The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-02-18

recollection of every one who fol
lowed with any interest the events of
the last Presidential campaign.
Dudley wrote a letter to one of his
intimates, recommending him to
march the (purchesed) voters up to
the polls in "blocks of five" so that
none should escape. This letter fell
into the hands of the New York
Times which promptly published it,
creating naturally a considerable
sensation thereby. The occasion was
critical one, and Colonel Dudley as
campaign bluff, entered a suit
against the Times which of course
was dropped as soon as the election
was over.
An investigation of the matter has
lately been begun, on the part of the
Democrats. The attitude of prom
inent Republican Senators furnishes
sad illustration of the condition of
parties in the United States, and
show how the atmosphere of political
life lowers the ideals, deteriorates
the moral tone, and causes the finest
conscience to lose its edge. Senator
Edmunds is one of the most eminent
members of the Republican party,
eminent not merely by his shining
abilities, but by his high character
and clean record as well. And yet
Senator Edmunds instead of being
as one might expect, Jealous to con
denim the crime of which Dudley has
been guilty, is Jealous to extenuate,
to palliate, to excuse and cover up
his offence. The mere circumstance
that Colonel Dudley and Senator
Edmunds are of the same political
faith, has more weight in determin-
ing the Senator's course than any
thing which the interest of the pub
lie, the need of purity and efficiency
in the public service, than anything
in fact which Mr.. Edmunds' own pri-
vate conscience can suggest. Surely,
this is deplorable state of affairs.
Every honest man in politics has the
same interest in establishing and
preserving honesty in public life, the
same interest in condemning and
Furnishing fraud. The interests of
the nation in every such case, as in
every case, should override every
consideration of party.
The case is a typical one in the
United States, typical both in its
facts and in the attitude of public
men with regard to it. More than
this it tends to become typical in
every country where free govern
ment, and hence political parties, ex-
lists at all.
Government by parties, as has
been we'll remarked, is a necessary
evil. The party becomes a fetish,
and in this capacity is bowed down
to by thousands of worshipers to the
detriment of their Judgment, their
reason and their conscience. The
interests of the nation are subordi-
mated to those of the party, or rather
in theory identified with it through
compromise in which the nation
makes all the concessions, the party
none. The adherents of the party
begin to glorify their idol, and, by
implication, themselves. Wisdom
shall die with us is the burden of
their refrain, and salvation too. In
dependence becomes a crime aud
is decryed, shouted down, mobbed.
The Independent in politics is treat
ed like the skeptic in religion. He
is not merely deceived but a miser-
able sinner. His independence is
not merely pitiful delusion-it is
crime.
The worst features of the glorif-
cation of party is that it leads to
doubtful political methods. If party
success means national salvation,
every election is an emergency in