The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-09-08

| through the valuable works Of SchOuler
and others that our great Federal Con-
stitutiOn was, after ALL the skillful
summing up and embodiment of the
| usages, customs and laws of the col
Onists. There was nothing novel in it,
excepting the marvellous adjustment Of
the implied and reserved powers Of the
two absolutely Independent govern
ments, so that they worked in harmony.
But in the government of acquired
territories, the dominant idea has been
to assimiIate the people residing upon
them to the mass of American citizens.
so far as the Federal power could do it.
But, in the conspicuous case of Louis
lana, governed by Spanish law, and
where Spanish was for many years the
official language, the usages, customs
and laws of the territory were not
greatly disturbed so long as they were
not in conflict with the Constitution.
The theory and practice of the Amer
lean people was, from the beginning
that of self government, especially
local self government Manhood suf-
frage was a sacred right, and until the
Civil war, prevailed everywhere, ex-
cepting in the slave States.
Then came an extraordinary change
of ideas and practice
The great influx Of ignorant fmmi-
grants turned the great cities into DO
litical sores. The Republican party,
dominant and intelligent, found itself
beaten in the great cities by an ''ignor-
ant democracy" It therefore invented
the theory and practice of Govern
ment by Commission" that is, instead
of permitting the people in certain cit
les to rule themselves, through the vot-
ers, it governed them through men who |
could never expect to succeed in local !
elections, and were often residents of |
other places. The Republican party OF |
the State of New York for many years |
has put Republicans in office in New |
York city, though the majority of the |
voters are Democrats.
When Democracy demanded their
Cod given right" of self rule, the Re
publican party, rightly or wrongly, re
piled: your local self government is
You don't behave your
selves. We will have order and law
even if we do jump on your 'God-given
rights" The Democrats submitted.
Government by Commission in the
place of local self government, although
a notification of the great principle of
suffrage, has gradually been
extended by both political parties to
many of the cities, and is now accept
ed as sound political doctrine.
That great party of intelligent and
men, the Republican party,
gave manhood suffrage to the negro,
Tor his self protection. At the same
line it began to put limitations on
suffrage in the northern
States by indirect methods when ig-
seemed to endanger the order
If the state. No one claims that it was
consistent. Communities, like individ-
lals when confronted with difficulties,
ire impatient at any talk about incOn-
y |
lorse in order to escape from robbers.
The Republican party, equal to all |
Emergencies, found the negro and 9th
r irresponsible voters. a disturbing
clement in the District of Columbia. So
t struck manhood suffrage, and local
elf government, from the hands of
go 600 people, and established what is
allied THE little Kingdom of the Pres
dent" which is simply a benifcent ,
ocal despotism. Those who mistrust ,
he people; those who fear unusual :
uffrage, find in the Republican party a
,ower willing to abandon the tradi-
ions if necessary and establish any
ort of a government, liberal or re
tricted, as the needs of the hour de-
nand. 1t is a party which deals with
he present and future, and not with I
he past.
That leading and staIwart Republic I
n, ex-senator Ingalls,, used these J
orceful words:
The best governed city in the United
states is the city where the people do
ot govern themselves
On the whole there is much food for
to be had for the asking.
THE PASSING HOUR