Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 275, 8 September 1891 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

 

KA LEO.

John E. Bush.

Luna Hooponopono a me Puuku.

Tuesday, Sept 8, 1891.

 

THOSE SMUGGLED GEMS.

   We learn from the inspired Bulletin that the ministers have compounded with the gentleman from Jewry, who recently smuggled into this kingdom a large quantity of diamonds.  The value of the smuggled gems has, we believe, been placed at about $13,000 by a local expert, but that estimate though probably too low, referred to only such of the smuggled goodds as were captured.  There are rumors afloat of facts which would suggest $30,000 as being nearer the value of the goods smuggled, and in this connection we recall the Bulletin’s assertion that, when the “compromise” was announced, the Marshal was “on tract of another $9,000 worth” of diamond smuggled by the same enterprising dealer.  It is declared by the Bulletin that a fine of $3,000 has been imposed upon the smuggler, in lieu of the statutory fine, imprisonment and confiscation.

   We beg to offer our objection to this ministerial programme.  It is, we think, unwise, entirely too lenient to crime, and open to misconstruction of so serious a nature as to entirely compromise the reputation of ministers, and especially of the Minister of Finance, for correct official dealing.

   In the first place, we deem the reported compromise as being in excess of the ministerial authority which is found in section 689 of the Civil Code.  There the Minister of Finance is authorized to in his discretion, “mitigate or remit any such fine forfeiture or penalty,” as may have been imposed upon or incurred by a smuggler.  But we find in Section 655 that the punishment for smuggling may be a fine of not less than $50, nor more than $2,000, or imprisonment at hard labor, not exceeding two years, as the court shall determine.  In addition, the entire invoice or importation of goods affected by the smuggling transaction shall be forfeited to and sold by the government.

   While we do not dispute the ministerial power to remit a fine, or a “penalty” or forfeiture which shall have been judicially pronounced against any goods smuggled, or any vessel engaged in the smuggling, we deny that the power to direct the discontinuance of a prosection against a smuggler extends to a case where the smuggler has been or may be sentenced to personal imprisonment.  That is not the kind of “penalty” which the minister may remit.  Only penalties operating upon the thing, -- as the smuggled article, or the smuggling vessel, as distinguished from those operating upon the person of the culprit, -- as a condemnation to personal imprisonment, -- can be remitted by the minister.  Any different construction would place a most unreasonable, unprecedented and dangerous power in the hands of one man.  The Legislature never intended the Minister of Finance to exercise such vast and abitrary powers.

   But let us suppose for the nonce, tht the ministerial power is ample to do what has been done.  Still we insist, such leniency to deliberate crime is ill advised, in those who should be the exemplars, as well as the guardians of the public morals.  Then, there are always those whose suspicious minds or ill nature will prompt them to suggest collusion and bribery between the culprit who has incurred enormouse penalties for his crimes, and the good natured minister who extracts him from his pilikia, stifles further investigation, paralyzes, pending prosecutions, and bids the press to don a muzzle, under pain of prosecution for libel, --and all for the consideration of the payment to the government, by the smuggler, of an insignificant percentage of the value of his smuggled and captured goods.  In politics, as in the days of Lear and Hamlet, the mottos may hold – “Thy truth, then, be thy dowry.” – “Though thou be chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shall not escape calumny.” –

   Is it not, then, indiscreet, to use no harsher term, for the Minister of Finance, (who, we may assume, is acting herein by the advice of his colleagues,) to lay himself open to the possibility of suspicion that something more and other than a conscientious official regard for the due execution of the laws may have exerted an influence in the decision of this case.  People will talk, you know, and it has never been made criminal, in this country, to draw an inference, especially when such “brilliant” grounds exist therefor, as some people think they see in the present case.  It is especially unfortunate, too, that the character of the goods smuggled, captured, and now about to be released, is such as to commend them to the cupidity of the human race in general, and we all know, from reading history, that, from the earliest times, nothing more potent than blazing jewels has been known, as a means of corrupting either Kings, Ladies, Courts or Councils.

