The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-02-04
CAMPAIGN TACTICS.

IHE tactics OF the TWO rival speakers
at the late mass meeting in Waikiki, are
illustrative of the whole conduct of the
campaign by the two parties in the field.
The meeting was chiefly for the Portu-
guese, and Mr.. Halstead, the candidate
of the Reform party, told the elect
ors that that party had given their race
the ballot, and had vigorously carried out
the Homestead Act, by which they had
very largely benefited. That was the
substance of his argument. The Oppo-
sition candidate told the audience that If
he was elected he would have law
passed ensuring to every laborer dol
lar day and board. He told them fur
Their, that otherwise they would soon
have to work for twenty-five cents day.
Finally he assured them that he would
do all that he could to have the lepers
returned to their homes.
These were the arguments of their re-
spective sides.
Some Of the editors of the opposition
sheets in Honolulu have more ability
probably than poor Mr.. Kala, the Maui
candidate. None of them, however, have
advanced anything of any more weight
than he. The Bulletin, which feels the
necessity OF being respectable, does not
deal in arguments OF the Kala type. The
result is that it has nothing to offer. The
National Herald does not feel itself I'M
der the necessity before mentioned, and
in consequence uses campaign mater
ial very much in the same style as
the utterance OF Mr.. Kala. Though lost
to every sense of truth and decency it is
still too shrewd perhaps openly to advo-
cate the breaking up OF the leper settle
ment, but it does not hesitate to defend
things quite as shamefully criminal.
That there is strong re-actionary
movement here is no wonder. That the
re-actionary leaders do not try to answer
the arguments of the Reform party is no
wonder. So far as these men are con-
cerned there is no mystery, nothing to be
explained. A few INSCRIPTIONS men,
trading in the credulity and ignorance of
an uninstructed electorate, and in race
prejudice, hope to be carried into power
by the weakness and creduilty of the
voters whose confidence they abuse.
Their business is naturally simply to
continue to trade in these elements, as
vigorously as possible, and all arguments
which do not threaten to impede their
success with the electors on whom they
count, they can afford to treat with dis
dain.
AS far, therefore, as the noisy wing of
the Opposition is concerned, everything
is clear. No one needs any explanation OF
the motives of Messrs. Wilcox and Bush.
But what shall we say OF the other wing
of the Opposition? What shall we say
of the silent wing? What is the meaning
of this political stand? Until the eleventh
hour they have had no voice, made no
speeches, have not been represented on
the platform or in the press. The Bulle-
tin can hardy be considered an organ OF
theirs, for the Bulletin confines its po-
lemic against the Government to the
statement that on the whole another
ministry could probably be obtained as
good as the present one, and to the
further allegation that both parties are
sincere friends of the cause of good gov
eminent, and that it makes no difference
which side is elected, Cuspidor OF Elder
Shrub or the Palama Liberator, it is all
one to the Bulletin. This for a candidate,
is commercially non-partizan position,
and even if it makes the editor ridicu-
lous, it holds his moral qualities up for
the admiration of mankind. We cannot
avoid in passing paying it the tribute OF
our respect.