The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-06-23

| Characterization OF some recent legiS.
| lation OF our Councils as unfair and
slovenly, was not a piece of SANDER,
delighting in personal abuse, but Of
friendly criticism, searching the right
application of the fundamental prin-
| ciples of all good government. The
ADVERTISERS does not belong to that
class of newspapers whose chief func
ton seems to be to pander to depraved
tastes and prejudiced ignorance by the
publication of Indecent scurrilities or
gratuitous abuse.
It must be evident, also, that there
is more or less misrepresentation of the
province OF all legislation, as the in
duence that controls the administra-
ton of governmental principles and
methods in promoting the welfare of
the community. Legislation, IN this
aspect, acts like the pendulum in reg
ulating the movements of the clock.
No intelligent person would regulate
the pendulum by driving in pegs on
either side To prevent motion in thai
direction. Yet it is such crude and
mechanical methods that our work
ingmen'S leagues, for instance, would
adopt, by putting up bars of legal
enactInents against the incoming of
Asiatic labOrers. Better seek the de-
sired end of minimizing the evils of
an alien labOring prOletaTiat class by
indirect methods, guided by inteIli-
gent investigation and provision.
shorten the wire of the pendulum or
iengthen il. Make a compensation
pendulum, on which liability to err in
one direction il met by the introduce
ton of counteracting force.
It is undoubtedly true thai special
legislation, making the water supply,
or the electric lighting, or the carry
ing of parcels by express the exclusive
franchise of quasi public corporation
opens the door for many questionable
methods, occasionally great public
scandal. But there is no doubt that
such monOpolies, inviting The aid of
private capital and guaranteeing it
against the risks of general competi-
ton, have been of immense benefit to
the community. Special legislation
gives special privileges to infant in
dustries, like coffee planting on these
islands or to our sugar planters, W hose
branch of industry is the main de-
pendence of this country ia securing
the advantages of foreign commerce,
with its profitable interchange of diff
ferent commodities. 1t were foolish
ness in the extreme to kill off such
enterprises by unfavorable legislation,
such as many political agitators are
dvocatiug-prOfessing to act in the
Interests of the laboring classes; really
against them. Better bring some in
Ielligence to hear upon the settlement
of such questions. Shorten the peudu-
lum- Annexation to the United States
will have of itself a wonderful infiu-
ence in modifying the Interests and
methods of governmental administra-
ton.
It is very easy to join the big crowd
and cry out for mob law under the
ciamor that the majority should rule.
But the history of the world shows
that true progress has not been made
by communes and mobOcracy, but by
the calm, resoIute, forceful purpose of
an intelligent minority. Have scien-
tific knowledge enough to make your
legislation work on the principle of the
pendulum. That en-
phasizes the need of such general in
telligence as can be reached only by
fostering all wise and efficient meth
DDS of public instruction. Do not
choke off struggling schools by with
holding legitimate aid from the pub |
lie purse. Discriminate among the |
claims for government as |
sistance. Give government support |
- public schools, but do not withhold |
aid by special legislation |
that will help certain institutions of |
learning to do work for the public |
welfare that government cannot, from |
The very limitation of its origin and |
object, rightfuIly, or wisely, or sue |
undertake. Is it asking too |
much of our Legislators to ask that |
hey shall exercise such careful, in
appreciative discrimination? /
A similar fundamental principle of
rood government should show that |
Iome Compensatory measures in fegis-
alton are far more efficient and APP
1Topriate than ruthless aud reckless
opposition and demolition. I'm
ioubtedly, special legislation has
yiven accum ulatiOn of wealth some
Infair advantages. There is some
hing wrong somehow in a state of So
.iety, as in New York for instance,