Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 329, 23 November 1891 — Tha Nationals' Idea of a Cabinet. [ARTICLE]

Tha Nationals' Idea of a Cabinet.

It was Plato we be3ieve, who said that u government is a special art, and like all other special arts, ean be rightly exercised only by eompetent persons." It has been our misfortune in Hawaii that cabinets have beon formed througb a species of political | jugglery that has thrown together an inoongruous set of men by means of back stairs influences, and hole-;ijn-the-waH iiiethods. that did not evert have the merit of poliHeal necessity, bnt was sini piy the sucees.s !of personal Intrjgue. Nēver have a set of men taken offiee with any defmitive pui*pose or policv, or rop* resenting any party or T>olitical iuterests, or even being in perfect barmonv with eaeli otlier. The ehaim of state have been occupied with only vague ideas as to the duties and dignities of office; and eaeh individual minister womea his mind about petty details of routine work, while serdom has th ere been ati y concerted action in the line of a )iational policv.

Tiie present ?tnd tho Ja£t two adrain:strations are probably tbe worst this country has ever wiine&eed for treacherv, iueoMpeleuoe, apd utter laek of stateBirsanBhip in directing the afHiirs of thi« naiion. ! are not solected as reprcsentative men or for t|jeir politioal abilitiesf or for any knowu pplicv gf Kovernmont that they bad eapoueed. I>ut lhev were sbuffled togeth©r either as couYt favorifcieiJ, or as being BiibservieDt to certain wirepolling olique, w2k) had a 4 *piiU" at oourt.

We have now arriyed at a pcriod of our political oxistence when we bave eome moal s©rioiie <J\ießtk>ns to face. The times eali for actioD, eamest, vigorous and aggressive, and at the heail of ouf affairs we want men of energy mul action, political ability ah<l ]cnowrledgo of puhlio affairB. This is mv Ume for trifling with tl»e de.stinies % of th»B liiilo country* the pus ami vt\tu ro of ihe presen t. n*b\ net OJ*y j h.-very oharming betwoen sunset pml «<»nHse t h«n the huaiuoea of tho naUoii demanda the abUHies of!

men of bmby rather than animai parts, competent in tlle hourtf oī dayjjght to devoie their tinae to running the machinery of government with some degree of intelligence and execotive abilities. It seems to be an acce»ted axiom with all parties that our N prfesent executive officers do not fiJithebiil, and are not competent to meet tbe situation. When the change comes we trust the Queen v will recognize the gravity of the position and guided by proper co«9sels will sefrom the leaders of whichever; $>arty is in the majority: Natiōnal or Reform; and that she will signalize her reign |>y reeogmzing the rights of a political maJority a»d entrust the powers of governi|ient into the hand of. tlieir. leaders, as isjāone ilr other constitutionally governed countries. 9This will put an «nd to the bickerinfs, strife, jealousy and treacbery resulting from the oomposition of a cabinet through the back stairs wire-pullers. The time has eome when tho people will demand tbat their elected representatives shall have preference over couri favorites. t u AJI power emanates f rom the people" is an accepted axiom of modern constitutional government, and an intel- | ligent people are not inclined to lightly give up that power that has i been granted them by the constitution. The stability of govern-. ment dei>ends upon the contentment of the people.