The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-06-15
THE FEW AND TIE MANY.

comments on the autocratic ideas
with which English officials gen.
orally return from India. Long
contact with the native races fills
them with a contempt for average
humanity and a deep distrust Ct
the principles and the practice OF
popular government.
We think that something of this
same tendency is observable in
Honolulu. No doubt it springs,
not merely from contact with a
race less advanced in the path of
civilization, but also from a reac-
ton against the excessive faith in
popular rule, which characterized
the first half of the century. Peo-
pie nowadays are beginning to see
that no form of government is
ideal, even the most republican,
and that the state must be judged
by something besides its form.
The danger is that this reaction
will become as excessive as the
blind zeal against which it reacts
In spite of all the defects of popu-
lar government, we should con-
stantly bear in mind that the saw
ing thing in the modern world is
its democracy. The spirit Of de-
mocracy is simply the spirit of
Christianity leavening the whole
social and political lump. Its
evils and excuses will correct
themselves, because the principle
is sound. The aristocratic princi-
pie, on the other hand, is wrong,
no matter what the character of
the particular aristocraey may be,
because it leaves out of account
the educative influence of the bal
lot upon the individual voter. Re-
publican methods are the best, not
because they make better govern
ments, but because they make bet
ter citizens. A political aristocracy
of virtue and intelligence is
dream, an illusion, the realization
of which would be a curse. To
borrow an illustration from the
language of the theologians-we
do not want a despotism even with
God at its head. The Creator
leaves his creatures free will, no
matter how sorry q mess they
make in the use of it.
tits customary TO inveigh against
the Ignorant" vote, as though ig
norance were the only disease of
the State. The INSCRIPTIONS vote
is a much more dangerous thing.
In any form of government the
actual work of legislation is sure
to be in comparatively competent
hands Selishness ia more danger
Gus than ignorance. We have NOR
to fear from knaves than from fools
All forms of government are and
must of necessity be imperfect.
The choice in this modern world of
ours seems to be between the ignor-
ance of the masses and the selfish
ness of the classes. The choice is
not a fattering one, but in the
long run we believe that the large
interests of civilization, justice and
freedom and progress, are safer with
the former than the latter.
This is theory, someone will OBJ
ject, which takes very little ac-
count of the actual conditions
prevailing here and now, in Ha-
waii. But sound theory always ap-
plies. 1t is the theories which are
only partially true, which are hasty
congratulations from imperfect data,
which break down when confronted
with fact. The theory advanced
here has been established by all
history, and expresses the essential
meaning of modern life. Hawaii
is not the extraordinary exception
which some persons have imagined.
After all, there is nothing alto
gether new under the sun.
The Constitutional Convention
shows, in its whole course. a dis