Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 269, 31 August 1891 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

John E. Bush

Luan Hooponopono a me Puuku.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1891.

 

Those Government Lands.

            The question  of providing poor people with small tracts of land to settle on and cultivate, will be one of the issues of the next legislature.  This question alredy constituted one of the planks of the National Party in 1890, and so it will be again in the National Platform for 1892.  Even the Reactionary Misionary Party, who so boldly assumed the deceptive of "Reform," are beginning to realize the neglect of this question of Homesteads, is one full of dangers for the security and prosperity of the country:  it cannot be delayed any further.  One would think therefore that the administration also ought to be alive to the same, and that the members of the Cabinet, - if men of any practical statemanship and common sense, - would be trying to solve, or at least help the matter, even before the opening of the next legislatrue.  Instead of this however, the foolish, sensual men of the present Cabinet, who have no thought for the future food of the country, but whose sole object is personal gratification and present dissipation, and who look upon their tenure of office only as a means of increasing and prolonging their pleasures, - these miserable apologies for statesmen and politicians, seem to make it a point, not only to exhaust all the natural resources for administrations to come, but also to render imposible any future improvement in the status of the country in relations to Homesteads.  To that effect, they are disposing of all available Government Lands, in large tracts, as fast as they possibly can; for a proof of this assertion, it is only necessary to look over the files of the different papers who received Government patronage, and count up the number of tracts of Government Lands offered, - in say the three last months only,- for sale or long leases, at mere nominal prices, in tracts of ten thousands of acres, one of the smalles and latest being of 3,900 acres only.  The object of these offers are evidently the following:  The large tracts, to debar poor people from bidding for an obtaining the small patch they are craving in vain for; the nominal prices, to favor the rich land-grubbers who are ever after the soil.  In this matter, the "Mahope" Minister of Interior, thus makes one exception to his "By and bye" policy, for he seems determined to allow his friends the planters to improve the occasion and to lay hold of all possible tracts of Government Lands before the next legislature comes in to kick him and his planter proteges out of office and out of power of doing any further mischief.  One might even think that the aim of the present incumbent is, to leaave nothing for the future representative of the people to do on the land question, and then quietly tell them: "No more lands for future administrations to sell or lease, no more lands for the people to settle on, what are you going to do about it?"  But the answer of the people's elects will be simple enough:  All sales or leases of government domain will have to be strictly investigated into, and a spurious or irregular transactions, where the law has not been strictly adhered to, so as to grant undue facilities to favoritism, and allow illicit bargains, will have to be inexorably cancelled, and the lands taken possession of by the new administration, who will then attend to the wants, not of the few, but of the many, of the masses and not of the classes.

 

TREACHERY.

