The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-01-14
The onno.ition Platform.

n
doctrine OF measures, not men, mas
been too prominently and premstureS
urged BY members OF the Reform party,
and in Yesterdays issue too soon modi-
fed by yourself. There are cases when
men and not measures are and should be
the only issue. This is so, Is 1t not,
where the platforms OF two opposing sets
of candidates are practically the same ;
there can then be no other issue possible
but the personality OF the ticket; the
only thing 10 do in that case l suppose is
to pick out the nine best men. Where
the men on both tickets are equally men
Of acknowledged honor and standing
whose past political records are in accord
with present professions, but who are
Numerically opposed TO each other in
the principles they advocate, the doctrine
OF measures and not men," can, sup
pose, be accepted unreseryedly. In
other cases. and il seems TO me TO be the
case in this election, the issue Will be
men and measures both. ! hardly see
how the ADVERTISERS can consider the
principles advanced by the opposition
party in Honolulu good principles as
il seems TO admit in Yesterdays issue, II
II considers the declaration of principles
advanced BY the Reform party good
principles IS well; for essentially hostile
and conflicting as these two declarations
are, they cannot both be good or equally
good for the country. Perhaps by good
principles the ADVERTISER meant good
by contrast with the first declaration Of
principles advanced by the Mechanics
Union which are now generally conceded
% have been beyond the pale OF argu-
ment or reason.
What l wish 70 call attention TO is the
essential difference between the Reform
platform and that OF the opposition now
before the public. In the first place, the
Reform party believes IN no modification
OF the property qualification OF electors
Of Mobiles; the opposition believes in the
"hberal modification of that Qualltica-
ton. Just what they mean by liberal
modification" we Of course do not know,
but any man can see that these two OPP
posing plankS on the same point raise an
important issue AZ once. 4 direct con-
tiict Is thus opened and by the voluntary
choice OF the opposition, over the key
stone clause Of the new Constitution,
conflict which IN itself would be sufficient
10 create two distinct parties, even if
there was no other essential difference
between the two platforms. Some say,
however, that men like Mr.. II. 4. Wide
man, Mr.E. Muller. Mr.. L. c. Macfarlane
and Mr.. {. J. Mccarthy do not actually
intend 10 do anything serious in regard
70 the property qualification. In other
words, do not mean what they say.
This, Il seems 10 me, We have no right
70 infer. Every inference is against the
proposition that such men would dis
honestly mrslead the electors TO catch
their votes with the intention Of aban-
dOnlng their professions alter election
day. This Is the second platform adj
Yanced by the opposition, and We must
believe thaS this time 1t has been care
fully, perhaps prayerfully considered be-
fore being launched, and that the candi-
dates who have consented 10 run under
Il and who have pledged their honor to
Il VIII faithfully carry 1t out by all legItl
mate means within their power. Ii the
reply 10 criticism Of party platform is
going 10 be that the protested platform
Is not the actual platform, then of course
all criticism or argument Is at an end
until the actual platform and purpose OF
the party becomes known. We must
accept the opposition platform as gen.
ulne and honestly meant.
Another essential issue between the
Reform party and the Opposition as dis
closed by the two platforms is over our
L. -.
The Government advocates the indiyi-
dual guarantee OF Uncle Sam, (whose
guarantee Is good enough for US the
Opposition advocates 3 Joint guarantee
BY combined powers; the Government
advocates perpetual and absolute free
trade with the United States, the 0ppo-
sition does not, Snd only "counte-
nances'' It says the limited tree trade
existing under the present reciprocity
treaty and that with reservations. No
man, woman or child in the kingdom
need be told that these differences raise
3 great issue directly affecting the des-
tiny OF this country forever. No one
need be told that the Government plat
form unreservedly commits the future
Of the country commercially to the great
Republic and this for better or worse
On the other hand, no one needs to be
told that the platform Of the Opposition
on this subject proposes TO initiate a
fencing match with Uncle sam, the out
come u which and its results to our
present treaty no one can possibly fore
tell, candidates Of the Opposition in
cluded.
Again, in Article 3 OF the present
Opposition platform the revision OF the
new constitution Is proposed in addition
70 specific amendments OF the c0nstitu-
ton elsewhere advocated this Is OF course
70 be done they say N an atmosphere OF
sshealthful and dispassi0nate calm. y
Admitting as We must that this time the
Opposition party have said what they
meant and meant what they said, it
needs no comment OF ours 10 show that q
great and essential issue Is here raised by
the Opposition which Is opposed to the
platform Of the Reform party, Tor that
partv advocates no revision but simply
one amendment OF the constitution, and
that on one specific point, the Chinese
question. which Is 3 new issue outside
OF any issues supposed to have been set
tied bv the new constitution. The spe-
cffc amendment Of the constitution Is