Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-02-05
Mr.. BRYCE ON CITIZENSHIP.


In these days, when politics are
beginning to warm up, the average
citizen should be interested in the
views Of the Right Honorable James
Bryce, British Amba (ador to the
United states, on the hindrances to
good citizenship, and straightway
overcome. any OF these hindrances
that may be. personal. q
Mr.. Bruce dealt with this sub,
ject in q series Of lectures delivered
before the students of Yale Univer-
sity, and his opinions are always ac-
cepted as the conclusions Of a clea'
and honest thinker, though It may
not be possible to agree with him on
all points. One Of the pleasing fea-
lures of Mr.. Bryce's works on Amer
lean conditions is that he does not
take a pessimistic view Of the pres.
ent standards Of citizenship, a view
80 frequently taken by many Of our
own people, who want to correct
everything and everyone in a day.
While acknowledging that present.
day social and economic conditions
have create many hindrances to
the exercise Of good citizenship. Mr..
Bryce at the same time maintaine
that there are many redeeming fea-
lures in the popular governments OF
the present age, and we may well
hope, he declares, that the altruistic
spirit which is now everywhere WIS.,
ible In the field Of private philan-
thropic work, will spread into the
field Of civic action also and there
become new motive power.
Three causes assigned as RESPONSE
BILE for the decline In good citizen
ship are Incidence, selfish personal
interest. and party spirit. or these.
Incidence is the most common, he
says, selfish personal INTEREST the
most noxious. and party spirit the
most excusable as well as the most
subtle. To each Of these causes Mr..
Bryce devotes a lecture, and In a
concluding lecture he inquiries what
are the remedies that offer the best
prospect OF removing the evils found
to exist.
1t is admitted in the lectures that
the American people may be less sus-
ceptible to the charge Of Incidence
in public matters than are the citi-
zens of European countries. but for
all that, Mr.. Bryce believes that the
neglect to vote, to serve in public Of
fce. and to study and reflect upon
public questions are all the result Of
Incidence, and he assures US that 1t
is this which makes us hesitate 70
| inform ourselves about the public
questions submitted for our decision
and to reach just conclusions. Fl
When private self-interest con-
hicts with public duty It 10 safe
conclusion, according to the lecturer
that self-interest wins out and pub
lie duty is sacrificed. 3.
For this. reason It 10 plainly i'm
perative, he claims, that some scheme
should be propounded to take swsy
from bad men, II possible. the mean
and opportunities by which they ma,
work evil to the whole comniunit,
to the advantage Of private interests
Socialism. proportional representa-
tion, obligatory voting. initiative ant
referendum and primary election
laws are discussed as possible me-
chanical means by which these Oh
stacles to good citizenship may bt
removed, and are all examined b,
Mr.. Bryce, their merits and weak
nesses ably propounded.
| An especial interest lies In tn
lectures from the fact that they arr
1.-THE expression of a man who view
the subject from the broadcast posi-
BILE standpoint. Experiences Of coun
tries on both hemispheres In civil
reform are quoted. English AM