The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-12-08

OPPOSITION TACTICS.

The organs Of the Independent Oppo-
sition" are very touchy if the methods of
their party are explained to the native
people. A cry is forthwith set up that a
bad feeling is being created between the
native and foreign elements of the pop
ulation; but these very organs do not
hesitate to make the most insulting APP
peals to the foreign element to override
native Hawaiians in their lawful and
constitutional rights.
For example, a placard calling pub
lie meeting of the voters of Honolulu for
Wednesday night at the Armory, has
been made the pretext for gross attack
upon native voters and the native people
generally, and the financial status of the
four Hawaiian voters signing it is insult
ingly alluded to. These tactics may
serve the purpose of the independent
Opposition but it strikes us very forci-
bly, that it is playing with edge-toOls. If
it be wise son that knows his own
father, so is he a rich man whose debts
are paid; and il this campaign should
degenerate into an investigation of the
private resources of individuals, it
il within the range of possibility that
some of those who speak contemptuously
ST I the fn4siFat 57g 6te 81 the RR1f era 81
q very small horn. If the leaders of the
Opposition would take word of advice
from US, we would suggest that this line
of personal attack should be abandoned,
and that the campaign issues be kept
close to public questions and the acts of
the Government, the members of which
are undoubtedly on their trial before the
electorate of the Kingdom, just as all
representative governments are upon
trial at general election.
We are not interested to know the
banking account of any man for political
purposes, and we do not think this is
matter which concerns any one but the
Individual and his creditors; but we do
hold that it is the right and the duty of
candidates for the Legislature tomeet and
address the electors. 1t does not follow
that they must therefore necessarily be
elected, but wholesome public opinion is
created by public discussion. For this rea-
son we regard the attack upon the con-
veners of the meeting in question as
eminently uncalled for and improper.
Still more uncalled for and improper,
if possible, is the attempt to draw asharp
line of demarcation between the voters
and taxpayers, claiming nearly all of
the latter for the Independent Oppo-
sition." As a matter of fact, in proper
ton to their numbers and individual
property held by them, the natives con-
tribute more to the public revenue than
foreign taxpayers do, and it is not so
many years ago that the dog and horse
tax, chiefly paid by the native people,
equalled the taxes paid upon realty in
the Kingdom. These conditions have
happily changed, and although the ma
tive people still contribute largely to the
revenue In direct taxes and through the
Custom House as consumers of imports,
the aggregate wealth in the hands of
foreign residents and their agents greatly
exceeds that in native hands. Never
theless, the disparity is not nearly so
great as one might be led to suppose
after reading the reckless statements in
Opposition prints.
If the Opposition can prove malfeas-
anee and misrule by the present Adj
ADMINISTRATION, as alleged, let them bring
forward their proof; but vague assertion
is not proof, and in the end it will only
hurt the cause in whose behalf it is
made. We defy the Opposition to prove
a single allegation against the Govern
ment; We defy them to substantiate a
single charge of the multifarious ones
put in print against them for political
ends. If they do not bring forward their
proofs after this challenge let them forth
with change their methods, and show
that they deserve public confidence by
policy which this country
might be prepared to indorse.