The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-01
Zm1 . KEEP PONDER DRY.

7
RepubIicans who are afforded an OPP
portunity 10 give their opinions 10 the
committee which is called into oelne
for the purpose of feeling the puohe
pulse. will have a sense of responsible
ity when they offer their views. There
NAV be more in the simple decision OF
this question at this time than appears,
for it is not merely a matter of an
empty title for some worker. but more
than that. a question OF conservation
Of party energy.
The making OF a hard campaign for
the possession of a seat which VIII
carry with it nothing more than
name. within six months of the time
when the party army must be called out,
horse foot and dragons. for a battle
royaI for possession of the Legislature,
would seem at first glance to be I'M
polite There are honest opinions.
however. on both sides. and the ques-
ton resolves itself into one of weight
OF argument. The men who think there
should be fight talk of a surrender.
but the general who refuses to uncover
his position upon a feint of the enemy,
finds that his hidden guns make good
practice when the decisive engagement
comes off.
" Ath TIC ludJOltNy party lain
Of the inutility of a campaign. il would
appear TO an observer that the position
is weak one. The very fact that
majority party violates every rule and
precedent of the game of politics and
waits for the minority party to nomi-
nate, shows that there is no desire to
give battle. and TO risk opening out the
arguments which must have weight
with the people. showing every maneu
yer which is counted upon to storm the
citadel of the enemy, is at least bad
tactics.
II will be almost a year before the
next session of the Legislature is con-
vened. The regular election will be
held on November 4th. Long before
that day arrives the people will see
even more fully than they do now the
terrible mistake that was made in put
ting the legislative branch of the gov
eminent into the hands of incompe-
tents. and the longer this fact rankles
in the minds of the voters. the worse
il will be for the majority party. AS
the matter now is there is in the hands
of the Republicans an excellent club
with which to make the fight. The
Home Rulers went into the first cam
paign of the territory without anything
but promises. There was nothing more
or the other side, and the Independents
won.
Now it is different. The home Rul-
ers have a record. 1t is written in
their own book. and the result is that
on that record they may be placed con-
tinuously on the defensive. Their sins
are written and they can not escape
the judgment. There are sins of omis-
sion as well as sins of commission.
Would it be wise, when such weapons
are at hand, to weaken and cheaper
them by wetting the powder in a little
5kirmish which has not the dignity of a
fight? Would not the result of making
this fight a hard one be that the enemy,
knowing just what is to be brought
against him. will prepare his defenses
and thus reduce the power of the arSu-
mentative side of the campaign?
1t is not alone a matter of money,
although that is of course a feature.
but it is also question of the force OF
argument which might be adduced, and
the consequent weakening OF 1t by
use for the people who have once been
called out with battle cry, want a
new shibboleth with which to conjure
when the same fight is on again.
The committee starts into its work
with a prejudice. There are men on it
whose belief is fixed. They have made
IL known and 1t would take strong ar
cument to break it down. But they
will find that the thinking man, who
has given his time to consideration OF
this matter. will believe that when
there is so much at stake none of the
methods of fighting should be publish
ed.