The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-06-04
PARTIES.

The Democrats of Honolulu have had
their mass meeting and the Democratic
party of the Islands may be regarded as
on the high road to organization. For
some time political interest will be cen
tered upon the progress of this party.
Having surveyed the political field so
far, the Star maintains it's former posi-
tion, that it was unwise to run national
politics into the local field. Just as we
sunk our differences in the fight for an
nexation, and Republicans and Demo-
Gratis, free silver and gold men, and all
the varying shades of political and eco
nomic thought stood as a solid phalanx,
so we ought to have stood together in
the first legislative assembly, as a uni
ted body. to elect good and able men
to that body, in order to deal with the
many difficult problems which are be-
fore us
For this purpose we will have to
select men Of both shades of political
opinion who will not have to thwart
one another in the House, but who will
work together for the common good.
We are not going TO reach this wished
Cor contamination by inflaming party
feeling, or by quarreling within the res
pective parties, or by ridiculing men
who have as good a right to their opin-
ions as their opponents. Whatever
views men may take of the national Is
sues. and to these views they have a
perfect right, local issues do not turn
opon these views. The local issues will
turn primarily upon two things-finance
and municipal government.
Now upon these two things will de-
pend our success during the next two
years Our finances must be adjusted
to the new conditions. This will take
able men to change; men who have
been accustomed to the management of
large funds; not tyros unacquainted
with the very rudiments of financial
policy. The formation of a municipal
government will require again men of
trained experience and knowledge of
the science of government. If we do
not have such men we are apt to have
set of laws drawn up which will allow
of corruption and raids on the city
treasury. And we may feel assured that
IL we make a mess of our finances and
of our municipal affairs, Congress will
very speedily amend our territorial act.
We will lose many of our privileges,
and get put back in the race for state
hood
Therefore it must be plain that the
course we are pursuing is one likely to
lead us to disaster Instead of moving
apart, we should unite all elements for
good government. There will be an ele-
ment Which will be led astray and strive
to put in demagogic representatives and
senators, and just at the time when
we cannot afford demagogues. We have
an excellent opportunity before us, a
chance in million. Well governed we
can advance to certain success. But a
vacillating and cratic Legislature may
throw our noble little ship of state upon
her beam ends. She will recover, of
course, but meantime her voyage of
prosperity will be retarded, and it may
take some time 20 get the rigging into
running order again. 1t might even
result in having to cut away the masts
of franchise.
If we are to work together and the
Star feels convinced that many will re-
alize the necessity of it as they begin to
become better acquainted with the po-
litical outlook, there can be nothing
gained towards harmony by covert or
open filings against those who differ
upon broad questions of national policy.
The Democrat is just as honest in his
opinion as the Republican. If one does
not agree with him one can argue with
him, and one can set forth ones prlnci-
pies but ridicule and inuendo are not
argument and they tend to intensity
party feeling, when every effort should
de made to minimize it on local issues.
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