Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 193, 14 Mei 1891 — MOBS AND DEMAGOGUES. [ARTICLE]

MOBS AND DEMAGOGUES.

Those who cannot and will not! see the signs of wide-spread and growing discontcnt among our people are ia the habit of attributing all the symptoms of the movement to the machinations of a few leaderB and uncsrupulous demagogues. Their resentaient is all directed 4gainst these supposed agitator, and their energies, instead of being used to the cure of the real evil, are all bent to crush the individualB who appear at the head of the movemint. The fact ie that it ie utterly imposBible for any agitator howerer subtile or eloquent to get the smallest following unless the peeple feel that they have a real aod urgent grievance. The inertia of masBes is immense, No matter how just the eauee or how imp*rtant the prineiple or opportune the time, eloquence, zeal and inspiration are lost on the Btolid herd of man&nimals; unless it is semething that sensibly affecta them, like the senBe of Kunger, or fear «f bodily harm, there is no pr#babilitv of their making any movemcnt in their own interestB for liumauity. They are mueh more likcly to Ftome to death any would be leader than to lend themBelveB to hia guidanoe. History has not furoished an ir.dtance of agitators who did more than stir up the already moviog diBCont«nt of the people. Carist with his divine purpose and divio« gifta was not followed by ihe people to any ex-

tent. The necessity and desire for a change or a reform grows and develops slow!y in the minds of the masses. It has its origin ther©. The growth is slow and almost imperceptible. But as the idea grows there are certain individuals that being more advanced than the rest, attract attention. They are the advance guards of progress; they are the leaders of the people. These unfortunate ones have always been cut down by the kings, priests and their supporters. They are supposed to be the cause while they j are only theeffect of the trouble.| They have been utterly hatedi and crueliy prosecuted in all times and places, but their death or distruction has never defeated a»d scarcely eyer delayed a popular reform. A dozen spring up where one was cut down.

And so it is here and now our slave-owning aristocracy, absorbing the »übstance of the land, bitterly hate the "Bush-Wilcox crowd" whom they imagine to be the cause of the opposition to their undisputed sway. How often we are told that tht dissatisfaction with existing condition is due to the agitations of a few disappointed office-seekers. Perhaps it was a few disappointed office seekers who originated the n»ighty embry but sadly abortive Reform of 1887. Was it a few oflßce-seekers that defeated the triumphant # "reform" and deposed the cabinet whien thought itself immortal ?

A few disappointed ®nes caused the rejection of the Cummins Cabinet who thought they would last two years at least. How l«ng is the present cabinet to hold out against the desires of the people ? Not as long as they fanc} r . A few agitators do not supp«rt Ka Leo and make monarchs* and ministers shiver in their downy beds. The exalted fools may imagine that it is on!y the Bush—Wilcox crowd, but it is really the Voice ©f the Peoole that they hear and inust ultioaately heed. The popular press shows the very pulse ®f the people. The rich and mighty will continue to turn their hatred towards them who represent the popular demand for liberty, turn the deaf ear to all reason be blind to the signs of the timef.. devote their energies to the acquirement of j other people'» property, and at last find their power and gold— ashes.