The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-12-11
HAWAII FOR HAwAIlANs.

ties connected with the management |
of all the concerns of the nation, as
their interests, individual, social
and moral are supposed to he iden-
tilted with the development of the
country on these lines. This is one |
of the principles underlying the
public school systems Of the United
States, Germany and Great Britain
as well as Hawaii. In order that
citizen of any country can profit
ably occupy place in the indus
trial, mechanical, professional or
political sphere, he requires to be
supplied with a stock of that
" knowledge" which is power.
And not only is knowledge power,
but it is essential to promotion in
every department of industrial and
commercial life. That it is equally
indispensable to place in the poll
teal system depends partly upon
the character of the government,
but most largely upon the intelli-
gence of the people. An intelligent
constituency is not likely to elect
boor or an ignoramus as legisla-
tive representative or to any place
of trust. An intelligent voter wants
an intelligent person to whom he
may entrust his interests as a
citizen. In the same manner, a
government, desiring the permanent
welfare of the country, seeks out fit
and proper persons for the dis
charge of public duties. AS regards
the propretors of the commercial
and industrial departments of the
commonwealth, they may generally
be trusted to consult their own in
terests by securing the best labor,
the most skilled mechanics, and the
ablest clerks they can find for what
ever they may be engaged in. No
mercantile or industrial establish
ment has ever been known to pursue
the suicidal course of accepting the
services, or having accepted them,
of advancing to higher responsible
ties mechanic who is a botch or a
clerk who proves himself incompe-
tent. Promotion is in the line OF
merit in business circles. The EN-
ployee who develops capacities fol-
business is promoted, while the
botch workman is either dismissed
or set to more menial duties. A
business house that would follow
the rule of dismissing or degrading
employees for performing their
duties with credit to themselves
and profit to their employers, and
advancing bunglers to higher places
of trust, would be a very short lived
establishment.
1t is one of the standing abuses
in the politics of Hawaii as well as
other countries that the principles
which no business establishment
could survive, actually govern ap.
pointments and promotions in the
civil service. Persons are invested
with little brief authority whose
notorious incompetency would seen
to be their only recommendation
If Hawaii is to be for the Hawaiians
this state of affairs must undergo
radical reform. In Great Britain
entrance to the civil service is gen
orally well-guarded by competitiv
examinations in general scholarship
t and on specific points of informa
ton relative to the duties of tn
office sought. Civil service reform
0 too, is rapidly becoming liv
: question in the United States, an
the doctrine, To the victors belon
the spoils," has had its day, an
e will before many years, be quote
s by Fourth of July orators in Il
d same category of antiquated ide'
: with the burning of witches
d Salem. The sooner it becomes Q
!. issue in Hawaiian politics, Il
!, better for all concerned, for N
0 where is reform in this directic
:. more urgently needed.
u With respect to the industri
y phase of the subject, whether "H
n wall for the Hawaiians" will ev
G be realized truism or will fat
g into the shadowy mazes of drear
! depends entirely upon the peop
X themselves, and that more in the
J. individual than in their collecti'
n capacity. If they wish to own Il
u soil, they must set to and engal
u in agricultural labor. If they aspl
s to mechanical supremacy, there
u but one way to accomplish the
..