Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 191, 12 May 1891 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

"E Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono."

 

KA LEO.

TEUSDAY, MAY 12, 1891.

 

NOTICE

 

             Copies of the KA LEO O KA LAHUI can be found every morning at both the News Agencies in town. Price .5 cents a copy.

 

THE ASIATIC QUESTION SINCE THE LAST ELECTION.

 

            One of the principal planks of the National Principles, and in fact also of the pseudo Reform platform, was the desire for exclusion of Asiatics from this country. As a sequence and consequence of this unanimous feeling, the Legislature made a good deal of fuss about a  bill that was to radically cure the evil, but of wich the true friends of the people said that it would only be a mole-hill instead of a mountain.

            Now, to-day, eighteen months after the elections which were carried through the anti-Asiatic feeling of the community, how do we stand in the matter, as considered under its two aspects of current immigration and of permanent settlement?

            The immigration from China has been temporarily stopped,-it is ture,_ and the only Chinese allowed to land have been under the return passport law; but it iw just now announced that ere long the citizens of the Flowery Empire aill again flood the country, only they will be coming in sailing vessels, not in steamers, and no longer from Hong Kong,- but frim some other port not subject to British authority,-so as to evade some of the late protective regulations. Whatever may happen however,-as a compensation for past stoppage of Chinamen,-the immigration frim Japan has been resumed to the frightful extent of over 3000 in a few months, and many more thousands are yet expected in the next few months, whereby laborers of all other nationalities will be crowded out, even if the law is faithfully carried out,-viz!-that all the new immigrants will have to go away at the experation of their contracts,- which is extremely doubtful.

            Outside of the immigrations question and as regards the number of Asiatics settling in the country, even if it be true, as rumered, that the number of Chinamen residing here apart from the contract laborers, has slightly diminished, yet it is a notorious fact they are crowding out all the other nationalities as store-keepers all over the Islands, and in Honolulu. Chinamen are on the increase in all branches of trade and business, supplanting natives and foreigners alike, so that it can be already anticipated when even all our hack-drivers will be celestials; and all this because our Minister of Interior, in spite of his boasted love and promises for the poor Hawaiians, never refuses a license to a celestial; and it must be said in deference to ex-minister Thurston with all his bad traits, that he never sacrificed the intereasts of other nationalities to the aggrandisement of John Queue, which on the conrary, he kept down as much as possible. But, what is more, if the voters, in the next elections, do not put a stop to Charlie’s doings, in the near future even our elections will eventually be controled by celestials, for they are now groing in for the right vote, and Minister Spencer has had the honor of naturalizing nearly a hundred of them since the beginning of his incumbency, and we have every reason to believe that this number will be greatlyincreased by the time of the next elections, as the educated celestials are growing to understand the value of political rights, even if it be only for the purpose of making coin out of them. Therefore we do not yet despair of seeing our friend Spencer wearinga queue as representing I our new citizens.And this is how the Asiatic queastion stands since the clearly manifested verdict of the people that the plague must be stopped and the Asiatics must go!!

            In the mean time the devil....and the planters are their hands:....the planters are getting their cheap labor; what do they care about the white and native laborers being crowded to starvation?

However the cause is not yet desperate and the next elections, -if they carefully blackball all candidates of the planters’ reform – may still bring a remedy to the poor man, to the mechanic....If not, communism and petroleum will be rampant, oh! Gentlemen of the silver bag!

 

THE POSTAL SAVINGS BANK.

 

