The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-01-24

u.
"machine" in politics becomes useful
for good or evil. Good men regard il
as thing OF evil, because il is used
for bad purposes, and they fail to see
how it may be used for q good pur-
pose. The "machine' is used, how
ever, in religious work, but takes an
other name. 1t is necessary to all
business success. When it is exam
ined, it is found to be only "organ-
lied labor in politics." The saloon
politician knows this, and uses il to
move men to act. He takes human
nature as he finds It. III he uses cor
rupt methods, it is because he finds
men are corrupt, just as Christian
generals use wicked methods to
destroy their enemies. He is NIT
missionary but leader. III his client
age is temperate, he breaches temper
ance. If 1t loves beer, he gives it beer.
He reaches for immediate results. AT
the same time he recognizes certain
hopes, aspirations and sentiments in
all men for that which is good and
true. He puts "God and country on
his banner, because the ignorant voter
likes to see it. He is not briber un-
less it is necessary to be so. he under
stands the great influence of person.
ality, of contact and acquaintance. He
knows that Tom and Harry have few
give no dinner parties, and do no read
ing; do little thinking; have always
before them the problem of bread and
butter; live generally from hand to
mouth, and, in these latter days, are
bitterly discontented with the Unequal
tiles of life. He who takes them by
the hand and makes them believe that
he can make life easier for them,
readily becomes their leader. The
-.
structed, the greater its success.
The principle of working the politi-
cal machine is correct, natural, and
necessary, so long as men are ignor-
ant, lazy and careless Of duty. Politi-
cal reformers now discover the value
and necessity of the machine. 1t is an
expensive affair, however. Intelligent
labor costs money. The moralists are
confronted with the question of the
corrupt uses of money. Our ideas of
its corrupt use are crude. 1t is de-
clared to be no crime to secure mans
vote by showing him that it will re-
suit in a direct pecuniary profit, If 1t
is done through legislation. The can
didate says: "If you will vote for me,
L will If elected get your dog tax re-
moved.n Here is no crime, though q
direct appeal is made to selfish mo-
tives. If he says: "Vote for me and
will give you dollar" it is a crime.
The " Granger" I" legislation OF the
Northwestern States, transferred
money from the railway companies
to the pockets of the planters, by
making cheap freight rates. 1t was
personal gain to every farmer, but not
crime in the law. If the railway
companies paid the farmers to vote
for an increase of rates, that was q
or. in nj or ia ho m Of
to save a drowning child, if he is able.
If he refuses to do his duty, is it right
to pay him to do it? do not Justify
bribery. The character of an act is
determined by its relations to other
acts. Arsenic preserves life, and it
also kills. You kill men by the
wholesale to save the life OF the State,
and yet killing is a crime. Abraham
Lincoln said, in 1862: "If the Union
can be saved without abolishing
slavery, L will not abolish it. III
ishing it I will then abolish it,"
The head of great Christian nation
deliberately announces that he will
continue and protect the grossest
crime of the century, if a single great
human institution, the American
Republic can be preserved, even if the
conscience of the world was against
him and against us who supported
him Crimes and injustice become
under certain circumstances, heroic
and sublime measures. The intense
and dry light makes curious revela-
tions in our methods of thought, and
often knocks out what we call prin-
ciples.
The machine politician, with his
horse sense, for reaching immediate
results, teaches us valuable lessons.
He is confused by no traditions in
morals or theology. He has no interest
in the pedigree of man or institution.
He knows nothing about specu-
lative philosophy. He mistrusts
the voters sense of duty. Between
praying and keeping the powder dry,
he prefers to do the latter. He always
wrestles with the individual and not
with the body polite. He has his man
down before the good man has finished
his oration before the body polite on
the subject of mans duty to man.
Like the Indian, he lies with his ear
to the ground, listening to the move
ments of his enemies. He believes in
one text, Work while the day lasts,
for the night cometh when no man
can work" He is often an excellent
citizen; takes care of his family; helps
the poor, and never forgets the power
of labor. He is like the New England
hotel kee 1er described by Emerson,
who took good care of his guests; kept
the best cow in town; smuggled rum
into the village; was the largest con-
tributor to Church building; raced his
horses on Sunday; educated orphans;
was the profanest man in town; and
sent the sick clergyman to Europe.
We often misunderstood these men
because we do not study them. A
IT,. 4r.11 Ia l.
could make a thoroughly successful
campaign without giving bribe, pro-
vided he had money enough TO reach
personally every voter and talk TO
him.
Everywhere in our American State