The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-21
SATURDAY, OCT. 81, 1898
BOTH JUST AND EXPEDIENT

The principle that no one should
hold office under the Hawaiian Gov
eminent in these revolutionary days
who is not loyal and active adheren'
of the administration in power ..'
the Annexation cause, ie one tina, 90. |
mits of no impeach'nrrf In all the
discussion which he's been had over
removal, that principle has not been
challenged We have merely been
Tod that the proposed course is 'inex-
pedient" and "lnopportune," and with
these fine words-which butter no pars
nips-the subject has been dismissed
to a desuetude which, in view of the
patriotic feeling involved, may hardly
be called nnocuous In asking why
the application Of sound principle is
not both expedent and opportune we
have heard that public sentiment in the
United States should not be aftronted
by giving the contention here the aspect
of a wrange over spoils, But would
that result be likely to follow dis
Criminative choice of Office holders
between enemies of the public safety
and the supporters of the Government?
1t is one thing to remove inCumbents
for politics and another for loyalty; and
whatever may be urged against the
one procedure assuredly does not apply
to the other, even in the United States
where, in the troublous times during
and for six years following the civil
war, the utmost care was used by the
President and his subordinates to put
none but Union men on guard in both
the civil and military services. In Ha-
wall the conditions are the same. Our
two parties are not opposing schools of
political thought both loyal to the COM
mon rule and law but one of them re-
presents patriotism and the other dis,
LOYALTY. No one in the United States
is going to take offence at the induction
of the one and the eviction of the either
from responsible public posts. If any
one thinks otherwise he car probably
be treasured by writing to Minister
Thurston, Professor Alexander, Rev
w. B. Oleson or General Armstrong
men in position to know.
Counting popular sentiment in Amer
lea as a thing that always approves
the placing Of persona safeguards about
- Constitutional Government, we find nc
argument which supports the plea Of
inexpediency. Just now this admins
tration is threatened by active enemies
that have the personal fellowship and
sympathy of many men in Government,
employ. In the event of trouble it is
we'll known that these officials, who
were appointed by the Crown b cause
of special confidence repust d in THEN
political fidelity, would give aid and
comfort to the enemy. Surely it can,
not be deemed expedient to keep them
behind the breastworks until the hour
comes for them to do their mischief
meanwhile affronting and discouraging
the men upon whom the authorities
must rely for their protection in the
hour of need. EXpediency of tina
kind opens the door to an enemy anc
shuts it in the face of friend.
1t is true enough that the Royalist:
in office have taken the oath of allegi
ance to the existing Government
They had to. But many of the revolu
tionists now in power were pledged the
same way to the Royal authority, all Of
which goes to show that oaths of'allegi
ance are regarded here, as in every
other country, as mere matter OF form
After fitness, the true test Of an office
holder under a revolutionary Junta, ir
times of conspiracy against the com
mon veal, is his active and loyal ad
herence to the constituted authorize:
and the cause they have at heart Ir
settled countries the rule may be
different Here it must be asserted or
grounds of principle and eXpediency
alike.