Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 217, 17 June 1891 — SMALL COUNTRIES. [ARTICLE]

SMALL COUNTRIES.

It seems tbat small countries are alwavs particularly turbulent. To pass over historical examples we bave only to observe the political conditi©n of the Centra3 and South American republics. flistory has no record of worse government or more unhappy results than we see there. Military despots and dictators reign under the name of presidents. Terrorism and corruption are tej»pered only by assassi-i nalion and revolution. Lifc- and j property are insecure and poverty j yq aalor and apath} T reign. A free press is unknown; ignoraids superstition in degrading the people to" a state of helpless animalism. These states and unhappy position and prospects should be a warning to Hawaii. In order to have a ]ust and stable government there must bea power in the state to enforce the laws and the derrees | of justice. This power usuaUy preseAts itself in the form of poliee; and soldiers. A show of force is: made that compels all tō respect the government. In small countries a single agitator or intriguer may frequently secure snch a fol!owing as to seriously threaten the peaee of the community. A combination of families may control the whole country. A handful of disappointed office seekers may raise a revoJution. There ean never be a stable ■and- respectable government where handful of mal-contents ean pro(luee a perceptible influence on the afifairs of the couutry. In larg>e communities and states small parties with their individual and personal motives cannot effeet the peaee or quiet of the country l>ecause they are insignificant in comparison to the mass ofthe popu!ation. Any industrious agitator may get a foilowing of two or three hundred persons. In a large o,ountry they would amount to nothing; in a small one they would form a disturbing element that cou.ld not be ignored.

The small countries exist at the present iime mostly on account of tbe jealousies ofthegreat powers, whieh will not allow eaeh other to take what eaeh covets. We are situated at the angle of a tri-partite treaty that is supposed toguarantee our independence. A government is permitted to exist, but it is largeJy controlled by the intrigues een- j tering around the foreign representatives who do Viofc he»itate to inierfere wiUi the a£Tairs of the eountry. We exiat on suffereuce until the powers agree to dispose of .us. Xf European or a fee«eral war ebould break up the 9tatus we would be at the mercy, of any oower that wald Send a If Eu&wl mā United States edme seoond rate pture us. The tiiiipiīii|jir m iimiīHiir jecftimod *smt ofihe ifclia&ta&ts tmā

in an<l u eBtabHBh ordēr" to prot(JCt their interests.

' Our independence is more tiominal thin the guarantees foj its continuanee are insignificant. We have the name of independence as we have the name of peaee, law, justice liberty. But we not be lulled to sleep by swee& sounding namcs but look out for the realities.

People were carried away by the word 4< Reform," but in reality it was and has proved to be sotnething very different. Independence is a good word and it has beenlong used for puliiieal capital, but it is time to inqmre into the £acts of the case. Do we have any real independence ? Can we ever hope to attain or retain a respectable position as an independent i4ation ? Is there any secunty or perraanency in the present state ? When have the powers of the world ever kept their promises or agreements with weak people longer than they fonnd it convenient ? Nations are utterly unscrnpulous and untram* meled by laws.

We have preached many- a sermon about the corrupt and unsafisfactory state of our politics. Any one eame rail. But we must seek a remedy now. Damning the opposite party and trying to get in and put the fellows out has been tried long enough to show that it will not save the country. We must seek new remedies remodel our affairs ( to suit the times. and wherft necessary make radical changes to meet the populai- ideas of government.