The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-04-11
LOOKING BACKWARD.

AS far back as 1874, over a quarter Of
a century ago, there was a citizens as
ISOLATION started in Chicago. The OBJ
ject of that association was as the
prospectus ran, ITO insure a more per-
feet administration of municipal affairs;
to promote the general welfare and
prosperity of the city; to protect citi-
zens, as far as possible, against the
! evils of careless legislation;
to secure such legislation, both state
and national, as the interests of the
city may from time to time, require;
to correct existing abuses, and
to prevent their future occurrence"
1t was launched then, and it drew
down considerable amount of acri-
mOny, and from the machine side of pol
itics there is every reason to understand
why there should have been objection
The mere cold statement in the first
article of the constitution of the asso-
citation was calculated to give cold chills
/ to the average venal politician. And
though the politicians may have won,
ait times, the record of what the citi-
zens' committee has done in that one
city, has been magnificent one.
There is no hesitation about what
. the Citizens Association of Chicago
means. In section of article 1, it is
very distinct. 1t says: This associa-
ton shall not engage in furthering the
! interests of any religious sect or de-
nomination, nor of any political party
| organization, nor of any organization
! engaged or interested in promoting
temperance or sumptuary legislation"
That such an announcement of policy
would not be we'll received is a foregone
conclusion. 1t arouses various antag-
onisms. 1t arouses both Republicans
and Democrats. 1t will have nothing to
do with either Roman Catholics or
Professionals. 1t will have nothing to do
with organizations which seem vital TO
large number of people,
All this is true. But in spite of this,
for over a quarter of A century, this
association has been a power, ar that
in one of the most corrupt cities in the
world. 1t is only an effort upon the
part of the right thinking people, who
believe in "republicanism,' to have 1t
true republlcanism, and not a swap-ofI
from royalty to bossiam, where it Is
very difficult to find any advantage III
the change. AS a point of fact, there
is absolutely none, and the scale goes
down on bossism any day, for it is an
infinitely worse rule than anything that
has yet been invented.
The main point OF view that should be
kept by the citizens of Honolulu, is that
nothing in their municipal affairs
should be done without the careful
scrutiny of those representing their best
intelligence If this has to be carried
out it means effort on the part of the
best citizens. 1t will be no use to com
plain that this thing has been done, or
/ that thing has been undone. II is the
| duty of the citizen to see that it is
done, whatever it may be, and being
done, there is the end of it.
The time is close at hand when
we shall have to fend for our
selves. We have been practically,
in swaddling clothes for some years
back, but we shall soon be in
position to look absolutely after
ourselves, without any reference to any
others. An enlightened policy in carry
ing on our affairs will be of the greatest
advantage to US, a mere throwing our
selves to this or that particular party
will most assurdly bring us disaster
What we have at the present moment
to consider is the conditions now exist
ing, and we have to make the best OF
them. A society based upon the Chi
cago ideal would not be SO much amiss
and 1t would be essentially American.