Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 281, 16 September 1891 — In Anterica the People Rule. [ARTICLE]

In Anterica the People Rule.

Under the above headvig, the New York Tribr'm of a T-ecent date. pictures an interesting view of an ideal democracy as it exists in popular form m the Uuited States. There are many lessons in the article of peculiar interest to the Hawaiian people at the present lime, since the puhlie m!nd has become agitated with ideas of popuiar govemmenl. After reviev. T inc; tlje origin and fund amental principles of governmenti the growth o-i--iliō idea that Kangs'received-.their right to govern from on high, whieh has been disputed "from time immemorial, that rulers, got tbeir power fron: the people;" then ,describing the organization of society from the unit of power, the family, and the progressive combinations, of towns, citiesk districts. <20untries and states that together make the naiion, the i«dependent prerogatives of eaeh grade, arul the combined power of determining (iuestions of governmoi,t by ballot.' 1 the Trihunc says: . l *From what gone before, it is evident that the people are the sourcje of all power in this oountry. Our officinls are expected simply to carry out the will of the people. It then follows as a matter of necessity, that to have a wise and intelligent government our people must be wise and iutelligent themselvej', because they are, in fact the * government." " No man is born to any civil or politicai oiliee in the United States. Rule]-s are made and unmade at the will of the |)eople. Ourtheory is that the peopie will select the b*3 fc men for plaee and power. Tbey often fa.il to do so. but they hii it right more frequently than is done when these ofiiees are filled ihe accidents of birth." | When onee underst\#od, our 11 of government will be admiti • o be the best ever yet devised. Bystera of ioeal managemeut left with the people of eaeh ity for themseives. is as peras has ever yet heen i. If our ptH>ple could only o agree on \vhat is bost to be < c would be little &iction .a: n»an3goment of aftairs. o>>n>es the trouble. <rood <ften difll r as to what policy •5 !> ,* pursiied. Tboy eannoi * *.s to what is best. *Selfishvnd ignotauce also mix up in oftho problem, and| wio-ktidiY»ws. aiui bad| tcs are notwiuitin£. A deci-|

sion must be made« In an absolute monarchy the question would be settled by ihe will of the jnonarch. Ia a republic, we leāye the decision to the vote of the majority of the people. Our theory is *that the majority \v4ll be more likely to be right than the min»yityt—and certainly more likely to be right than anv one man. " Thus it becomes evident that the intelligence of the voter, whieh will enahle him to decide wisely, and theu an honest count of the ballots,. so as to learn where the majority stands, these are the two safeguards of this Republic. Irir telligent, well-informed peOptē and an honest, fair election āre the substratum on whieh _rests this great American Xation. Pure homes, well regralated families, good eommon schoois, an untrammclled press, and honest ballots honestly counted wili keep this Nation among the best and wisest; Governments on the face of the earth." These are exaetl y the requisites required here to make of this eountry a true Paradise. With purer ,homes and better regulated families, progressively improved schools to briug up an intelligent and well informed generation, also with a less trammellēd press, more fee to point out government, ]udicial or private abuses without being threatened with contemptof court or libel suits, and lastly with lionest eleetion wrth a rigid applicStion of the seeret ballot.—whereby every man will give his sincere decision,—will give us a system of government, such as it is the good of the National Partv, "of the People, ; for the People, and by the People," and not — as at prescnt. for ar.d by clique ānd fau>ily compacts.