The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-17
THE PLATFORM.

The convention OF the delegates Of
the American Union party adopts q
Platform which contains many excel
lent principles or policies. 1t natural
ly makes annexation the leading prin-
ciple. 1t could not do otherwise. So
far as this Government is concerned
annexation is accomplished. But before
ratification by the American Senate is
done, there is need of the utmost vigil
ance, that nothing should be undone
here, by accident or design, which may
prevent the American ratification.
In approving the conduct of the
Government in it's administration of
the laws, it does what every unpreju-
diced man here ought to do. Even
those bitterly opposed to the creation
of the Republic must approve, because
it is not an opinion, but fact that few
Governments, if, indeed, any, have
been as wisely carried on.
The fourth principle is one which
shows an attempt to make decided
reform in the management of penal
institutions. The employment of pris-
oners in mechanical trades is, in many
ways, Objectionable. The recommended
ton of penal farm is most admirable,
and the author of it is entitled to great
credit There is sense and statesman
ship in it. 1t is considered, in Amer
lea, by the students of penology, to be
the very best solution of the prison Ia
Dor problem.
The recommendation that the Gov
eminent do not import any material of
any kind whatever, is unwise, danger
Gus, and inconsistent. 1t at once puts
the Government in the hands of rings
and monopolies. If expressed clearly,
this article would read: 1T is better
that the people be taxed in order to
support local merchants than it is for
the Government to be conducted with
the utmost economy" If the Govern
ment must pay a profit to dealer here,
simply because he is in business in the
city, there is no reason why it should
not give the mechanic, who lives here,
25 per cent higher wages than it is
willing to pay for an American citizen,
who has just landed, and has not re-
sided here.
Moreover, this article is in contra
diction to the practice of American
States and communities in general.
The Mechanical Department of the
Federal Government imports articles,
directly and indirectly. We do not
doubt, for moment, that the policy
recommended by this article, if put in
to a law, would help merchants, but
if the Government must help mer-
chants, it must help everybody else
equally.
''Patronise home industries. Pat
ronise home merchants, is the cry in
all places, but men and women go off
and buy in the cheapest market. Any
departure from this principle by the
itself demoralizes the
people Why would it not be as just
and polite to adopt an article in the
Platform of this kind: mo person in
this Republic should buy shoes and
books abroad, so long as the dealers in
this city can furnish them"
The article demanding that the Gov
eminent should acquire the water
fronts" is wise. 1t shows much fore
thought The failure to adopt this pol
icy, in the early days, by the American
States, has retarded the growth Of
commerce, and costs the States and
cities vast sums of money. The water
front in Chicago, for the distance of
nearly a mile, was granted, without
cost, in 1850, to the Illinois Central
Railroad Company. Its value now is
near s1OO,000,O00. The law was, how
ever. declared to &c unconstitutional
Other articles in the Platform we
shall consider hereafter.