The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-11-18
Opinion by Proxy.

A long list of names said to be of parties who
endorsed certainpolitical opinions were embodied
in q memorial lately presented to the King.
This long list included the names of nearly every
planter in the Kingdom, and is declared to repre-
sent a decided opposition to the present admins
tration of public affairs. This is a fraudful rep
resentation as we will show. A large number of
the persons whose names are there enumerated
were not present at the meeting which authorized
the memorial. The absentees were addressed by
the Secretary of the Planters company, desir-
ing to know in case they would not be present, if
he or some one else might not act as proxy.
These absent parties, as well as many others in
town at the time, considered that the authorize
ton by proxy did not mean anything more than
a permission in the way of business to vote any
needed measure or assessment of money con-
nected with the actual business of the company.
The company obtained q charter solely for pro-
noting the great industry of planting. 1t will
not be supposed fora moment that shareholders
of any industrial company who permit another
to act as proxy for them in the way of business,
would grant authority to dictate their political
opinions. Will anyone say that any power of at
torney should warrant the agent of q mans
property to record his vote on political matters,
even If the law permitted ii, the said agent not
having the slightest knowledge of his clients po-
litical opinion ? This was done in the case of
the memorial. Names were arrayed of persons
said to endorse certain opinions when we know
thatthey are decidedly averse to any such ex-
preston. And, furthermore, such a presenta-
ton of names, as an evidence of united opinion
on public questions is untruthful in other re-
spects. The names of plantations are mentioned,
and at the same time names of individuals who
are proprietors of these plantations are re-
peated, as additional endersers. Also there is
another point to consider, that of financial, or
commercial obligations, or the relation of agent
and planter as determining opinions on public
questions. A large number of planters are de-
pendent for advances or for accommodation in
some other shape on a few moneyed parties.
Now if it should happen that these moneyed
men were in opposition to the Government, and
they should ask for a show of hands in accord
ance with their views, of what value would be
the show of hands of a number of men under
obligations, under such circumstances ? None
whatever. The only way to get at the true opin-
ions of men without fear or favor is by an indie
pendent ballot. 1t is all very well for a company
of shareholders to transact their business by
vote according to proportion of stock, but when
such an organization resolves itself to decide on
questions of public policy, and public men in
which the whole nation is concerned, then such
company, like any other assemblage of citizens,
must show its true political attitude by the I'M
biassed individual vote of each of its members.
Hence the alleged u~nanimity of Planters as SET
forth in a recent memorial, is a fraud.