The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-03-06
7 FL e
THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL POLL
TICS.

The public have been informed that the
advocates of organic change" will not
discuss the Constitutional questions raised
by the ADVERTISER, but will take an
early occasion "to discuss the facts upon
which the fundamental law rests, and to
specially analyze and criticise the pres
ent fundamental law of Hawaii, after
comparing it with the dictates of justice,
the wants of the people and the actions OF
the present Government under it." In
other words, the country is to be di-
verted from the pressing needs of indus
trial development by an active ventila-
ton of political theories, which can have
little or no direct bearing upon the es-
tabIished principles of Government in
this country. For veal or woe these
principles are fixed. They have been
accepted in good faith by the Great
Powers and the world at large, and it is
the part of wisdom and good citizenship
to make the best of existing conditions.
There is a great work to be accomplished
In this country if its inhabitants would
only unite in doing it. The waste places
ara to be occupied by an intelligent,
Iaw-abiding people. To that end the
"haroic work of colonization is to be
promoted. Internal communication is
to be improved. Interisland trade is to
be developed The water supply of the
country is to be utilized to the utmost,
and this can only be accomplished after
scientific investigation and research.
New industries are to be established and
fostered. Trade and navigation should
be freed from all unnecessary trammels.
Honolulu should be made a free port, its
entrance deepened and craving dock
of large dimensions constructed to equip
it properly for the commanding CONNER
cial position it occupies in the North Pa
cific. The sanitation of the city should
be rendered az perfect as possible. The
Islands Of the group should be connected
with the capital city by cable, and a
complete system of railroad and tramways
should be projected and carried out by
degrees, as money is found, to meet the
growing requirements of the country for
cheap and rapid internal transportation.
These are a few OF the things which
should engage the attention OF the in
habitants Of this Kingdom, more es-
pecially men of property who have large
stakes in it. If the definition of the OPP
position in its morning organ recently
be correct that is, the taxpayers and
people who really represent the wealth
and worth of Hawaii"-these and
kindred projects for the public good
should engage its undivided attention.
These questions come under the head OF
practical politics. Instead OF this, how
ever. we are threatened with discus
sion of political the6GIesf which can profit
nothing. The Constitu] ion viii remain
;,ast as it is after these writers have ex-
hausted their ingenuity upon it, and
''the facts upon which it is based" viii
not have changed one iota. The Con-
stitution prescribes the method by which
amendments to it may be made. Out
side of these lawful means any organic
or other change of the fundamental law
must be brought about by violence; in
other words, by revolution. Of course,
II is absurd to speak of revolutionary
methods in this connection. In all
kindliness, therefore, we would impress
mon the "Wealth and worth of Hawaii, y
who are alleged to constitute the Oppo-
s;tion. that they should devote their
energies to the elaboration of plans for
the public good and their own individual
henafst and not waste their strength
anon the propagation of barren ideas.