            It is an ugly word, and in its common use, is applied to the character and actions of the uncivilved races of the world.  But sad to say it has also a descriptive application here in fair Hawaii, more especially among the men who enter administrative service of the government; and the past few years have furnished sorry exhibitions of the cunning treachery and littleness of our "great" men.  Not the refined deception of Mephisto or a Machiavelli; or the skillful fencing of modern statecraft and diplomacy, but just ordinary cut-throat treachery, such as might distinguish a barbaric province in China, Manahiki, New Guinea, Zulumen, or among the Mohawk Indians.  And this characteristic permeates all classes of our public men: not only the Hawaiian  and the half-caste who might be suspected of a barbaric tinge from their close consanguinity to their uncivilized ancestors, but the white resident also, be he phrasaical Christian or bold adventurer; as sooon as they become "clothed in a little brief authority," they immediately throw of the lamb-skin of humility, and show the cloven hoof of a little mind full of conceit, deceit, prejudice and treachery.  In Gibson's regime we had a government, that while deceptive and somewhat unreliable in many things, had at least some of the dignity and honor that characterize civilized rule.  But what have we had since, but a reign of turmoil and treachery, and what men have come to the front, except one or two, but mediocre specimens of mediocrity.  The revolutionary administration furnished an interesting mob of wreckers and there was not even honor among the robbers and would be assassins.  Each minister had his hand on his hilt while watching his colleague, and made it a study how best to deceive each other and their friends.  The few exposes which the then Attorney General has made leads us to believe that he might tell an interesting tale of foul treachery that would shame the devil.  The Cummins administration, directed by a second rate comedy action, was a serio-comic affair that beat all the heavy villians of treachery that even were put upon the stage.  There was treachery galore, but their record is still fresh in the public mind and need not be detailed here; however, we do believe that the Chinese Consul might send the record of that administration to the high officials in China as a guide book to double discount some of their own work.  And now we have another Cabinet, but treachery is still the rule from which the people suffer in mind and spirit as the LEO has already fully exposed.  No one can tell what these four Mandarins will do next.  And what have we seen in the various departments of the Government Officials treacherous to their trust and the country under their adninistration reeking with corruption.  Officials treacherous to their friends and repudiating their word of honor, and officials lying against each other and endeavoring to pull others down so as to pull themselves up.  The instances are numerous; let us paint out the most glaring.  A mongrel specimen representing at least three nationalities arose from obscurity into high office by treachery, and his political and personal treacheries are such that public indignation is aroused.  Another waif from the South Seas rode a high horse into office, since which the bump of treachery has become largely developed; he know his old friends no longer and no once can tell what dark schees he meditates.  Both friends and foe mistrust him, and fear that all clases from Queen to plebeian will sufer from the treacherous power of harm versus brains.  Another from the antipodes was universally applauded into office with the belief and understanding that he had the courage and authority to do a simple act of justice to men, whose ill treatment by his predecessor had been universally condemned; but now Mephisto whispers that this was only a giddy deception just in order to get there.  Now a high tribunal shows its treachery to good government and moral law, by exhibiting a narrow-minded partizanship in recent appointment in in which political outweighed moral considerations.  Treachery, treachery everywhere, and what will be the end of it all?  Can either the Charleston or the Pensacola tell us?

 

Poor Health of the Emperor.

            It is stated, on what seems to be good auhtority, that the health of Emperor William II of Germany is in a serious and critical condition and reports go so far as to say that a provisional council has been appointed to take charge of affairs of state should anything serious occur.  Should the Kaiser die, it is difficult to say what results would flow from it.  He certainly has been a strong ruler.  It is thought in some circles that his death would bring Bismarck again to the front, and the first step he would take would be to cement political alliance with Russisa.  In the meantime, Russia and France seem to be drawing together, and no doubt will form some defensive alliance, if not more, against Germany Austria, and Italy.  Germany is yet mistress of the situation, but her tenure of hold on politics seems to be in the hand of a man who is about to surrender all into the power of that inexorable tyrant, death.

            Political affairs are very uncertain in these days; blessed is that man whose citizenship is in heaven.  Christ's kingdom is stable, and his tenure of powre passes not to another. - Ex.

 

The Swiss Replublic.

            The first of this present month of August marked the six hundredth anniversary of the Swiss Republic.  Just six centuries ago three tiny cantons, forming about one-sixth part of the present Confederation -- a mere speck on the map of Europe -- resolved that they had enough of monarchy, and solemnly issued their ultimatum that thei masters must go.  The impressions in those days was that the new republic would only last about seven days, but the centuries have come and gone, and the Alpine states retain their freedom still, though the monarchies around them have a rought time of it.  The Greek empire has been chawed up; so have the duchies of Burgundy, Courland, Lorraine, Brittany, Lithuania, and a lot more.  The Moorish kingdoms in Spain have been wiped out; also the kingdoms of Poland, Servia, Navarre, Hanover, Naples, Bohemia and Hungary and several other; and the Tartar states in Europe have becomes extinct, along with several hundred despotisms in Germany, Ireland, Italy and elsewhere.  Turks, Franks, Spanish, Swedes, and Germans have governed Europe turn-about, and there has been riot and frenzy and consternation everywhere.  Yet the little despised republic has lasted through it all.  It has had no money worth speaking of, no monarchs, no standing army, no pomp of any kind, but it has got on without them, and notwithstanding that its population is composed of a mixture of races--elsewhere antagonistic in religion and language-- when anybody wanted to conquer her she ever came out victorious in the grand struggle for liberty.

 

Foreign Items.

            Ohio has discovered a rival to the Manmoth Cave of Kentucky.

            It is said that Jay Gould is going to freeze out the Union Pacific, and obtatn control of the line.

