Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-06-13
LOCIL sELF-GOVERSMENT.

We believe in the P,1nfIpie of local
self-government. But we do not be-
lieve it can be made to serve the best
public good in this community unless
the suffrage be restricted. If we are
to be governed by men elected by un-
restricted sufferage in Honolulu we are
better off at the tender mercies of
Minister Gulick At the same time
we wish to repeat our belief in the
principle of representative, local self
government. And we cannot better
express the reasons for it than by max
ing citations from an editorial taken
from the Express of May 9th, paper
published in Granville, New South
Wales, and edited by Mr.. George b.
Davey, talented young fellow, recently
compositor on this paper. Yet that
very article points out some Of the
difficulties under which municipal self
government is constituted-even in the
free colony Of New South Wales.
few weeks ago, in dealing with the Iues-
tion of "local selfgovernment," we took
occasion TO show that communities and town.
ships could not be expected to progress in the
true sense, while our present paternal--or per.
haps we nigh, say mo,herly--system prevailed
in the conduct Of affairs. We pointed out tina,
in the rank Of progressive communities of the
colony Granville, occupied CONSPICUOUS place,
and we wrote-sin spirit in which there was
something Of foreboding "Granville mus,
have the power TO improve itself without find
ing that the ultra wires goblin bcsets it a,
every turn" The history Of our municipal in
stitu,ions is one long record Of checks, frus
trated attempts and stillborn schemes
thing ''blocked" or blasted by the 'ultra vires'
spectre. The instalmen, Of selfgovernmen
allowed to the people by the Municipalitie.
Act has been tether which permitted them to
taste bu, not to enjoy. There is defence-s
poor one, pelhaps-for policy in accordance
with which the state takes charge Of everything
The old Greek philosopher would have hat
the state regulate the Dress the reading, tn,
meals Of the people.
The Norman and the Saxon have struggled
for ages in the nature OF the policy by which
our national life has been conducted. We hav
brought into being vast "ofiicialdom" from
which--as from common centre-al tn
affairs Of the land shall be regulated, while w
have declared for corporations and distric
governments. The instalment Of local sell
government given serves but to mock US. Be
tween the government which declares IN
affair is one OF local concern, and the munici
pality which declares il has not the power
which are necessary to allow ii to move, ever
matter Of real Importance 10 district is mad
mere shuttle cock. The one side has tn
power to act, but nothing else; the other ha
everything but the power TO act. The part
which must take ac,ion--if action is to b
taken--is the party having no direct interes
in the matter, and unable to give its aiten,io
even to the whole Of its legitimate business
The party that Is warned to refrain from actio
to whom the law cries ''hands offs tn
parry which has 'liie-and death" interest i
the matter, and the one which would gladl
ac, Il wha, We lately styled the "ul,ra wire
goblin" could be got rid of