   All in all we think the Finance Minister and his advisers have placed themselves in a most unenviable position.  This is somewhat intensified by the generally reputed fact that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and an official higher than he, were in treaty with the smuggler for the purchase of some of these same goods, before their capture, and, again unfortunately, when the public recollect the singular, and unexplained omission of a vital word from the legal document, drawn in the office of the present Attorney General, by which a valuable ship probably escaped confiscation for illicitly bringing opium to the sea shore, their confidence in the wisdom and prudence of the reported “compromise” is not increased.

 

The Chinese at Kohala.

   The planters evening organ of Saturday last, prints under a conspicuous triple heading the story of the trouble in Kohala as told by one of the kidnappers.  Of course no pro-slavery organ will ever give the other side; which may never reach the public.

   The picture of the pious Abseu declining to listen to his captives’ tale of woe on the Sunday, is eminently suggestive of the Pharisee, who could not see that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.

   The pious man knew weel that if they came to see him on any other day he could get them “run in” for deserting, and could secure them an incarceration in that filthy receptacle, the Kohala calaboose.

   We extract the following from the Bulletin (planters’ organ:) “L. Aseu noticed a lot of Chinese, perhaps a hundred, around his house who demanded food.  A case of crackers, &c., was give to them and they all went quietly to sleep on the veranda and around the place.”

   No doubt they slept, after being regaled with the toothsome dry cracker, they slept the sleep of the hungry.  “The Sheriff told them they must bring their complaints before the courts in the regular manner.”  That is they should fee a lawyer with a good lump sum, who would “sell” them to the plantation as a higher bidder, or in any case find the court but an annex of the plantation.  It makes no matter to the planters court that the men are starving and have no money to fee the lawyer. 

   Then we learn that the planters intercepted a letter that the sender paid a boatman $5 to carry, which contained a treasonable information that rice are high here, &c.  This shows that they are taking the most extreme measures to prevent the wretched slaves from communicating with their friends.

   By muzzling the press, opening letters, publishing misleading accounts in the government organs and other tyrannical means the slave-dealers try to conceal the story of their crimes.

   Mr. Aseu is very careful to conceal the actual wages which his Pactolus slaves are getting.  Bulletin modesty is very accomodating in this particular.

 

A ROMANCE.

The Paradise of the Pacific OR The Devil’s Kuleana.

(Continued by Uncle Beke.)

   The old man got out a book and began to read in a sing-song tone that distingushes divine services the world over.  Then he kneeled down and the whole family imitated him.

   He was a noble looking old man and his face was radiant as with inspiration as he looked up and addressed the Omnipotent.  What the prayer was we cannot say; it was all in the native tongue, but it seemed earnest and from the heart. 

   After it was finished they all sank down on the floor and were silent for some time, till Nyama asked “You are a Christian, sir?”

   The girl replied for him, “Yes he is a preacher; he is my father; he speak in church every sunday all the time.”

   The girls arose and went up stairs.  The lamp was turned down; and sliping out of a part of their clothes the natives got into their bed.

   Faza and Nyama did likewise and being very tired were soon asleep.

   It may have been two or three hours, it seemed only a short while when they were wakened by a disturbance outside, a great crunching of gravel beneath the feet of horses, the clatter of spurs, and the voices of men.  Then came the sound and jar of heavy boots ascending the outside stairway and banging and rattling across the veranda, and a loud knocking at the door.  After a short interval of silence the door opened and the steps were heard over head.  Their was a hum of conversation for a while, followed by the jar and noise of footsteps.

   Then there was a clink of glass and chairs drawn noisily across the floor.  The conversation grew louder; the heavy voices of men mingled with the shrill tones of the girls.

   It was carried on in the native language interspersed with profane and obscene expressions in English.

   The lower room as has been said was low; a single thickness of boards separated it from the room above, serving for a ceiling and floor at once.  So every word and movement could be distinctly heard in the room below.  It was impossible to escape from the noises that came down with startling distinctness.

   They heard the rattle of glasses and the gurgling of liquid pouring out, the heavy voices urging the girls to drink.  The sounds grew louder, and laugher and little screeches and dashes of light feet across the room were followed by heavy ones and big round oath and expressions of maudlin endearment, and varied by the sound of chairs upset and falling objects.

