The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-11-24

Ok the first Wednesday of next Febru-
8ry-less than three months hence-the
general elections take place The wonder
Is, that with all the machinery in the hands
OF the Government, an independent candi-
cate is ever returned Probably in no
other country. making any pretentions to
representative government, would such an
extraordinary state Of affairs be tolerated,
as exists here Sherlffs, Judges and other
officers in the pay Of the Government, are
not only permitted TO present themselves
as candidates, but are put in Office on the
understanding that they will stand for
election, pledged, OF course, TO support the
Government The Hawaiian mas not been
slow 10 learn that the innocent little ballot
Is a power, that enough of them will secure
good many pleasant little things besides
a salaried office Why should it be ex-
pccted that a voter. whose immediate fore
| fathers were savages, and whose blood
and tissue. with the attendant intellect
does not represent ages of growth into
! freedom, should jealously guard his ballot
TO see that no power Is exerted only for
what is right? 1t Is quite natural to ex
pect. and we find that the ordinary Ha
waiian voter regards his franchise as Of
light yalue- and readily votes for the man
Of most persuasive power The ''persua-
sive power" OF the resident magistrate,
police officer, tax collector or assessor. it is
needless TO say, Is most potent. All know
that this power is fully exercized, and
more than ever before, since the accession
OF Kalakaua TO the throne Whether it is
dangerous TO the public security and well
being. the record Of past Legislatures too
well shows.
l. nothing to be done to bring about a
change in the complexion of the Degisla
tive body? The question often asked is,
can ANYTHING be done7 The answer is.
something can and ought to be done 1t
must be done by those who are most in
terested in the general welfare of the
country. The man who pays most taxes,
and whose property is locked up in the
soil OF the land has the most at stake.
Many OF these. cannot vote, and probably
never can, because of the present law re
garding naturalization, which was made
to prevent, rather than to facilitate an in
crease Of citizenship. But all of these
people have a direct and positive influence
which can and should be brought to bear
on the voter. Ii Is a mistake to suppose
that the planter and property owner has
no influence The Hawaiian knows and
realizes very well that his present pros
porous condition Is owing TO the industry
which penetrates every corner of our little |
State. II only needs direct and positive |
action on the part of the planters and |
Others who are scattered all over the coun |
Try. 10 produce beneficial results in the |
elections. Something Is said occasion
ally Of race prejudice. and au antago- |
nism between the capitalist aud labor, but |
comes from that source which hopes to |
10 control the election on behalf of the |
office holder. and in favor of Capitalization |
and one man power. The planter, the |
lawyer. the merchant. the mechanic does |
not want office. He is content with his |
private independence But he is very |
much interested IN seeing that the Gov |
erument Is properly conducted that all of |
Its transactions are carefully scrutinized /
and analyzed. by capable and independent |
men, that the list Of expenses for the fu
ture IS a reasonable one that it looks to
something besides the payment of an enor-
nous salary list, that IL contemplates in
ternal improvement and development of
national resources that Hawaii modestly
occupy its little position, and cease pos
turing before the amused and derisiye ma
tons Of the globe. There is only one
thing the Government if it conducts pub
lie affairs improperly fears, and that is a
and independent Legislature
And 1t is only such an assembly which
ever ought TO meet TO transact the public
business. To get it, you. readers Of this
paper must work, and that carefully. wisely
md for the common good.