The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-01-12
NATIONAL REFORM PARTY.

L uC ANaSlOhoi ieNiOAh h'N 'SS
origin partly in revolt within the
ranks of the Reform party against
legislation and administration which
favored in some respects of class
dominance. Discomfort had devel-
oped in the young blood of the party,
which had been its dependence and
It's very life in establishing constitu-
tional government, by the ignoring
of the interests and the wishes of the
working classes. The IN, chanics and
small traders of European and Ha-
waiian origin aud birth felt that the
Legislature they had elected was only |
playing with them on the Chinese
question. They were confirmed in
this feeling when they saw Chinese
getting contracts on public works, on
bids away below what even Cinnamon
could make profitable as the sequel
proved, and Chinese workshops en-
ployed in getting out supplies of
various kinds for Government use.
The Mechanics Union was the out
come of an agitation led by a Reform
member of the Legislature of 1878.
1t was not originally intended as the
foundation of new political party,
but an organization for mutual pro-
lection against what was deemed the
unjust policy and practice of the then
dominant politicians. When, how
ever, the rapid increase in its men,
bership made the Union feel strong
enough, it decided to take an active
part as an organization in the election
of 1890. 1t joined in campaign
with the Hui Kalaiaina, a native So
ciety holding as its cardina! doctrine
the extension of the elective principle
to the choice of Government officials.
The Hui Kalaiaina had in different
public declarations avowed anything
but the reactionary views that were
commonly believed to permeate the
native electorate. On the contrary,
their declared doctrines were rather
of radically progressive sort There
was the single exception of the fran
chise, on which, from the standpoint
of the new Constitution, the Hui's
attitude was reactionary. AS part of
its scheme for making public officials
elective it declared in favor of uni.
versal suffrage
The two bodies came together
through the friendly conference of
their executives, and after much
deliberation produced platform on
which to conduct the campaign. In
doing so the Union prevailed on the
Hui to agree to modified statement
Of principles. They could not get
capable and representative men to
stand for the Legislature, who would
assent to the views of the Hui in
their extreme construction. Thus
new party was formed on a COM
promise, the basis of which was a
progressive conservatism. 1t must
be clear to everybody who calmly
, considers the situation at that time
that this league of two political
organizations prevented a division of
the electorate on straight race issues
which would have been truly deplor-
!, able.
With the aid of independent mem
} bers from the other islands, the solid
National Reform party's contingent
| returned from Oahu controlled, in Il
great measure, the Legislation of the
: session. Those independent mem
bers proved to be an availing balance,
. steadfastly opposing all they deemed
: dangerously radical legislation, ant
this in concert with the more con
: seryatiye of the National Reformers
5 These latter were early convinced by
: the course of events that measures
r propounded in the party platform
+ while they might be sound enough il
: principle and safe in judicious adop
: tion, could not be carried out without
concessions to an untrustworthy ele
5 ment which could not, in the best
: interest of the country, be granted.
n By the course the majority of the
I, National Reform and Independent
! members of the House took, in with
: standing the demands of the radica
e and believed to be reaetionary win
: of the party-who wanted office TO