The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-12-11
ORDERLY CLUB MEETINGs.

Town meetings in New England and
all over the United States where that
excellent and simple mode OF ascertain
| ing public opinion has been adopted
are nearly always orderly. Discussion
Is free and pointed, but parliamentary
| decorum Is observed. Occasionally in
cities. such as New York and San Fran
cisco, when the hour is late, rowdies
attempt TO exercise the license of ignor-
ance and vulgarity, but, in that event,
the police discharges one of its special
functions, and good order is maintain
ed. IL necessary by force.
The town meeting in Honolulu, on
Monday evening last, to be continued to-
morrow, established fine precedent for
the consideration of local questions. 1t
was called, and all its expenses paid
by the Merchants Association, embrace
ing members of different parties, but
equally interested in the public welfare.
Its president was the chairman, and
the programmed speakers and the audi
ence were there by invitation. The ut
most latitude for the expression of
opinion, in proper terms, and without
the intrusion of exasperating politics or
personalities, was afforded. If, late in
the evening, few of the citizens pres
ent did not appreciate this fact, that
circumstance may be attributed to lack
of experience, and, in one or two in
stances, to self-assertion.
On the whole the meeting was a sue
cess which, 1t is to be expected, will be
repeated tomorrow. No formal action, in
the shape of resolutions, was originally
designed or thought necessary, but the
feeling of the solid elements of the
community, of all stations and condi-
tons, against Congressional interior
ence with local self-government, is SO
manifest and so unanimous, that 1t will
now, in all probability, be condensed
into appropriate expression. 1t Is most
desirable that any resolution or resolu-
tons acted upon may be at once terse.
firm, strong and courteous. This is the
manner in which the American people
usually formulate their ideas, which, as
expressive of mature and settled pub
lie sentiment, and not mere rancor or
individual personalities or aspirations,
are generally influential and effective.
On Monday night, one of the speakers
appropriately grouped together a num-
Der of acts and declarations of the
Executive and Legislative Departments
of the Federal Government, which |
seemed conclusively to establish the |
fact that both are committed, with the |
implied assent of the Amer
lean people, to non-interference with |
Hawaiian affairs that are purely local. |
This corresponds to a principle, essen |
TALLY American, and adds to the force |
of any technical argument against |
action upon the County
Act the moral element |
that it would substantially violate the
system and the pledges under which
the Territory was organized.
The conception of town meetings
originated in the determination of New
England colonists to govern them
selves, in all matters that were munich
pal. The direct and general application
Of the conception has fixed the theory
and practice of local self government
in the hearts and in the minds of the
American people. Home Rule, there
fore, as fact. almost unanimously ac-
copied, belongs equally to all parties
and to every citizen. Hawaii could not
safely permit, without remonstrance,
deviation from Home Rule that would
a national principle, besides
national integrity.
l.