The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-01-11
MONDAY
OPPOSITION METHODS.

The Opposition, having become des-
perate, resorts to all kinds of devices to
influence opinion. Among these is abuse
and caIumny OF the Kings Ministers upon
occasions when the speakers cannot be
aiken to task, and when they think
their malignant falsehoods will not
reach the ears of the men who are
abused by them in their absence. Such
an occasion was the Sunday School fes-
tival at Molokai. But the slanderous
utterances used upon that occasion by
the political tramps have been reported,
and viii not pass unchallenged when the
time comes for rejoinder.
Another OF the Opposition methods is
to adopt the electioneering tactics which
rendered Irish landlordism Infamous,
and a synonym for tyranny in all free
communities. The agents of Irish land
lords, armed with wallets of notices to
quit, marched the unfortunate tenants
up to the poll, and compelled them to
vote for their task-masters' nominees
under pain of eviction. And the mana
gers OF sugar plantations in this consti-
tutional Kingdom of Hawaii, who repre-
sent an Opposition proprietary, are using
their position in an equally high
handed manner, to prevent a free
expression of opinion at the polls,
by corrupt interference with the
right of suffrage. The taxes of voters
employed on these plantations have been
paid by the managers, and the receipts
retained to put into the hands of their
labor serfs when they are driven to the
polls TO vote on election day. This is
done by men who claim to be respect
able and law-abiding taxpayers o. the
Kingdom, although it is striking at the
foundation OF all law by an open attack
upon the lawmaking power This is
not an idle statement. 1t is fact sus-
ceptible of proof, not in one but in several
cases. The law is slow, however, but as
retributive justice has overtaken Irish
landlords, SO will the law reach and
humiliate, if it does not adequately pun
islI, the men who are now trampling I'M
derfoot the constitutional guarantee OF
good government-a fair and free ballot.
Another Opposition method is to steal
letters addressed to prominent members
of the Government party and use them
for political purposes. A case in point
may be cited, although it is by no means
a solitary instance. We refer to the
letter signed "Kikaha," which appeared
in Saturdays Bulletin . translated from
the Opposition paper "Pae Alma" 1t is
attributed to Mr. F. H. Hayselden, and
alIudes to the wholesale attempt by
what may be styled Opposition planta-
tions, to control the election by buying
tax.receipts. 1t gives proper and lawful
advice, namely, that in all such cases
duplicate tax receipts may be issued to
the taxpayers. upon the production OF
which an independent vote may be cast.
But this letter never reached its destina-
ton. 1t found its way to the unscrupu-
lous Opposition managers, who appa-
rently do not object tp a felony, which
abstracting letter from the Post Office
undoubtedly is. AS we have said, how
ever. this case is not singular. 1t shows
to what straits the Opposition is put, and
to what extremes its managers are pre-
pared to go to gain their ends; but even
this viii not save their party, although it
may land some of their tools where they
should go themselves-on the reef.