The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-03-09
THE ELECTION LAW.
ltpiroR BULLETIN: =

EDiroR BULLETIN =.
/ have just been reading the Ga
zettc Of January 9th, in which there
appeared a communicated article on
the Election Law. The writer SAYS
he "Cannot see that the new system
is any improvement in the outer dis
tricts over the old" a remark that
reflects wonderful amount of credit
on the intellectual caihre of the
writer of the article. Anyone who
cannot see the difference between a
just law and the stupid mauipula.
jlonS of it, ought to he candid enough
to confess himself one of the people
"who will not read Instructions or
listen and consequently are self
DISTINGUISHED. The secret ballot is
the essential principle of the law,
and there can he no guod reasons
why it should not be as operative III
this country as elsewhere 1t has
certainly come to stay, unless the
legislation of Hawaii is going to
progress backwards. The "boss"
system of electioneering has had its
little day in these islands, and II
is to be hoped that it has been for
ever buried out of sight and out
of mind. Instead of squealing
| because the system now adopted has
not worked with complete satsfac.
ton, on first trial, it seems to me
more reasonable to enquire into the
causes of any failures that may have
marked the first year. experience OF
the secret ballot system than to rush
to the conclusion that the new system
is no better than the old" First
and foremost among the causes that
have contributed their quota of an
noyance to officials rs well as to
electors, is the half-caste English
with which every page Of the law is
muddlcd. Second, among said
causes is the gross stupidity of
officials themselves, some of whom
are absolutely incapable of carrying
out law, instruction, or advice, other
wise than to he wrong every time.
Taking the statements of fact in the
article'I refer IT, IS correct, beg
to ask what unGC ihe sun have in
spectors Of electu,, 10 do with voters
intentions, motives or otherwise,
when the law requ rs of them only
to count ballots? | could cite many
more instances of what may be char
acterized as blank idiocy in the pro-
ceedings of election officers. But it
is not with the officers that propose
to deal at present. 1t is with the
source of authority that most of the
humbugging of the past election ORR
ginated. And if the new system will
bring about such a happy result as
that voters who do not know enough
to distinguish the right hand from
the left are selfdisfranchised, thee
may be a chance left for the more
intelligent class of people to get re.
representatives. into the legislature who
are far enough advanced in scholar
ship to count two. The legislature
r that labored in 1890 and brought
forth the Election Law and the Road
Board Law, twin monsters of half
, caste English, does not appear TO
, have mastered SO much of arithme-
tic and grammar as to know the diff,
| ference between "list" and ''lists, y
{ "register" and "registers, or be,
: tween "the names of all persons
Y and 1.-THE names of candidates. !" The
e law, put into the hands of Inspectors
: of Election to be carried out in the
f face of Il possible fine of $1,000
5 prescribes this form OF oath to be adj
: minislertd to n challenged voter tol
Mobiles: "lou do solemnly that you
$ will true answer make to all sucl
: questions as shall be put TO yor
i, touching your right to vote for Nobl,
: at the present election" SolemnI1
5 what? You do solemnly deny
Y You do solemnly refuse2 You dc
: solemnIy pray? Again, what kline
5 of questions are "such' questions
v | should think when a man answer
: all questions that he ought to b.
d through the catechism. And We
: again, | heard of Motley, Neumann
o and possibly OF other Ms, but
: was not aware that Noble was a can
e didate. 1t may perhaps be Mobiles
o That Is meant; but "law Is law, ant
(. if the law doesn't mean exactly wilma
# it says, what the dell does it mean
II Th re is one good feature in tn
), present Election Law that is worth,
$ Of at least honorable mention, name
s Iy, the conspicuous absence of oaths
l. If Inspectors were required TO max
If oath TO the faithful performance o
their duties, where would they fin
themselves on a charge of willu
neglect to go and hunt up that "bal
lot officer hereinafter provided for!
The "ballot officer" is doubtless on
u. of the many literary bulls waiting
be killed by amendments to be "her,
matter provided" after which, tn
}. Election Law will be as nearly pei
feet us law need be. HAWAII.
~ February, 1892.