The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-09-18

probably still less considered. The issue
with them is wholly local and its inter
national aspect is of no value.
The effect on US OF possible reduction
of sugar duties in the United States,
leads to thoughts of the great contest
now going on in that country. One in
voluntarily asks, "What does it mean pr
when reading the papers. 1t seems in
credible that old party affiliations should
be strong enough to keep the lines dis
tinctly marked as Republican and DEM
0cratic, for they are the two great parties
still The candidate of one will become
the next President. The issues which
existed, prior to the war and even to
Hayes term are all dead. 1t is no
longer a question OF slavery, actual or in
theory, nor Of reconstruction, nor OF the
supremacy OF any specified portion OF the
Union. The questions connected with
States rights are practically dead and
buried. When tappeAed that Congress
was in danger OF too great Capitalization,
that the reserved powers of the several
States were disregarded or overridden
by laws passed during the sessions i'm
mediately following the war, the SUI
preme Court, composed OF Judges from
the same political party as that control
ling Congress. stepped in and limited
the operation of these laws, or pro-
nounced them in conflict with the Con-
stitution. These questions are for ever
and safely at rest. 1t may be asserted
that no great political question now dis
turbs the country; the interests which are
now uppermost and commanding are COM
mercial, not political except collaterally.
The tariff administrative reform, the re-
construction OF the revenue system, are
the matters exciting earnest discussion
and on which voters are in reality to
take sides. The attempt is made to
cover these issues by the strictly party
press. The party bosses are trying to
whip in voters on purely party lines.
When the Republican nomination was
made, some OF the papers and old war
horses attempted to create such cam
paigu as that which elected General
Harrison in 1910, when 'Tippecanoe
and Tyler too" was yelled by half of the
population who had no idea what they
meant. At that time q considerable por-
ton Of the people OF the country spent
great deal of time singing and repeating
the most absurd doggerel, and eating
roast OK, marching in professions, car
rying torches and drinking hard cider.
The New York Tribune of the past few
weeks has printed stuff arranged in me-
trio form, the inanity OF which would
make a school boy blush. Yet it is ex-
pected that this doggerel will catch
voters for Harrison. One wants to know
who they can be, for it is popularity sup
posed that the United States is peopIed
by a race Of more than ordinary intelli-
gence and superior to all shams. The
Nation says that this style of election
campaign is falling fiat and that its re-
action will hurt more than any good
hoped for. At least this is comforting to
those who believe in the innate good
sense and intelligence OF the mother
country, for America Is the mother
country Of very many Of Us. In order to
carry the election next November, the
solid body OF voters must be convinced
Of the honesty and soundness both o.
principles and men. 1t IS q very great
that so far nothing amiss has
been discovered concerning Harrison's
infancy and boyhOod, or the Democratic
press would ring with terrific tales of
his deprayity. This string having been
pulled by the Republican press regard
Ing Cleveland in 1854 TIL il broke, Of
course It is not available now. 4 clergy
man in Connecticut started most har-
rowing tale about CIeyeIand's domestic
life, but was sat upon with such sum
mary vigor that he gasped for breath,
and promised to vote the Dem
oeratic ticket. Details ike this make up
q gUod deal Of 2 campaign, but the pro-
politicians keep the thing boil
ing for purely personal reasons. If this
person could be eliminated from Polifi-s,
they would be cleaner and the real wants
Of the people and their beliefs would find
quicker and truer expression. Until
this i brought about civil service reform
and much else Of improvement in the
nations system Of Laws aud OF policy
viii be kept hack Meantime the
.0oker-oa, observing the tremendous en-
srg devoted to politics BY sixty millions
if people asks with amazement what