The Liberal, Volume I, Number 39, 25 January 1893 — THE ADVISORY COUNCIL [ARTICLE]

THE ADVISORY COUNCIL

An American paper has facetiously described an interview between a brace of New York Irishman, as illustrating the condition of politics in that city a decade hence. One of them has been a "boss" in a late Tammany nominating convention, and is showing the "ticket" to his brother Milesian. The latter reads through the list of Dooleys, MeCarthys, Rooneys, O'Gormans and Fagans in high satisfaction, until he comes to the name of a "bluddy furriner," to-wit: Smith. Turning with indignant surprise to the "boss" he inquires what that "furriner" is doing on a Democratic ticket in New York? "Hist! Dinnis," says the other, by way of apology, "dthot men's a 'Miriken, and we hod to putt 'im an dthe ticket fur to ketch dthe 'Miriken vote" A glance at the list of Advisory Councillors will show that no such apology on the part of any of those concerned in its composition is necessary, to explain the presence of an Hawaiian name. It is one of the quaint features of the present movement that no man of Hawaiian blood has found a place in the councils or confidence of the prevailing party. There are names, not a few, on that list whose presence there can be explained only on the supposition that some nationality or group or trade was to be placated thereby. It does not appear to have occurred to any of the statesmen that another race, of more or less moment in the conduct of our affairs, was being and has been ignored and excluded. We refer, of course, to the few native Hawaiians still spared to us. Did the statesmen forge them? Did no one care for the Hawaiian "vote"? Funny country, this. But we had nearly forgotten to pay our tribute of respect to the advisory council, -such as it is. The Council is composed of honest and earnest men, who will do their best to carry out the program laid down for them in the Proclamation. Though consisting of fourteen members, not more than three of the latter have, as we believe, had previous experience in statecraft. Still, that is not a fatal defect. Too much ability at a small Council board might become unwieldy, and such a result should be studiously avoided. Besides, all theatre goes know that star actors do not surround themselves with stars, They know too much for that. Should they thus violate the traditions of the stage they might find it difficult to navigate the zodiac without suffering occasional eclipse. But, as we were saying the Council is composed of honest and well-intentional men, who possessin the aggregate, sufficient "good resolutions" to repave Sheol.