            It is reported that a few misguided friends of the Postmaster General have threatened that with his dismissal they will withdraw their deposits from the Postal Bank, and induced their friends to do the same, byway fof a spiteful revenge. There are no doubt a few lunatics in the country-a very few-whose political prejudices outweigh their judgment, and who think that the present incumbent at the Post Office is the only possible man for the position. But setting personalties aside, we cannot be made to believe that the intelligent citizens and business man of the community would act so causelessly as to withdrawtheir deposits, simply because of a change in the management of the Post Office Bureau. Such a course would be unworthy the common senxe or honor of any commercial community such as we are. It is not yet publicly known who the new incumbent is to be, but it is to be hoped that a person will be appointed whom the public can trust and respect. It would be a poor country indeed that could not furnish a better substitute for the place than he who is about to retire. But even though the new appointee were only a dummy, or a figure-head, that need not cause alarm to deopsitors in the Bank for the Minister of Finace is the custodian of the funds and not the PostmasterGeneral. All the deposits in the Postal Bank are thransferred to the Treasury except a small reserve kept at the post Office to moet current withdrawals and the Postmaster has no control over the funds when they reach the Treasury. It is the Minister of Finance and the Cabinet who are responsible to the people: the Postmaster is little more than the chief clerk of a bureau under their direction, and whatever his personality might be the Cabinet are responsible for him. Therefore it appears ridioulous for the Postmaster General’s few friends to exaggerate his importance in connection with the Postal Savings Bank. As long as the clerical staff of the Post Office are competent, the supervisory duties of the chief are easy, for the work of a post office is mainly routine, that requires no great executive ability. The real head of the Postal Bureau under our system, the Minister of Finance and his coleagues are fully competent to handle its finanacial affairs, and in this particular we believe they have the confidence of the publis.

 

[Writfen for the Ka Leo.]

ANNEXATION.

 

            We hope that the American press will continue to assist us in calling attention to the position and needs of our island realm. We believe confidently that we are voicing the feeling and opinions of the intelligent natives and of a majority of foreign residents. Annexation is a consummation devoutly to be wished. It would give us a right to elect our local officers instead of having them appointed from above. It would abelish cooie slavery. It ould stop the influx of Chinese. It would insure us peace and a stable government. It would open up our public lands to settlers, and induce a desirable class of citizens to settle on them. It would secure the improvement of our harbor the erection of public building, an ocean and inter-island cobles.

            We might have our laws made by a legislature and by congress rather than by judges and ministers. And finally we would have a market for all our produce including sugar, our chief resource and our greatest curse. The bounty or the production would perhaps induce our American planters to consent to be annexed to their native country, though they would have to give up slavery and the power to make and brake contracts in the name of the Hawaiian government. The question is whether the bounty and protection would compensate them for the loss of unpaid labor and the miscellaneous advantages of running a seperate govenment, land liberal tax appeal boards, indulgent courts and no responsibilities. We have some hope that they will perfer to obtain a certain market.

            As it is, Hawaii is a good place to raise cane, but sugar will not spontazneously change into gold and other commodities. The planters and missionaries have awlways pretended to cherish the plan of annexation. In fact they have held it over the Hawaiian monarchs and poeple as a sort of threat of what might befall them in case of misconduct.

            Of course no king or queen is anxious to become a citizen of a free and enlightened republic; and the Hawaiian people by reason of their natural patriotism and devotion to their chiefs have been very adverse to any propaosal to give up their national independence. But education is rapidly changing their views in regard to govenments. We do not mean literary education or schooling that is a long ago accomplished fact and foreigners should remember that there is less illiteracy among native Hawaiians than among Europeans. The education that is transforming our political opinions is the practical one of experience and observation aided by enlightened leaders and a free press.

            The hawaiian is awaking to find himself in a curious position, an urgent position that demands that some manner of relief be found at once. He finds himself homeless, penniless, and without influence in his own country. While he has been studying the bibles distributed by the good missionaries for the welfare of his soul, the aforesaid missionary has been attending to the business of this world so successfully that he has a clear paper title to the land, water and air. Even the chance to be a servent and day laborer does not remain, since the country is flooded with Chinese and Japanese.

Formerly the people respected and trusted their king and chiefs and were satsfied under their kindly paternal govenment; but they have recently seen their rulers become mere playthings in the hands of the money-changers blown about by every breath of influence, looking out rather for their own interests and pleasures then for their people and the prosperity of the country. The conclusion is forming itself in the minds of the people that our sovoreigns have enough to do to spend their salaries and amuse themselves, and that we have a right to make our laws and choose our officers. This right would be secured by becoming one of the states of the Union. Of course we can only think of annexation with all the rights of state, nothing else would receive consideration.

 

ON DIT

 

That when our Police Justice strikes out, he sometimes proves himself a pure scientific slogger.

 

That those whose consciences are not very clear consider Evans’ sentence an outrage. Look out for the next!

 

That the Premier will leave by the Malulani this morning to meet her Majesty and get rid of la grippe! The Board of Health should put their grip on the Minister and place him in quarantine.

