The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-01-06
SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1894.
NO CLOSE CORPORATIONS

AeSterday there was an Nltllld-
ton in the morning paper that
something had been fixed up in re-
gard to the appointment of a new
Minister of Foreign Affairs. The
pu5lic and the party, which had
head the names of Mr.. Hatch, Mr..
Armstrong, Mr.. Scott and Mr.. w.
X. Castle mentioned, were left in
dol bit as to the one upon whom the
ch, &c was likely to fall What is
.ucle important, they were left in
ignorance as to what particular
body or group of men intended to
make the nomination and see it
ratified. As the subject had not been
settled by the Councils, in whose
hands the final election might be
supposed to reside, the impression
grew that people outside of those
assemblies had taken the important
cause in hand. Recognizing the
right of the party organizations, the
Annexation Club, the American
League and the Schuetzen Verein,
TO deal with matters of this kind in
at least an advisory spirit, the STAR
made some inquiries and found to
its surprise, that their wishes had
not been and were not being con-
$ tied. The situation was left with
no other light than had been
thrown upon it through the Ad0er-
,n-y by this editorial statement
The obstacle to the matter thus
LAT has been the difficulty of find
il5 a suitable person to fill the Of
ir4 of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
ll. Hatch possesses the highest
qualifications for that very delicate
and important position, but he has
not hitherto seen his way clear to
the acceptance Of its duties. 1t is
now believed, however, that the
place can be filled in satisfactory
manner, and this removes the last
obstacle in the way of effecting the
change. Let it be made at once.
We quite agree with our es-
teemed contemporary that the
place can be filled in a satisfactory
manner; but if is implied by this
that all obstacles to a choice are
now removed or that they may be
removed by an appeal to the Coun-
ellis to ratify a purely private prefer
ence, we must beg to differ. In the
platform of the Annexation Club,
framed, adopted and sent to the
Government a few weeks ago ap-
peared this significant plank
Resoiged, that the Annexation
Club views with alarm the presence
i'll the Advisory Council Of one OF
more men who are not in sympathy
with the annexation movement and
respectfully urges in case of future
additions to that body or to tie E1-
ecRtfge cornell, that nominations tc
it may precede elections for length
of time sufficient for an investiga-
ton to be made as to the politica,
views and antecedents of the can
didate.
The Government in letter tc
the Club, pledged itself to the course
of action indicated, and it is now
the recognized system of procedure
We hope that it will not be depart
ed from, because it means that the
party wants chance to express its
views about any proposed changes
of State and because that right is
so much cherished that any effort
to thwart it would have a really
deplorable effect upon the political
unity Of the annexation ranks.
Hence, to say the ministerial post
should be filled at once" and with
out further consultation is to invite
dissent. Name your man publicly
first, and let him be talked over by
the press and party. That is much
the better way, Then no political
blunders will be made.