The San Francisco call., 1898-03-25
DOUBTFUL TIMES IN HAWAII.

p the last files from the islands condition is h revealed that foreshadows the breaking up of D the oligarchy
 When government by minority has to stand under arms, admitted by the Chronicle 1t is apt to do other things not common to government by majority In the Hawaiian Senate the condition of the public exchequer and accounts has first excited suspicion and that has been followed by alarm A Senator of the Government party made the official statement that the Board of Health accounts i'll suspicious shape. The Attorney General replied on the floor of the Senate, and the Government or gan the Advertiser attacked the Senator so brutaly that he replied to the organ and the Attorney General by saying: My charges backed by documentary evidence This morning newspaper scurriousy blackguarded me and attempted 10 in timidate from making criticisms the members of the Government. One Senator told me this morning that he would hesitate before making any criticism of the Government, as he did not want to be attacked in such scurrilous articles.
 The Advertiser makes rejoinder this in an article entitled "The Party and the Government" which n its way is an ingenious gem It says Appear ances are misleading. The American element of the community expects that all proceedings n the Legis- lature here will be conducted as they in the forty
 five legislative bodies of the United States and in the American Congress. The universal rule in all those bodies is for the members of party to stand by the government it has put into power This rule is car ried so far that just criticism of public officials Is strictly taboo. Gross frauds committed by officials who members of the party are concealed All dirty linen is washed strictly in private excepting by the ignorant or the irrepressibles who lose their tempers.
 "The fact that members of the dominant party are trying to annoy the Government of their own crea- ton creates the impression that they wish to change it. The real truth IS that they are inexperienced politicians and do not seem to have heard of the way politicians conduct their business in America or Great Britain.
 "The conduct of several members of the dominant party ustifes the belief that they crippling the Government 9of their and our own creation. They too willing to gloat what they think are rotten spots in the record. In taking this course they refuse to follow the example of party men else where, and they may be morally right about 1t. It is not good politics however. It Is said that white men cannot work in the tropics. Perhaps 1t may be equally true that white can't egislate wisely in the tropics. We are learning something every day.
 When 1t Is remembered that the ol1garchy has disfranchised all opposition to the dominant party and that only that party is represented III the Gov ernment the plea for imitation of party methods in the United States is the most amusing piece of pub lie rascaty that was ever printed. Here in every State Legislature and in Congress Is strong oppo son party that often overdoes the criticism Of pub lie officials But in Hawaii there is only one party; the opposition is disfranchised, and the Govern ment being absolute, if sheltered against exposure of corruption by its partisans is perfectly safe in doing anything 1t chooses It is evident that under this rule it has chosen to do much that won't bear the light and therefore has need Of the party lash applied by its organ.
 We have had much talk in this country about the Dole oligarchy being the rule of the pure in spirit of the missionary party It is a rude awakening for the organ of that party to declare that the proper rule of government is "to conceal the grossest frauds for the sake of those who in power.