The Hawaiian gazette., 1891-05-19
EVOLUTION IN POLITICS.

There is one characteristic of
tine last Congress of the United
States. which is matter of interest
20 all interested in the develop
ment of constitutional government.
The right of the majority to rule
has been an established principle
in all Iaw-making assemblies. But
under Speaker Reeds ruling this
principle has been pressed into the
service of a party policy, which
involves tendencies that seem
frought with danger to the very
existence of responsible govern
ment. DR.. Lieber says, in his
work on Civil Liberty and Self
Government. In free countries,
political matters relate to the peo-
pie, and therefore ought to be
public. Publicity informs OF public
matters; it teaches and educates,
and it binds together. There is no
patriotism without publicity, and
though publicity cannot always
prevent mischief, it is at all events
an alarm-bell, which calls public
attention to the spot of danger. In
former times, secrecy was consid-
cred indispensable in public mat
tiers: it is still so considered where
Cabinet policy is preserved, or
monarchical absolution sways."
But never before TO any such
extent has caucus rule dominated
in the national councils as during
the last winter in Washington. 1t
has come to be conceded point
with political partisans, that the
vote of caucus is as binding as
the enactment of 4 law. But this
is substituting in place OF conclu-
sions arrived at by free and pertl-
nent discussions, the arbitrary de-
cree of a certain number Of votes.
Instead of being an opportunity for
informal discussions OF certain
measures. or certain line OF po-
Icy, the caucus, as now conducted,
has become an opportunity for
dragooning and tyrannizIng the
adherents of q political party into
the support of measures which
caucus within the caucus has de
ternlined to carry through. Be
tween the representative and his
constituents, in whose behalf he
has accepted the trust of public
office. is thrust this dlctation of an
irresponsible, unknown, dominant
clique. The forms of popular,
representative government are thus
made subversive of the very idea Of
popular representative government.
An absolutism, and Il despotism,
worse than that of some known indi-
vidual, because it is the decree of a
secret tribunal, acting under forms
of law, yet unknown to the law,
and outside of 1t.
The venahty and corruption
which have been charged upon
various state legislatures may be
traced, in part at least, TO this
secret legislation as one OF Its
sources. When what concerns the
public is made 4 public matter,
there is an element of safety in this
publicity. When public business
is controlled in the interest of 4
clique. whose methods are con-
cealed, and whose policy is secrecy,
we may look for such revelations
as have lately been made of bribery
and raseality. The caucus has its
legitimate uses; but when it ceases
to be an assembly for informal con-
ference and comes to be simply a
machine for coercing party dis
cipIine in the interests of clique,
it ceases to be a method of political
action which honorable men can
endorse or employ. We need some
thing in this community like the
caucus for the informal discussion
of matters and measures of public
interest, but we do not want, and
hope we never shall have, caucus
legislation.