   Then a loud voice crying for the corkscrew, a readjusting of chairs, more glasses, more gurgling, more loud exclamations.  When this had gone on for a long time, a voice said with great gusto, “let’s go to bed.”  “Them’s my sentiments, rejoined another.  Then the noise to a fresh turn.  Heavy boots and other things rattled on the floor, there were little screams and screeches from feminine throats and joyous laughter from the males.  A schrill cry was followed by a patter of bare feet and the jar of heavy ones, the collision with the wall and another dash across the room.

   There seemed to be a great chase in progress.  The table came down with a terrific crash of glass and a heavy body fell with a thud that threatened to break through the floor.  For a moment all was still except “ow-wee! me mucky,” and all was silent.

   Our friends below had hardly gotten to sleep again when the people above began to walk round again and talk and drink.  They repeated the whole disgraceful orgie again, and wound up by going to bed again.  It occupied the greater part of the night and rendered it impossible for any one in the house to sleep.           (To be Continued).

 

ON DIT.

   That the American Minister near the Hawaiian Court gave a lesson in economy, which might be advantageously followed by some of our extravagant society people.  At the late Royal Funeral His Excllency’s Chinese cook was also the driver of the state carriage, thus killing two birds with one stone.

 

   That many mechanics and small retail dealers belonging to the National Party have decided to stop their subscription and advertisements with the Bulletin, if that sheet does not assume a decided national policy, instead of “malimali-ing” the Planters and moneybagged Reformers.

 

   That the editor of the Bulletin finds the articles referring to him in KA LEO “doleful;” it is always very doleful to be poked and then laughed at.  But the public has never yet found KA LEO doleful and never will find it so.

   That Mr. Ben Hogan has quite an extensive record of crime and dissipation which he has published in pamphlet form as a proof of his sincerity for the edification of sinners.  He has repented and reformed and became a missionary.  It is believed that many of our missionaries might have as long a list to account for at the final reckoning; but they have not yet confessed nor repented, nor can their records be published till the law against libel is repealed.

 

   That at the next ministerial banquet the following programme of music will be played:

   The big Prim’er:  Aina nui palahalaha;

   The fat A. G.  We won’t go home till morning,

   The Mahope, The sweet-bye-and-bye, of course;

   The Hyphen:  We all like sheep, we all like sheep, We ALL LIKE SHEEP have gone astray.

   At the finale the band will omit Hawaii Ponoi, as inappropriate, but will play the Rogues March.

 

   That the Natives complain of too bad management of the late State Funeral; and that the disorder was wilder than it ever have been before.

 

   That not many government employees appeared in the funeral procession; that even here in the capital of the Kingdom a studied disregard of the “powers that be” seem to exist.

 

   That the Colonel in charge of the funeral procession, should have known his duty better than to change the printed order, and allow the Privy Councilors to precede the Members of the Legislature, --an unprecedented discourtesy and uncalled for insult to the second estate of the Hawaiian Kingdom. –Such is the desire for pomp and vain-glory among the plebian mob or codfish aristocracy, that, we presume, the Colonel had to give away.

 

   That in view of the extraordinary Christian charity and leniency displayed by the missionary Minister of Finance in favor of the Jewish smuggler, the millenium must be near at hand.

 

OLELO HOOLAHA.

   E ike auanei na kauaka a pau, eia ma ka Pa Aupuni o Makiki nei kekahi lio k  hele hewa, hulu ulaula, lae-keokeo, 3 wawae eleelo, 1 wawae keokeo hopo hema, 2 wawae mua paa i ka hao; hao kuni anoe, o ka lua o ka hao kuni oia like no, o keia poe hao kuni a pau aia ma ka uha hope akau.  O ka mea a mau mea nono keia lio e pono e kii koke mai o hala na la he 12, ku ai kudala ia aku o a’u i ka la 12 e Sepatemaba Poaono.

                                         D. KAOAO, Luna Pa Aupuni.

270 – lw d*