The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-19
"MONARCHICAL FEATURES"


The denas given and the secrecy maintained regarding
resignation of Attorney General Dole illustrate policy of
ceamen pursued by the Territorial which the Senate
commission might well have termed monarcca had look
cd into the matter The plan is settle public matters in private
then let people know what has been done for them There
are signs any notion that the people have right know
what being done and approve protest Between the gov
departments and the public there few condolences
The resignation Of DR. Slogget another example
OF the same sort OF conceament DR. Sogget resignation
in the hands OF the secretary for days and given
out 1t accidentally togh Independent of the government
like resignation of E. p Dole Otherwise would have
known OF vacancy the Board of Health until after
had been commissioned when became nec
siy Another example found in list of about twenty land
which deeds quietly placed record few days
ago of those deeds executed since Public
money was paid out and public sod and knew
anything about except the official who negotiated the deals
The people who owned the public lands sold and who furnish the
money paid out were never informed There have been scandals
with of these transactions Doubtless
the American system Of publicity had been followed the light
would have driven away corruption as it always does
The Kohaa ditch proposition exposes the system perhaps
better than any other At session after session Of the Executive
Council of Hawaii discussed profound and mpenetrabe
secrecy Contracts drawn and amended and the heads OF
departments week after week behind closed doors with the
promoters OF the plan get large public franchise nforma
ton for the public specifically refused The matter final
y referred to Washington Senate committee took 1t up and
the committee found nothing the subject keep Wires
from Washington Honolulu information about when
was before the United States Senate committee than Honolulu
could get while it was under consideration here
Instances might be multiplied almost without end When the
Presidents Cabinet the most important body of advisers the
world in Washington the public held have
deliberations subject which
very be kept important dis
cussed the Presidents Cabinet that given the press
and discussed by the public This is the Republican
the monarchca method When the Executive Council
in Honolulu its members dispense with fingers their
lips. Perhaps something finally disposed Of be given
The idea that citizens generally had known what was going
and had had chance to be heard they might have wanted diff
ferent disposition thought Of This the "monarchca
idaat the people children and public officers their guar
dan rather than the Republican idea that the people rule and
officials are their servants
presidential message at Washington is given to the press
keep the message until is released Every newspaper
office country Importance regularly from Wash
mgtOn departments documents be used until given
They simply mailed, marked be used till and
the accordingly The heads OF departments do
this at all matter OF favor the newspapers, but inform
the people For every who hears message paper
Congress, thousands read them the In Hawaii
message jealousy guarded until has been promu
gated in some official meeting other Let the
officials hear and lette people the policy governors
printing offices which do in advance the merely mechan
zeal work OF preparing for publication brief message
from the President actually addressed people of Hawaii
in its context similarly kept No newspaper allow
ed to to the whole people until had
small gathering 1t preserved an inside pocket one
or two persons of high station only being allowed and
those getting glimpse dark that seemed to hang
heavy with oemnty and secrecy Yetno official any
right in it than John Doe, Richard Roe Helen Blue.
An American statesman that
the greatest clzng influence the world today the strongest
for good and honesty in public as well
private PUBLlCIIY The Territory of Hawaii
OF It, Follow OF present executive methods log
zeal conclusion and we should have legislature sitting with clos
ed doors and stuffed keyhOeS and holding
deep well secluded cell which, like the Executive Council of the
Territory OF Hawaii, will give forth nothing but results