The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-09-10
TERRITORIAL POLITICS.

some idea of form" to use a race track
expression. The people of the different
parts of the territory are beginning to
express themselves politically, either by
their action, or their failure to act, and
in making political forecasts, and plan
ming campaigns, the latter is some
times just as important as the former.
We now know in what parts of the
territory the Republicans are active,
and in what parts they are not. People
are beginning to express themselves in
public meetings, and with defniteness,
while hitherto, the only gauge of poll
teal feeling has been individual ex-
preston of opinion, and this usually
either in a guarded manner that did not
irrevocably commit the person express
ing the opinion, or in cocksure, bombas-
tic certainty that really means nothing
We now know that the Republicans
are organized and more or less active
In every precinct on Oahu. That they
are organized in every district on Ha-
wall, expect Kau. That Maui is orga-
nized and Molokai and Lanai; and that
Kauai is not.
All things considered, this is very en-
couraging as far as it goes. 1t is not
the whole thing however. The mere
fact of an organization, of the holding
of primaries, the election of delegates,
and the meeting of district conventions,
may be elusive. 1t may appear to mean
more than it does. Two or three men
in any precinct, acting either on party
h inn
can without any trouble get material
enough together to hold a very respect
able primary and go through all the
forms of electing delegates. And yet
the mass of the community they repre-
sent, may be either inert on the subject
of party politics, or actually on the
other side. The precinct of Waimanalo
on this Island is an example in point.
Everything was ready for the primary.
There We're men, Republicans in prin-
ciple, ready to be delegates and carry
out the party organization. But they
were not citizens. They will be before
election but they We're not at the time
of the primary. The Hawaiians were
entitled to vote, but no genuine prosely-
ting had been done among them. They
did not feel themselves Republicans,
and the primary went by default This
is an extreme case, But it proves that
a show of organization is not all that is
needed.
There must be a vigorous campaign Of
education. The voters, individually
and collectively, in every precinct and
hamlet must be reached. Campaign
speakers must go among them Cam
paign literature must be distributed.
They must be shown the reasons why
they should choose the Republican
party. No campaign of positive action
was ever won by inaction. The next le-
gislature is all important to Hawaii.
It is all important to the Republican
party. Nothing in this campaign can
be neglected.
Party organization is an important
thing 1t gives the territorial commit
tee agencies to work through. 1t gives
them agencies through which to learn
what is needed in particular districts.
1t is highly important, and it is highly
valuable But it has its limitations,
and one of the limitations of party or
ganization is that alone it cannot win
victories
The news columns of The Star present
other information that ought to be well
considered by the territorial committee.
On Maui it would seem that the indie
pendent movement is gradually disin-
tegrating. 1t has no motive of cohesi-
veness, expect an appeal to race preJu-
dice and it is being made clearer and
clearer that such an appeal meets little
responsiveness when made to the Ha-
waiians. But while the Independent
movement on Maui seems to be disinte-
grating, it's elements are not all tending
to the Republican party. Unless good
work is done large proportion of those
who at one time were inclined to affi-
late with the Independent movement,
will go to the Democracy. Abuse and
buster will not carry them to the Re-
publican party in any large numbers.
There must be an appeal to intelligence
and common sense. 1t is not enough
to ridicule John Wise because he con-
fesses that within the limits of a short
speech he cannot explain fully the doc
trine of 16 to l. The Republicans must
be able to show the fallacy of 16 to l.
And so with other issues. AS mere as
sertiOns, the Republican position on
these issues, Is in logic no more con-
vincing than the Democratic position
on the same issues. The Republican
must be able to give reasons as well as
assertions.
The inactivity of Kau and Kauai is
somewhat disquieting. The reasons
for it should be thoroughly looked into,
and the proper remedy applied.
In short the campaign should be d.
vested of all scheming and conniving
for personal aggrandizement, and