The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-03-06
luissm L.hAidatssl il stula hhiy

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ilvlusM Candidates, II stu!a ohiy
have BEEN by politicians serving
their immediate personal ends, |
whose actions or words wetc not
binding on the party with It's out
spoken platform, and whose inilu-
cncc could never avail TO cffectuatc
tho folly of their language. Admit
ting that there were such politicians,
their canvass was certainly not more
unprMcipled and vicious than that
of the lying issues raised about the
reciprocity treaty by the opposite
party.
The point is endeavorcd to he
made by the editor of the Friend,
and repeated by his supporter in the
Advertiser, that the Reform Party
having made good record was not
under obligation 10 present a plat
form of promises. This argument
is exceedingly weak when consider.
ed with the historical facts. Under
our system the record of a party is
to be found IN that of the admins
tration that it supports. Some time
before what had become the dis
cordant elements of the Reform
Party were whipped into sufficient
harmony to enter the late election
contest on this island, the Ministry
had published declaration of prin-
ciples in response to demand for
such from the Reform convention on
| the island of Hawaii. In passing,
let us glance moment at this Incl
| dent. If the record of the Minis
try of the Reform Party had been
SO clear, so irreproachable, so as
suring of the fu,urc--as the Friend
and Advertiser fondly assume-that
the party required naught hut to
point to the record (like the other
fellow who pointed to the prayer
card pinned TO the wall saying,
"Them's my sentiments, in lieu of
saying his prayers), why should the
Reformers of Hawaii have had to
demand an explicit, elaborate, item
lied declaration of Ministerial policy
before entering upon the actual cam
paign! When, however, n platform
of promises had been put forth by
the Ministry-an act Of supercroga-
ton according to the wisdom Of the
Friend and Administrations wa:
this important pronunciamento treat
ed by the Reformers at the seat o.
government? We shall see.
From anything that could bt
gathered from the transactions Ot
the Reform convention of Oahu, the
party here was oblivious even of the
present Ministry's existence. The
Cabinet platform was silently ignor'
ed. There is no reference in The
convention platform, cut and driet
as it was in advance of the meeting
to either the Ministry or its record
The nearest approach to the Minis
terial issue was made in the follow
ing clause, which, if it meant any
thing, implied a vote of want o
, confidence in the Ministry. Th
| party pledged ITSELF
"To procure for the people a
, honest. economic, and efficient ad
! ministration in all departments Q
the Government.
: What! The Ministry, after havin
$ made a record to appeal to, still la
to have the party supporting
Y pledge itself to procure the yer
benefits the same party coniided
v its care for procuring two yeal
a previously! Will any man, wit
d TIA. "ordinary allowance of commo
:. sense the Advertiser is with tir
G somcness appealing to, dare to sa
@ that, if the party was believed
Il hold the record of the Ministry
,. admiration, this carefully and d
.s llberately worded document wou
10 not have pledged itself "to mai
,t tain" instead Of "to procure" Il
w good government described? I
have omitted to endorse the reco
o. of the administration-in the ma
h. ner of all similar bodies under par
# government elsewhere-was signi
a cant enough, but to tell the Min
at try in such PLAIN terms that t
Il. work of procuring good governme
Ii. was yet to be accomplished, was
" slap IN the face that any Ministt
le less tenacious of Office would nev