The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-05-10
THE POWER OF PUBLIC OPINION.

stage when no man or woman, no
corporation or combination of men,
however powerful, no government,
no despot even, dare face the COM
mon condemnation of their course.
For long ages the ruling classes Of
the world have felt themselves
above and Independent of the opin-
ions of the masses. Arrogating to
themselves the divine right to rule
and enjoy the luxuries of life, they
cared not for the condemnation OF
their interiors who were without
power. What was mere opinion to
them ? They even considered their
interiors incapable of entertaining
any opinion opposed to existing in
situations, much less having any
power to enforce an opinion if one
was entertained. Surrounded by
sycophants in civil live and by
paid soldiery, what effect could the
sentiments of the common herd
have on them?
In America, where the masses
nominally control affairs, and
should do so really. the force of
public thought is an almost 1rresis-
tible power. 1t is as much force
in the movement of the world as
any of the natural, physical forces.
It is contagious and moves masses
sometimes as suddenly and irresis-
tibly as the cyclone and tornado
moves matter. Public opinion is
not always right. It is then capa-
BILE of doing great harm by retard-
ing progress, REFRESHING the right,
encouraging abuses and ministering
to old, established customs and mar
row prejudices. But when it be.
comes fairly enlisted on the side of
liberty and progress, thrones totter,
despots trembIe and corruption in
high places hides it's heard in fear.
The great despotIsm of Russia
has been heretofore considered
proof against the public sentiment
of the balance of the Western
World against it's oppressive and
repressive policy. The Gar is not
only the head of a great political
despotism, but is also the head of a
great national church. If any man
or ruler on earth could be free from
the influence of outside opinion he
certainly ought to be. Yet the
lectures and publications of men in
this great country have SO much
Influenced this great potentate that
it is asserted he has actually sent
secret agents mere to combat if pos
slble the public opinion being Gre
ated by Kennan's lectures and other
publications against his cruel and
despotic policy towards his own
subjects. He has found that the
sentiment of the whole outside
world is becoming unit and force
which even Russian despotism can
not afford to ignore. He has ap-
pointed o commission to inquire
into the treatment of Siberian ex-
lies. We have noidea that the real
facts will be presented to the Car,
but the fact that he has even
made any attempt to inquire into
the treatment Of the victims of his
despotic system. is q very promising
sign of the times. It shows that
there is growing an enormous force
in the world, gathering strength
from year to year and decade to
decade, before which, in the not
distant future, every fern of gov
ornamental oppression will be swept
away like chat. It is the power
which is the coming force to wipe
out abuses, restore rights, elevate
the oppressed and carry forward
the great movements based on the
equal rights of humanity.-[San