The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-11-10
ETHICAL
QUESTION
J. w. Girvin.

|
The question whether it is right for a
government officer to coerce those who
for the time being are working under
| him to voting for his party or clique
| is no question whatever. He has no
such right and should be removed
| from office, no matter who he is nor his
Having forgotten that he was the ex-
ecutive of the people and in that ca
pacity instrumental in distributing the
taxes contributed by the people
amongst wage earners, he should be
removed so that others in similar posi-
lions would learn that this thing can
not be done with impunity
One of the largest employers of men
in the United States is the Postmaster
General. He knows he must not at
tempt to influence those working under
Kim to vote this or that way. Men are
compelled to sell their bodies or labor
in order to support their families, but
it should be distinctly understood that
the contract does not carry With it
their souls or consciences.
We are continually reading of large
corporations compelling their employees
to vote this or that way. The owner
ship OF the stock in those corporations
is probably distributed among members
of several political parties, yet the di-
rectorate or probe bly, the head of the |
company issues his fiat that the en-
pioyes shall vote his way or lose their
positions and means of sustaining their |.
families This is fearfully wrong and !
is one of the things which tend to-
wards bringing corporations into dis !
repute. They are mythical individuals
and only exist by laws made by the
people, and should abstain from at
tempting to coerce their employees in
political matters.
There are fair and legitimate means
men can influence those in
their employ. but they are the same
only which should be used in influence
ing the community viz, reason and
logic
In a republic the great desideratum
is to discover the crystalized sense of
the voters Its wisdom, when all act
free from coercion, is sure to be right,
and probably this is the origin of the
saying which has come down to ua
from antiquity, VoX populi, vox Del.
How firm we should be, therefore, in
that none should be coerced
m political matters.
1t is right that we should have par
les. as it facilitates the eliciting of the
sense of the people on great measures
which may or may not be conducive
tow ards the welfare of the community
II nation.
1t is equally right that those who
axe office under the dominating party
should be loyal to the party in its main
principles. but it is so flagrantly wrong
hat coercion should be used to compel
such loyalty when it is discovered that
a mistake has been made in following
/ particular theory that we decry and
condemn such coercion. We live in a
world of change and of progress and
must keep up with the times Can any
Of us look back and say with truth
hat our forefathers made no Mistakes?
How suicidal it would be for us. then.
to follow in the lines laid down by
.hem-in other worGs, to say that I an.
Or vice versa. Are We not sentient.
thinking and responsible mortals and
should we not switch when we discover
hat any speciallypursued policy is and
will initiate against the general vel.
are? Now. that free thought of the
masses is exactly what should be cuI-
-ivated and opportunity given for it's
expression.
In small communities men are
brought close together and hEcw the
abilities and characters of their neigh. |
oors and should elect those u cf1ice
who are best fitted for the positions.
Irrespective of party affiliations. and al
he same time should support the party
n whose principles they believe. No!
one should be elected to a petty office
merely for the reason that he. by CO.
ercing them accidentally under him,
would add strength to the party