The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-07-11
ABOUT INCONSISTENCY.

Ahc ouilSttu dLteulptS III latS
issue to convict the ADVERTISER Of
Inconsistency in its attitude toward
the National Party. 1t seems that
we held that party a few days
since for rabble which intended
to smash up everything and ruin
everybody" and that we admit
that many of its elected members
are ''honest and patriotic"
The inconsistency exists only in
the imagination of the Bulletin and
very likely of many who read but
do not reflect. We have always
admitted that many members of
the National Party were personally
both honest and patriotic, though
we have believed and still believe
its alliance with the Bush Wilcox
faction was politically immoral and
disgraceful. 1t is easy to find pre-
cisely similar situations elsewhere.
President Harrison, for instance.
may be a perfectly honest man.
But his alliance with Matt Quay
and his failure to disavow and de-
nounce him, is politically immoral
and dlsgraceful. 1t would be easy
to multiply parallels.
AS to our belief that the National
Party was rabble intending to
smash up everything, it may be
said that we do not remember ever
characterizing the party in that
way. There was and is an element
in the party plainly wearing that
character. There is q " Doodle u
element. There is a very strong
re-actionary element. There is a
progressive and reliable element
We did not pretend to know which
of these elements would prevail
The reactionaries were not merely
numerically by far the strongest
but the noisiest and the most self
asserting of their party. They
made themselves heard in the
press and on the stump, while tht
progressive wing was suspiciously
silent. 1t would have been no won
der if We had, under these circum
stances, ascribed too much import
ance to the re-actionary orators
and writer's who made the melklr
ring with their cries. We were
not in the confidence of the leaders
of the party and could not know
how far they intended to give tn,
cold shoulder to the allies who haC
helped them to their seats.
We are happy to note tina
our worst fears have no
been realized, and that tn,
National party, while making ant
likely further to make, danger
Gus concessions to the reactionary
elements with which it is so exten
sively permeated, yet does not seen
at present to be dominated by thos
elements. The ratios of importanc,
seem to be inversely as they were
prior to and during the election
The respectable element, happil,
for the country, has come some
what more to the front. Mr.. Busl
doubtless feels himself betrayed
and none can blame him. But witt
the very doubtful morality of hi
partys treatment of him and hi
following we have nothing to dc
We are very glad to- see his dis
comiture and are very willing t
leave the means to the tough pol
; teal consciences of the Nations
party.
That there has been this virtua
shifting of the center of gravity i
the party since the election, seem
almost too clear for discussion
The formation of the present Mir
istry is palpable demonstrate
{ of it. The composition of the Mil
istry is an obvious concession t
, the Reform party. 1t does nc
command the approval of the Who'll
National party, and could not e,
ist without the support of Reforl
votes, votes which we believe wi
be freely given, if, as we hope an
expect, the Ministry make a goo
record.
SUPREME COURT-JULY TERM
l MR.. JUSTICE DOLE, PRESIDING.