The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-05-07
UNITY.

The more one looks at our present
situation in our very youthful territory,
n very bantling among the congeries of
states and territories the more is it
borne upon one that the most essential
thing for us at the present time is unity.
With unity of purpose we can carry on
our local government economically and
well, with division we shall only inau-
gurate reign of grab, where each par
fy will try to overcome the other, and
in the course of heated campaign, will
make promises to this and to that par
tisan which will have to be fulfilled and
the public service have to suffer
The Territory is but a babe in swad-
ding cloths as yet, and what we want
just now are men who can conduct our
affairs honestly and well regardless of
what their special political views are
Were we going to have the slightest in
fluence upon national affairs even by a
single vote among the representatives,
a national issue would arise here, but
we have not. Had we such a vote it
would behoove usHto consider out bal
lots from the sides of the two great
parties. ..u..'
1t has been pointed out that a dele
gate from the Islands, unless he has
been elected by the Republicans, would
stand very little chance of influencing
the House in making appropriations for
the Islands! Now we do not know the
Republican voting strength any more
than we know the Democratic voting
strength. But it is fair to presume that
the Democrats are not going to be idle,
and will make a bid for votes just as
the Republicans are. This might result,
the Star does not say it would, but it
might result in Democratic delegate
being sent to Congress.
But if, on the other hand we remain
united, and for the present sink nation
al issues, and send a delegate from a
united Territory, we run no risk of
offending either party. We don't rush
in with whoop and shout, Here is
Hawaii 1t is going to help the United
States in it's foreign and domestic pol
icy and don't you forget it." This is
hardly a modest way of entering. But
it would be modest and wise to say,
Gentlemen, we have just entered upon
a birthright which we have coveted for
years. We wish to set our house in
good order. We desire to show you that
we can govern ourselves well. We have
therefore chosen the very best and most
honest men for office that we can find,
and have discarded a doctrine which a
certain set of politicians has .enticed
us with, that even if candidates are
corrupt they must be voted for it nomi-
mated by the party to which we are
affiliated When we have shown that
we are, as we fully believe, able to gov
ern ourselves ably and WELL we will
then hope to divide and in a humble
way assist the great parties of the great
Republic
The division which the machine would
like to make, and which in spite of de-
feat, it is still hoping to make, will be
very disastrous to us. The challenging
of a gentlman of Mr.. Atherton's stand
ing in the community the other evening
was a sample of the kind of division
which is apt to come up. Because Mr..
Atherton refused to sigh call until he
understood what the call would result
in was sufficient to have him chal-
lenged as being no Republican. The
machine will never do any good and it
may result in doing a great deal Of
harm. What we need are able states
men, and not ward politicians who are
after loaves and fishes, said loaves and
fishes to go to men that may be known
ito be corrupt"
This is the view of the less hot
headed and clearer thinking men of the
community, and they are the men who
will eventually be the leaders in our
growing and prosperous commonwealth.