The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-12-17
Hawaiian Politics,
IS. F. Merchant. psosmbsf 4tS.T.

Is, I. Merchant December 4tn-ls
The political pot had not begun to boil
In the Hawaiian Islands at latest date
although an election for the Legislature
will be held during the first week IN Feb
ruary next. The Hawaiian Kingdom IS
not quite so big as the United States, nor
are its interests SO varied, but when 1t
comes down to Il general election 1t can
discount the great Rel ubic in intensity OF
feeling and political antipathy. Not that
there is so very much after all to battle
about, but this fact in a measure account,
for what usually takes place there. Ii
there We're 50 enough TO 90 round, leaving
q slice for another electoral picnic, IN oil
probability less interest would be taken III
the contest; but it is b cadse at best there
are only half-rations for few that stimu-
Iates hungry expectants. For be IT under
stood, every man who touches politics In
the Hawaiian Islands is, in one form or
other candidate for paid Office.
Several months ago the Opposition party
was rampant; now 1t appears TO have lost
its vitality Some of the leaders have aban-
doned the country to its fate under the
malign influence of the King and Colonel
Spreckels, taking with them, however,
large share of worldly store, acquired most
Iv in an honorable way. There is an end
of vituperating Colonel Spreckels, or sym
the Oceanic Steamships. Colonel SpreckeIs
has won every trick in the long game, and
it is the Pacific Mail Company that has
withdrawn leaving the Oceanic nag IN COM
mand of the high s, as, while h. Is adding
to the Permanent wealth and increasing the
comm, re. of tn Hawaiian Islands by max
inc Honolulu the terminus Of the Australian
Mail Service This triumph Of business
enterprise has knocked the Hawaiian OPP
1 ~ aud fhnra not
n whimper of abuse now, seeing that the
man th,v feared and traduced is master of
the situation without possibility of rivalry.
Occasionally it is true there is snarl about
the Hawaiian coinage, but Colonel Spreck-
els * sDoIcn of respectfully, the Admins
tration only being blame d. There is moth
ing now said about monopoly slavery"
or tyranny" i'll connection with Colonel
Sprsckcl's name, and to judge from the
surface, one would think the opponents of
that gentleman and of the Ministerial pol
lev were prepared to accept established
facts and make no more ado.
But this SIGN is misleading. The Oppo-
sition have been consulting and celebrating,
we have been informed by Honolulu CORES
pondents, and will declare their policy be-
times. If one may judge of 1t by the art
icIes in the Opposition press, 1t Will not
amount to anything, and the Gibson Gov
Il.
TO fear. The February election promises
to leave them with good working majority.
This Is to be hoped for, inasmuch as SHIN
ministerial majority would be an induce
ment TO the Opposition to sklrm1sh for On
onenino and block business. Everything
will DEFEND upon the ticket the Government
nuts in the field If it be good one, COM
handing respect. thu entire country, barring
n few maIcontents, will support them and
give them the needed wording force
It IS probable that the currency will hg-
ure in the next Hawaiian campaign, but as
each one of the Opposition leaders rides a
SEPARATE hobby at breakneck speed on TINS
subject it is hardly probable that any OF
them will dismount long enough TO master
the A of monetary science. ECONOMY
and retrenchment of course VIII DC au'o-
Gated. but, when it comes TO voting supplies'
the temptation to make polltlcal capital -
securing useless appropriations to benefit
D.ijIcuiar districts Will be too great to II
.,ist, an; the loudyst r,trtncher will b
iound among tn most lavish in authorizing
KIP nditur.. Such was tins case during 'he
last session Of the Legislature.
To sum up, the present Hawaiian Admin
istration has it all their own way. Nothing
has been alleged against them to create dis
trust of their honesty or ability. The Pre-
nier, Walter Gibson, is not personal favonte
with a certain class of very worthy people,
who would be puzzled to formulate their OBJ
lection to him; but outside this personal
sentiment there is no pretense that public
affairs have not been properly administered.
In short, the Administration has been
fairly successful one in the face of very un-
toward circumstances, and very often also
of unfair opposition. ,,,,,gt'it