The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-05-04
SCIENCE O. GOVERNMENT.

Apropos OF the discussion going
on at the present time in regard to
annexation, free trade, etc, l ask
you for space in your valuable paper
for this article. | do not think it
would be wise to attempt any radical
change in our present form of gov
ernment, for the reason that your
citizens, not unlike the people of
other countries, are not sufficiently
instructed in the principles of poll
tical economy. 1t would only give
US an opportunity to make laws that
time would prove to be based upon
the Quicksands of falsehood. If we
have any change let it be based upon
the rock of eternal truth. We can
not afford to try an experimental
government, and all rational minded
men will admit that we have no per-
feet government to take as model,
and that to make intelligent laws it is
necessary TO have an intelligent con-
stituency. There is only one way
that you can have an intelligent vot-
ing population, and that is in teach
ing them the science Of government.
1t is not herculean task TO do that.
1t can be accomplished. The easiest
way and most pleasant (my opinion
being based upon practical eXper-
ience) would be to organize society,
buy all the acknowledged writer's on
political economy, elect your officers,
onnnint Il romniitaa IN draw m q
list Of subjects-committee to ap-
point members to deliver papers on
subjects chosen-meet once week,
let the secretary give the subject TO
the press the day before meeting, the
member delivering the paper to fur
nish a duplicate to the press. The
| press being public educator, l am
sure the papers would be pleased to
assist in so grand work. In that
way all of your reading public would
| get the benefit of the best thought of
the past and present upon science
| that is all but dead letter to other
wise gifted people. We are not an
exception to the rule, but we should
take business view of the case. If
business man were going to make a
venture he would avail himself of all
the experience of others, by that
| means he could avoid the pitfalls that
caused his predecessors to fail.
1t is well-known fact that it takes
years to cause change in the funda-
mental principles of government,
as there is always a class of the
laissez fare kind that will put all
the obstruction they can in the way
of any kind of reform. Another
well-known fact is that radical legls-
lation is always detrimental to a
country, for a time at least. Con-
sequently il behoOves us as people
to first make ourselves masters of the
different systems of government at
present in existence, and what re-
forms other people are seeking to
inaugurate, etc. Until we have
thoroughly digested all the informa.
tion that can be Lad on the subject
we will not be capable of forming al
intelligent government, but if we dc
inform ourselves we have it in oul
power to form government thai
will be the envy and study of ths
whole world. If we can solve thu
problem of government we will holC
Il historical position that Rome in al
her glory would he as a star to the
sun. We have it in our power tC
hold the proudest position of any
nation in the world. Let us avail
ourselves of our natural opportuni
ties and the homage of the world IL
ours. You will probably say that i,
it were SO easy of accomplishment
why have not intelligent nations seer
the truth and adopted il long ago
My answer is, oh fares the land II
Fastening ills a prey, where wealtl
accumulates and men decay" IL
older countries the masses are il
poverty and largely ignorant. AL
known governments are the very
acme Of disorder. Disorder is disease
If the nation suffers from disease
then the individual suffers. Inteli
gence discovers the cause, restores
the natural order, and disease disap
pears. So we suffer by departure
from the natural order in which mel
and nations should exist. 1t is :
maxim that order is heavens frs
law. In the realm of nature, wher,
the hand and voice cannot reach, W.
find universal order. Indeed Oul
responsibilities are great. Are We
equal to the demands of the age
are we competent? All those wish
ing to take part in this noble work