The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-04-12
TIE g0aAL OF TIE MASS MEETING

TIE roy4list maze meeting o.
Monday night was an Invaluable
object lesson in Hawaiian politics
Il gbowed the reacsionary party II
/ al its weakness split up into
groups and sub-groups, and hope
lessly divided against itself Il
showed. az efectually as anything
could, that the prospect Of restora-
ton does not EXIT, and that tne
hope OF Il IL dying. The mass
meeting was boyeotted by almost
al the prominent royaligf leaders.
The greater part Of those who sign
I'd the call, left the gathering se-
yerely alone, and at the meeting
itself there was very notable lack
Of enthusiasm. Even the mild
appreciation which some nf Mr.
Ashford's witficigms elected came
from q number CT dissatisfied
American leaguers at the back,
rather than from royalists.
The tone Of the speakers was
also worthy Of comment. Nothing
was said In defence Of the ex-queen
unless We are to regard as such, Mr.
Aghford's attempted parallel be-
tween her sins and the glng Of the
Provisional Government This was
as lame a defence, az that Of the
English barrister whose instructions
read-"No case: abuse the plain
tifs attorney."
There is very plain moral 10
be drawn from the event OF this
MACS meeting. It should teach
the Government that the danger
from restorationists, within az well
as without, is over. II serves a
notice on the Executive that from
now on they may adopt a more
fearless and more liberal policy,
one which makes larger concessions
to the electorate, and places a
larger confidence In them. The
caution which has been hitherto
exercised, while sometimes exces-
eiye, has been founded on pru-
dent determination to conserve the
gains OF the revolution. The
Councils have had no mind TO en-
danger the fruit Of go much anxiety
and labor. And they were right.
The situation, however, has now
changed. While !" sleepless vigi-
lance is as imperative duty as
ever, the Government may with
safety recognize that the season of
greatest peril has passed. Its policy
SHOULD take account of this fact.
We know of no better way for the
Administrator 10 evince the iber-
atty OF its sentiments than by re-
spending 10 a popular demand and
declaring itself In favor of sub
mission OF the constitution TO
popular vote. The vote can and
should be based upon the registra-
ton for the election TO the conven-
ton. Persons who will not share
the responsibility of making con-
stitution should have no share in
its acceptance or rejection. Their
negligence or Indifference deprives
them Of all right 10 voice in pub
lie affairs. They are self-disfran-
chised. Their interests, Of course,
must still be regarded, but not
their opinions.
There is one thing further which
the Government might do. 1t is
too late to enlarge the number of
delegates to be elected by the peo-
pie, but there is another way TO
give the people preponderating
influence. The members of the
Executive might, of their own mo-
ton, abandon the right to vote in
the convention, retaining, of course,
their seats and leadership. a SIM
pie amendment to the law would
effect this change, and it would
certainly be a graceful and gra-
cious thing to do. The high
esteem in which the President and
all the members OF the Cabinet are
held IS guarantee enough of their
Iust weight In the convention.