            There were 144, 597 more certificates of pensions issued during the fiscal year just closed than in years previous.

            It is said that Timothy, the adopted son of Mark Hopkins, will contest the will of his mother, by whom he was disinherited.

            Both the government's experiments in Texas, and Frank Melbourne's in Ohio, seems to have been succesful in bringing abundant rain.

            Eastern cities have been suffering from the extreme heat, and the death rate in New York from sunstroke ran as high as 150 na day.

            George Jones, editor of the New York Times, died August 12 at New York.  He is best known for the war he waged against the Tweed ring.

            Over $100,000 worth of opium has been seized in San Francisco by the United States authorities whch was smuggled by the Chinese on forged labels.

            A large number of German laborers are now suffering severely on account of the high prices of foods in that country.  The government refuses to reduce the corn duties.

            James Russell Lowell the great poet author, scholar, and diplomat, died at Cambrige, Mass., August 12, at the age of seventy-two.  His last end was very peaceful.

            An excursion barge roof fell at Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y., August 12, killing sixteen persons and injuring thirty or more.  It fell in the midst of a fearful thunderstorm.

            In wheat speculation in Chicago during the week the price was forced up to $1.08.  The market was the wildest for  years.  The cause was simply speculation, or in other words, gambling in its worst form.

            In Brunswick, Germany, there is war between the farmers and socialists.  August 13, seventeen were killed and others were wounded.  The fight was stopped by the police.  The trouble arose over the influence of Socialist women with the politics of the farmers.

           

A ROMANCE.

The Paradis of the Pacific

or

The Devil's Kuleana.

(Continued by Uncle Beke.)

            Nyama was slightly suprise and a little curious, but thought it best not to pursue that branch of the subject any farther.  Still he must make another effort to secure shelter for the night.  "Why, can't we sleep down-stairs--on the mat here?  You will let us do that?" said he persuasively.

            "All right," she assented reluctantly and with clouded brow, "suppose you like, I bring down bed for you."

            "Of course," said Nyama relieved, "I thought you would not turn us out of doors."

            Faza found a piece of string and girded up her robe with it.  She looked very childish in the great loose garment as she and Nyama walked out to the fence and leaning on it looked out to sea.  Beyond the shadow of the loftly cliff the setting sun was illuminating the dark water; on either side towered the immense walls.  A group of cocoanut trees stood shadowed in black outline upon the sea; on their left were two great breadfruit trees with their grotesque and distorted branches and broad dentate leaves of contrasting dark and light-green.  It was a very romantic spot, somewhat gruesome in its strange beauty.  Our young people looked and chatted and laughed, as they confided to each other their impressions and enjoyed the sensation of being still alive and together and more than ever in love with each other.      

            As the shadows deepened Faza shivered and pressed her small self against her husband.  "It is such an awful place here," she said, "it makes me think of dying.  Let us go inside."

            Nyama put his strong arm tightly around her slenderd waist, unprotected now by any defence except a thickness of cloth, and together they reentered the house.

            A lighted lamp was standing on the floor, and about it were seated the family, - the old man, the two girls, and the two women.  They were eating paste with their hands from a large wooden dish, varying the meal with mouthfulss of the red flesh of salted salmon.

            Our friends sat on the floor in a corner and watched them eat.  After their appetites were satisfied and the two dishes removed, Mary threw down on the floor in the middle of the circle a package of tobacco and cigarette papers, and each in turn made and lit a cigarette.  Even the young girl smoked like the rest.  They talked in an animated way for some time, frequently renewing their cigarettes.  Then Mary brought forth from the pocket of a dress hanging on the wall a pack of cards.  She invited our friends to join them, but they declinded.  The people of the house played and smoked and talked for a couple of hours.  Then they arose and went up stairs and brought down a mattress and armsfull of bed clothing, out of which they made a very good bed.  Nyama noticed with satisfaction that every thing was very claen; though the quilts had a savage crudeness of color and design.  To his surprise they brought down more material and constructed another bed on the other side of the room.

            "What is that bed for?" he asked of the tall girl.  "We don't want but one bed; this is my wife."

            She smiled and said, "I suppose so, but old people sleep down here to-night; me and my sister sleep upstairs, I speak  you before."