appreciation
of the value and responsibilities of suffrage,
felt compelled to make a retrograde step, and
coniine the privilege within narrower bounds.
And we may mention here, as illustrative OF
the popular apathy on this subject, that this
unconstitutional act was received almost with
out murmur of INTERPRETATION from the body
of electors.
The great objection in England to universal
suffrage is thus stated by Mr.. Mill, who asks:
why is nearly the whole educated class
united in uncompromising hostility to pure
ly Democratic suffrage? Not so much be
cause it would make the most numerous
class, that of manual laborers the strongest
power; Lhat many of the educated classes
would think only Just. 1t is because it would
make them the sole power, because in every
constituency the votes of that class would
swamp and politically annihilate all other
members of the community taken together
Is not this exactly our situation, even under
the slight limitations imposed on suffrage by
the present Constitution The educated "
classes here are in effect completely disfran-
chsed, and are compelled to resort to other
means besides that of electoral suffrage, to
exercise any influence in public affairs. We
Think We may assert that were 1t not for the
influence which the educated classes are en-
abled to exert in political aft hrs here through
the presence of their representatives among
the Mobiles, as well as b. means OF those i'll
direct influences which superiority in mental
T attainments always give, state OF affairs
would ere now have resulted which would
have been intolerable to the leading interests
of the country, and perhaps subversive of its
independence The present state of things is
undesirable. To use once more the words of
John Stuart Mill, A person who is excluded
, from all participation in political business is
not a citizen" And such is the condition of
the educated classes of Hawaii. They are in
the minority in every electoral district in the
Kingdom, and consequently under our present
system are in effect DISTINGUISHED.
1t will be asked what remedy there is for
these evils, and in reply we would say that
the plan proposed by Mr.. Thomas Hare, of
, England, for a representation of minorities,
offers simple aid complete remedy. He
declares that "the problem of constitutional
organism is, in what manner the individuals
composing the entire community are to be
, classed, so that no opinions or interests shall
be unheard, or extinguished in representa-
tion," and he quotes with approval the sen;i-
, ment of Guizot, that 'the object of represen-
, tative government is to examine publicly the
J great interests and diverse opinions which,
, while dividing society, seek to overcome each
other, in the just confidence that out of their
debates will grow the knowledge and adop-
ton of those laws and measures which best
conduce to the interests of the country. This
object is only attained by the triumph of a
true majority, the minority constantly being
, present and heard. If the majority be dis
placed by artitce, the result is falsehood. If
the minority be excluded from the discussion,
r it is an oppression. In either case the prin-
ciple of representative government is cor
rupted."
Charles Bradlaugh, an eminent and radical
reformer in England, says, seven if universal
suffrage were obtained, the people should
know that a permanent and progressive de :
mocracy can only subsist usefully by permit
ting its opponents to be heard in the national
deliberative assembly. Mr.. Hare's plan per
mits mnorities, and even comparatively small
ones, to send their representatives to the
, assembly, thus afforiing every interest a
chance to be heard in its own behalf Princi-
Piles are represented rather than places thus
the adoption of the system here could not fail
of producing a marked change for the better
in the complexion of our Legislature, and
would, as we firmly believe, guarantee the
pcrpetuity of the elective franchise among
the masses. We shall give next week the de-
c tails of the plan.