Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-09
BOSS SHEpHBRD-AN EXAMPLE,

BOSS SHEpHBRD-ANE EXAMPLE,
The city of Washington, d. c, which
practically means the District of Col
umbia is preparing to turn out in force
to give rouslng welcome to ex.Gover.
nor Alexander X. shepherd
This man Shepherd was thirty years
ago heralded in the most malicious
words that good government" forces
could pen as Boss Shepherd" And
thereby hangs an interesting tale re.
plete with lessons and worthy of con.
temptation by honest citizens who be.
iiove their way is the only way.
Mr.. Shepherd was Governor OF the
District Of Columbia when that section
jf our country was under a Territorial
:orm of government. Shepherd was a
man of action. He did thinas. ne
believed the capital city Of the nation
should be as near ideal in the laying
Jut Of streets, parks and public grounds
as possible. and that the American
capital should be second to none in the
world. When Shepherd assumed Office
Washington was as far from being an
ideal city asst could be. It was a sea
OF mud; a good deal like second
Chinatown. Its people theorized on
what should be done. They did MOTH
ing.
Shepherd was set upon going ahead.
progressing, building up the city and
making 1t beautiful. No sooner did he
begin actual, forceful work, than he
became the object of the most malic.
ious attack any public officer has
ever been subjected to. As one paper
puts 1t, he was subjected to storm
Of petty protests. reverberating bin
| tngsgate and chorus OF utilitarian
voices" But Shepherd forged ahead.
He worked with what he had. He met
the unitarian cry by a renewal of en-.
ergy and more steadfast determine.
ton to carry out his broad MINDED
designs. He was charged with being
corrupt and of epitomizing all the evil
forces to be found in American govern.
ment. He was written up and down
the country as Boss" But shep.
herd still forged ahead.
He was charged with saddling tax.
payers and the Federal Government
with unnecessary burdens of taxation.
Still Shepherd forged ahead.
A movement was made in Congress
to remove the capital to western
city. Shepherd fought the proposition
and conquered. He secured the friend.
ship of President Grant, which at that
time was supposed to reflect no credit
on Grant. He interested Northern
capitalists in District bonds. He Sc
cured appropriations from Congress to
the extent of about $25,OOO,OO0 for
beautifying the city and spent the
greater part of his own private fortune
for the same purpose and for fighting
his enemies.
All these things were at the time
cited as evidence of Boss" Shepherds
corrupt methods and Boss" Shep,
herds corrupt government. The
storm raised about Shepherds head
resulted In Congressional investiga,
ton. a change to the present form OF
government and Boss" Shepherd was
practically run out of town. out OF the
country indeed. for he went to the
Mexican mines to retrieve his fallen
fortune.
But the work Shepherd started went
on. The beautiful avenues, parks and
public grounds he planned remained
The trees with which he lined the
streets of the city did not stop grow
Ing. Time worked out the problem and
slowly but surely the people came Ia
appreciate their own short sighted
ness and the wisdom and foresight of
Shepherd. Some years ago this much
maligned man who had been ruined
financially, visited Washington, and
the leading citizens of the town seem.
ed unable to find words with which
to express their profound gratitude
for what he had done. He is to nav
the city another visit and the citizens
are planning to extend to him such a
welcome as is due the man who lifted
Washington City out of the mud"
What has this to do with Hawaii
and the city of Honolulu?
1t merely shows that tae men who
shout corruption" the loudest, the
men who defame others who would
forge ahead in spite of difficulties are
OFTEN times the most short sighted and
are indeed the enemies of that good
government" which seeks an energetic
present and a prosperous and peaceful
future.
Honolulu and the Territory are to.
day lolling in the doldrums of practi.
cal retrogression for no other reason