 

That the illustrious and most nable the Marquis of Iao is in the city, with his “Tax Assessor-in Chief,” both big Injins from the Rock Beds of Haleakala; that they bring the calumet of peace from the reform party on Maui, and if agreeable the ceremony will take place in the government wigwam between the Finance Minister and the noble Marquis the expense of the pow-wow to be fixed on to the poor tax payers by the pliant tax assessor.

 

That a vaccuum will be created in the Albion Club on account of Sam’s absence but will scarcely be noticed in his office.

 

That J.A.C.’s new paper wants to know the Cabinet’s policy is and echo answers: Just the same as the J.A.C. Cabinet.

 

That H.A.P. Carter’s resignation is the first popular act performed by him. That Price archibald will be attached to the Hawaiian Legation at Washington; the execution of the “rabbit act” will be left to noble Iao.

 

That the ministerial stockholders of the Bulletin are getting wearied with the montone of their “cat” and are looking out for another editorial pussy.

 

That the only professional journalist with then start a weekly thunderer (not chinese) which will paralyse everybody-himself first.

 

That the Cabinet has assured all the reform officials that they are all right as for as the Cabinet in concerned, if Mr. Bush will leave them alone.

 

That is is a characteristic for our good and missionary town that all the virtuous good and church-going women and girls rushed down to the OSS Co.’s whatf to see such a woman as Madame Sara Bernhardt. With Washington the ladies may exclaim: Exitus acta probat!

 

A ROMANCE.

 

(CONTINUED.)

“Only perfect, pure and innocent young animals would do-like doves and lambs. The blood of these creatures pleased God and the incense of their warm blood was pleasing to him, and he forgave the wicked and did not punish them as they justly deserved, if they sprinkle his alters with blood; but these sacrifices had to be repeated every time God was angry, which was very often, and countless animals had to suffer for men’s sins.”

“But Now came God’s only son, and he was so sorry about poor fallen man, whom God had made and punished in the garden of Eden, that he determined to sacrifice himself to save the world. God agree that is Christ would go to the world and be crucified, He would forgive the sins of the world.”

“So Christ came to earth and was crucified, and His blood was shed for man, His blood pleased God more than all the blood of animals shed before. The blood of Christ cleanses from all sin. Be made pure in the blood of the lamb.”

“But did God keep His promise and forgive the people and remove the curse put on them in the garden of Eden?” asked Nyama.

Mrs. Porter looked horrified; was this a heathen and an infidel.!

“No, the wicked world crucified him; they would not receieve him; they did not believe he ws the son of God. But all who believe on him are saved.”

Nyama saw at once, that is would not do to appear sceptical, so he listened patiently to the good lady’s exposition of the christian scheme of salvation, and although, as a philosopher he did not consider it a great success, he smilingly assented to what was said.

The good lady gave a full account of divine grace, and repeated those sentiments that have been echoed among thousands of preacher, and arguments that have proved convincing to millions of true believers.

Nyama sat in a great easy chair and looked as interested and respectful as he could thinking in his heart to ingratiate himself with the judge’s wife and so lay the foundation for material prosperity for himself and Fa@a. You will see that our hero was not without the rudiments of worldly wisdom. It may excuse him in your mind, upright critic that he was not thinking of himself, but of the young wife, he dearly loved and whose happiness was now all in his hands, Perhaps as a gay student he would not have taken a sermon so unresistingly.

Notwithstanding her fondue@ for ex-horting sinners, Mrs. Porter was a sharp observer; and she soon observed that Nyama was getting tired before she did.

Nothing could have been more unfortunate for our friend’s prospects. Though she observed this, she neither showed any resentment nor yet anymerciful inlination to desist, but a light of unalterable determination shone in her eye and the hard lines around her mouth tightened, and she went on expounding the law and the gospel. But she just make a mental note of the fact that her listener was not a simple child of nature and that he was making mental reservations.

Fa@a sat on a sofa of red velvet and, not understanding the conversation, looked with interest at the various beautiful objects with which the spacious room was adormed.

There was luxurious funaiture, rich hangings, paintings and etchings in exquisit@, everythingdenoting wealth and taste. As to the taste, I have enogh to employ sone one else t decorate her house. But that does not concern us. The sffect was d@ing to poor. Fa2a, whose narrow life had not made her familiar with the surroundings of wealth and elegance.

(to be Continued).