The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-11-30

The election of members for the next
Legislature viii soon be taking place, the
tax collectors receipts are in the hands of
tax payers, and doubtless large numbers
of them will soon be in the pockets of in
tending candidates, in accordance with
most reprchensible custom, as we consider
it to be, and which the electors of this
kingdom have suffered to grow up until it
is widely believed among the natives to be
the only lawful way for voter to prove
his identity, and the due payment of his
taxes according to the provisions of the
Constitution. This we need not say is n
mistake. The proper person to produce
an official document proving the right of
any citizen TO vote at an election, Is un-
doubtedly the voter himself and he should
never lend, sell or mortgage such docu-
ment. When once this has passed out of
the possession of voter and into that of
candidate the former is practically re-
stricted in his choice, he is in q sense
mortgaged to the holder OF his paper,
and that perhaps months before the poll
ing day comes round. How injurious to
public interest this system is, must be
plain TO any one who will take the trouble
to think the matter over. Immediately
the taxes are paid and the receipts given,
intending candidates eommeuce to collect
the proofs of the complete qualification
of the voter. Specious promises, hatter
ing language, few dollars, or feast, or
n drink may cause careless or thought
less voter to commit himself almost irre-
trievably. regardless of possible events of
great public import which may come to
pass, mighty questions which may yet
come forward for discussion, fresh candi
dates who may urge their claims during
the interval.
In electioneering, as in many other mat
ters, it is the early bird who gets the most
worms, and already the collectors of tax
receipts are abroad. We earnestly advise
all voters to keep their tax papers in their
own hands, and to carefully study the
necessities of the coming session, to make
up their minds what it is they want, and
who are the best men for helping to bring
it about To intending candidates we
would say, it is time Roo to be up and do
ing. let us see who we are to be invited to
entrust with the important functions of a
representative, who are the men and what
are the measures they promise to help
forward. The coming session will be most
assuredly one of vital Importance to the
well being of this kingdom, and it is
the plain duty of every one, from the great
merchants of the capital to the fisherman
IN lis canoe, and the cultiyator in his taro
patch that he be properly represented.
Another consideration which should never
be lost sight of is that the good or evil to
be effected by representatives, soon to be
elected, may not be measured by the do
ings of the coming session only, but for
two years they must decide on every ques-
ton which the Constitution declares is to
be decided by the Legislature. Since the
return of His Majesty an attempt has been
made to re-assemble the house of 1880, for
what purpose is best known to those who
favored the project. For our part our
recollections of the last session do not in
cline us to wish for any more such handi
work. When we have a now House there
will be plenty of earnest work to be done,
such as may well tax the energies and
abilities of the best representatives that
can be had.
It IS not our purpose in this article to
recur once more to the lamentable absence
of organization and unity of action which
goes so far to paralyze the efforts of those
who wish to see a trustworty, respectable
House of Representatives we have often
written on this subject and may do so
again. our object at present is to remind
the various constituencies what an i'm
portant work is before them, and to en-
treat them to undertake it in thoughtful
spirit. recognizing the vastness of the in
terests they are about to confide to their
guidance, and the power for good or evil
they are about to confer on those whom
they elect to represent them in the legis-
lature of the next two years.
We wish the papers in the native Ian
guage would call the attention of the ma
tive voters to the suicidal folly of parting
with their tax receipts, and thus in way
DISTINGUISHING themselves. Let them seek
out representative whom they can trust,
who viii endeavor to forward all measures
conducive to the good of the common
wealth and oppose all mischievous pro
posals, come they whence they may, candi-
dates who seek a sphere of honest useful
ness to their country, not those whose
object is so much salary, and possibly
place; but those who will not listen to
twaddle about an arsenal at Lanai, or a
bior orr1n IN pupehbovr1