The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-02-07

The election took place on Wednesday for Repre-
sentatives Of the people in the Legislative Assembly
for 1850. There were very many candidates in the
field for Honolulu. which district, il will be re-
numbered. i by law entitled TO four members.
EARLY 10 tb- canvass two distinct tickets were
prominent among the native voters. Ou- h-aded by
Lieut.. Hoapili Baker, Of the Kings Household
Troops. and popularity known as e the Crowns
ballot and the other headed by Albert kunui-
akea. a relative OF the Queen Dowager. whose
ticket Na= known a. that OF b" Ike k-iki alii." or
the young chief
Besides John Rees. the Hawaiian Mast, four
foreigners were voted for Messrs. Dole. Sheldon,
Green and J. o. Carter.
The election was conducted very quietly-no
sights. rows or drunkenness, such as too often
characterize elections in countries supposed to be
more civilized than this. S~peecb-making was
largely INDUCED in by candidates and their run
ners. in which. aside from the usual amount Of
nonsense and buneombe. there were a good many
plain truths spoken about the influences Of power
and place brought to bear In favor Of certain can
didates. The necessity for recording this fact is
to be regretted. but this is one Of that sort Of
truths that IL Is useless to try to conceal.
The tricks and Jobbery Of partisansbip so com
mon at election times in other countries, are not
unknown in Hawaii nei. but take different forms.
A large canvas tent was erected in the lot adjacent
to the polling place, to which. by printed poster,
all voters were invited to come and fill their bel
lies. This invitation pnrported to come from a
number Of the candidates-prominently two for
eigners - who generously and disinterestedly
spread this free lunch for the dear people.
1t was reported that. although all the licensed
liqaor shops were strictly closed during the day,
yet that a drink OF Hawaiian rum could be bad by
all who would promise to vote a certain ticket.
Some amusing scenes occurred at aud about the
polls, illustrating quite foreibly the absurdly
childish nature Of our laws respecting the exercise
OF the right to vote. Well-known residents whose
legal right to the franchise was undoubted, were
deprived of that right by some small technically.
II took all the time and close attention of u small
army Of : Inspectors of Election" and clerks to
scent out these Ted-tape technicalities. On an
average, about two minutes were taken up in the
case of each voter-arst. to scan his tax receipt;
second. to know in what subdivision of the town
he resided third. whether his name was on the
published list. After all the questioning and an
swering had been gone through with, it was not at
all surprising that the bewildered voter-after the
official had politely relieved him of his ballot
looked blankly about for more questions. and had
to be told by an attendant policeman, armed with
a brightly vanished - billy" to go about his
business.
In 1878 the candidate receiving the highest number
of voters was David Malo, who got 1076. In the pre-
sent election Mr.. Albert Kuuuiakea got 643-quite a
falling of.
The following is the official return for this city:
a. Kunuiakea..- elected -....--..-.-.64
4. h. Lilkalant. .---62O
R.Hoapti
4 The result, it must be acknowledged, is a hui
miliating one. Honolulu has declared, by the
vote Of its people,, that so far as its voice goes. the
policy Of the government Of the future is to be
unlimited immigration Of Chinese, and an unlinl-
tied borrowing Of money on government account.
That was the declared programme OF the now Hon
Orable Messrs. Hoapili Baker and Lilikalani. Mr..
Kunuiakea, we believe, had no special programme.
He owes his seat to very peculiar influences. His
case is one that requires to be handled with gloves.
Ver6un sap. Mr.. Keau, the fourth representative
from HonOlulu, is a distinguished nobody.
Those foreigners who did their duty to themselves
and the country Of their adoption by going to
the polls and voting for the men of their choice,
will understand US when We characterize as lag
CARDS and traitors those who stayed away. Proper
exertion on their part could have saved the capital
city Of The realm the seat Of the wealth and intel
ligence Of the c~Ountry-from the disgrace which it
must now bear by being so sadly misrepresented
in the councils OF the nation.
~ 49, Ill -.,- -