The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1902-06-16
W. o. Smith Talks on Municipal
Government.


original TeSOlullOu A WOIhlu6 byolSh
consistent with American industrial
and political conditions, and embody.
ing the essential principles that must
underlie successful government in
this country The proposed constitw
tional amendments and the proposed
Municipal Corporations Act constitute
the Municipal Program which was
unanimously adopted at the Colum.
bus Conference. These two docu
ments together with the leading pa.
pers presented at the Indianapolis
and Columbus meetings and Sum.
mary of the Program, prepared by
Professor L. S. Rowe, constituted the
report Of the committee"
The limits of this address will not
permit of more detailed statement
of the plan suggested by the commit.
tee, but their plan is deserving of most
careful attention and study.
The proposition to provide municl.
pal government for Honolulu, and
other portions of these Islands, should
be approached dispassionately, and
be considered solely upon its merits
While there are objections to the pres
ent centralized form of government,
no right-minded citizen would advo.
cate radical change unless satisfied
that the best interests of the commu-
nifty would be promoted thereby.
If the time is now ripe for step
so serious, and under existing condi-
tons so fraught with danger, it should
only be taken after the most careful
consideration by the thoughtful and
responsible elements of the communi.
ty, and upon wisely devised plan.
Such a plan can only be developed by
deliberate and thorough study OF the
situation by qualified persons.
Ill-advised and hasty action and a
defective scheme will not only result
in great cost and disquietude, but may
be most difficult to control or remedy
when once the machinery is set in mo.
ton.
Views and methods differing from
those to which residents of the old
settled communities of the States are
accustomed, are sometimes termed
"un-American," when in fact they
may represent the truest American.
ism.
The basic American idea of govern
ment is to create and maintain a form
of government best suited to develop
and protect the highest interests of
the citizen and the community. Under
conditions existing generally through.
out the country the popular form OF
city government with manhood sui.
frage has accomplished many good re,
suits. But even the most ardent ad.
vocate of democracy cannot be blind
to the glazing evils and abuses which
have existed under the system. Under
the common American forH. of city
government and the political machln.
cry which it has made possible and
fostered, the result has in many cases
been very far from government "of
the people, by the people and for the
people, but rather manipulation and
government by the. scheming, skillful
few. In too many instances the tyran.
ny and despotism of the machine"
mas been Numerically opposed TO
true American principles.
No patriotic American would aban-
don the democratic theory of govern
ment because abuses and failures occur
in some cases, but it is well for us ia
consider, intelligently and honestly,
whether we believe that the best in
terests of this community-political In.
dustrial and soclal-will be promoted
by adopting, at this time, the ordinary
American form of city government
The best attainments in life are the
result Of growth, development, evolu.
ton.
The establishment of a Territorial
government under the Constitution and
laws of the United States marked n
great stride forward along the line of
democratic-republican government in
these Islands. 1t is still, however. in
It's infancy, and under the conditions
OF the population and results thus far
demonstrated, it would appear pru-
dent that further time be given for adj
1ustment to the new conditions, and
the development of civic ideals, before
another momentous step be taken.
II experience shows that better re-.
suits cannot be obtained in the affairs
of the general territorial government
with the present voting population,
then greater voting privileges and
powers should be withheld until the
character of the voting population inn.