The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-05-16
POLITICAL MAXIHS And THE
BALLOT.
BY CURTIS J. LYONS,
(Read before the Hawaiian Mission
Children's Society, May 6, 1881

| VI AAACs VIC nelhN Va IAAH
ciples and of duties that will cover al
cases, and the fewer exceptions, we
say, the better. Proverbs, maxims,
catch-words we have, stored away like
pocket weapons always ready for use.
Political truth, especially, men think
can be crystallized into gems of utter.
ance that always have their full mar
ket value; especially if secured or
established by some great struggle.
That battle, we say, has been frought
once for all, and its decisions are not
to be reversed. Perhaps so, but we
must not be too sure.
The fact is that some of our idols in
this line get rudely broken. We used
| to say "All men are born free and
equal;n 'Vox populi, voX Dei;n "Gov-
eminent of the people, by the people
and for the people, These are all
good embodiments of truth, as good
probably as we can get.
We used to say that America was q
home for the oppressed of all nations;
home in fact for all who chose to
come there. The writer of these lines
believes that he once wrote for,this
society feeling article founded on a
similar principle. | need not inquire
whether we all think that today.
There are somewhere fundamental
principles. but they are as hard of
Identification, segregation and deter
mination as the elements in chemis-
try, and as difficult of statement as
the definition of simple object, say a
map. They combine, too, like chemi-
l.
and unheard-of compounds.
We doubtless fail of fully under
standing these maxims which do in
deed express truth, but not just what
we seek TO. get from the words that
are used. Men indeed are equal in the
sense of the golden rule, but not in
the sense of what they should be
allowed to do. may demand no more
of my neighbor than he may demand
of me, but the great equities may die
tate that some may demand more
than others, because they need more
in order to fulfil that mission upon
which a wise and beneficent provi-
dence has sent them. The words
iequal rightsl have, We perceive,
wide range, and variety of applica-
ton which admits of great deal of
discussion. This statement now leads
Us on naturally to the question of
how much of actual truth there is in
the idea of an equal right to vote.
There is a time-honored formula
which we hate to call in question. 1t
was q splendid watchword in the days
when America crystallized into being,
and as in the relation then existing
bot,,-ooY, har op1 fba YoNfhar oOunfrTy
was undoubtedly correct: mo. tax
alton without representations We
have accepted this as an, axiom in
sound politics, a bedrock statement,
q part of the politicians and states
mans bible. Let US look into it.
We do certainly tax unrepresented
property. Surprising an Englishman
owns million-dollar farm in Dakota.
Dakota taxes that farm, representa-
ton or no representation, and no one
finds fault. The fact that a and B
have each paid a poll tax may or may
not bear on the question as to whether |
A and B shall vote. 1t is, of course,
not sound to bring it to bear if there |
is no logical connection between the |
and the voting.
Government is primarily for the |
purpose of maintaining justice and |
good order, peace and the good morals
that are necessary for peace. 1t is, as
DR.. Hopkins of Williams College
rightly held, a power from without,
from above, We may say, that is the
essential element of government. 1t
IS something besides the contract or
mutual consent Of a number of indivi-
1uals. That far-seeing philosopher
uttered this doctrine in republican
Massachusetts,. 1t was only few
words that contained the sentiment,
lut those few words meant a great
leal. They meant that the warrant
or government is in right and not
and finally in the will of
he majority. Perhaps in this dis
inction is to be found the solution of
he problems that now confront civil
cation.
Government in this phase of its
Constituted existence protects US,
makes US better, and helps US in at
aiming the true ends of our life, and
5 entitled TO return. 1t is entitled
0 support at our hands, that is to the i.
ayment of taxes. We the taxpayers
n the other hand are entitled to its i.
and to justice enforced be-
ween man and man. 'fNo taxation :
Tithout good government might /.
erhaps be a motto Of an advanced
utilization.
The voting privilege may and may !
OF secure good government. 1t tends i,
} secure peace inasmuch as the party .
mo are in the majority know that :
hey have only themselves to blame .
the government is bad. 1t tends to :
lergetic action because there appears =
bod government as an end to be 7
,cured only by such action. 1t tends ,
intelligence-to worthy ambition.
But taking men as they are, it must
: confessed that it tends to as many
lings that are bad. It certainly has
1T brought peace, but sword,
ere in Hawaii. The minority feel b
lat somebody else is to blame, not &
ley. The energy is misplaced, the I.
telligence depraved, and the ambi-
IN unworthy in the highest degree. U
1t may not have occurred to many ! o
US that the vote was originally Fl
erely method of counting bayonets
swords; and that this counting, .
1m preliminary, came to be a sub q
itute for fighting. The king. with