Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 292, 1 ʻOkakopa 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.

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1891.

 

 

That "Declaration."

 

       We are pleased to know that the ʻ declaration of principals ʻ prepared in a "hole-and-corner" has been "swallowed whole by the Hui Kalaiaina,"  and its principals claimed as "having been borrowed from the Bulletin."  That organ, undertakes to disparage the document, and claims that by its adoption no party will gain strength thereby.

       The unanimous acceptance of the "declaration of principals," by the Hui Kalaiaina, the most thorough and universal political organization of the country, without a word of demur, "in calm and deliberate council" has shattered the nerves of that political straddler the Bulletin.  It feels as though its occupation was gone, and is in consequence in a state of demoralization, verging on insanity.  We pity the little editor, as he strives to guide the cranky sheet through the whims and idiosyncrasies of its stockholders, who are mostly officials.

 

The Future Time of Trouble

           

       On October 8th, 1878, a correspondent writing to the Christian Union from Constantinople says:---

       "When we consider the difficulties which now beset this feeble and tottering government, the only wonder is that it can stand  for a day.  Aside from the funded debt of $4,000.000,000 upon which it pays no interest, it has an enormous floating debt representing all the expenses of the war; its employees are unpaid; its army has not been disbanded or even reduced; and its paper money has become almost worthless.  The people have lost heart and expect everyday some new revolution or a renewal of the law.  The government does not know which to distrust most, its friends or its enemies."

       All of Russia ʻ s movements since 1878 have been in one direction, to secure a water way for her fleet through the Dardanelles, ands also to obtain a road way through Afghanistan to the Indies.  Every movement to secure an outlet for her fleet foreboding greater pressure upon the Turkish government in the direction of its expulsion from the soil of Europe.

       The occupation of Europe by the English in 18@, furnishes another step toward the inevitable result, and the excuse for a movement at any time on the part of Russia, which the N.Y. Independent. ventures to call "the beginning of the end."

       We quote the opinion of the Daily News, June 1883, viv: "Whether we like it or not the Ottoman Empire is dying fast, and as Russia is the only power capable of taking its place in the regions, it is useless to lament what is inevitable.  All races and creeds complain bitterly of the system under which they live, but none perhaps suffer more than the Turks themselves."

       In the Par@ Temps of May 31, 1833, we are enabled to obtain a view of the prevalent opinion in France upon the Turkish question, in these words: "Mr. Gladstone by taking Egypt , has not only lost the good will of France, but has re-opened the Eastern Question, and furnished Russia with a pretext for accomplishing her immense projects, the last step in which will be the conquest of British India."

       Thus with a prophetic eye men of all nationalities have seen and written their opinions, and published them to the world, pointing out with strange accuracy, events which were to take place at no distant date.  The views of these writers are on the eve of its fulfillment; the war-clouds are gathering fast; the two aggressive powers of Europe. the Frank and the Cossack have formed a co-partnership, that suits del;l the feelings and characteristics of both races.  There is but one result from this combination, a disruption of the peace of Europe, and the beginning of that terrible war described in a few words in Dan 12:1, "such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time."

(To be Continued).

 

 

POVERTY ʻ S DEMANDS.   

 

       The following able instructive article shows how the wealthy make use of that talent, which the grace of God places in their power for good, but which is perverted to selfish personal gratification and for pomp and show.  The writer, B.O. Flower, in American Spectator, also gives his opinion as to the possibilities such selfish may lead to:

       I do not imagine that the gnawing hunger of the tens of thousands of "out-of-works" in London, who, during the past few weeks, have wearily walked day after day many miles in search for work, was in the least appeased by the lengthy description in the London daily press of the luxurious banquets and fetes given in every hand in honor of the wealthy monarch of Germany, who claims to rule by divine right.  Nor do I fancy the universal storm of discontent, whose mutterings are heard in every civilized land, will in any degree subside when the gaunt and hunger-eyed millions read the details of the many acts of reckless extravagance which marked the imperial visit; such, for instance, as the following account of the casket given this foreign autocrat by the municipality of London, -a city within whose borders tens of thousands of men, women, and little children were starving to death at the moment of its presentation.

       The intelligence of the masses is rapidly reaching that point where bloody revolutions will inevitably follow unless men and women of wealth speedily lay aside the heartless selfishness and brutal inhumanity which characterize the majority of the rich to-day and recognize the duty revolving on every man and woman who has been supplied with means to liberally and freely assist in abolishing the misery and wretchedness of the world and bringing about a more just and equitable condition of society.  The idea pod the moral relationship existing between man and man, and the determination to secure a greater meed of justice, are rapidly becoming controlling thoughts among the mass.  The muttering which preceded the French revolution gave ample warning to an aristocracy of rich and selfish creatures, which if heeded would have doubtless spared the world a scene of savage brutality which had rendered possible only by the insolence and tyranny of wealth and power.  Must this tragedy be repeated on a far more general scale, or will our rich and educated classes see the danger and from selfish motives, if actuated by no nobler impulse, avert it?  This is the supreme opportunity.  They cannot, thanks to education, liberty and progress, drive humanity back into serfdom from which is swelling in millions of hearts to that of fraternal goodwill, by liberal, earnest, and prompt steps which look towards the abolition of poverty, at least of uninvited poverty.

 

ON DIT

 

        That people who catch opium smugglers and smuggled opium had better look out; of they will be arrested and fined for being too officious.  There are two ways to look at this matter, and it is well for the uninitiated to study it in all its phases, otherwise the innocent smuggler may be a suit for libel and damages on the one that catches him.

 

       That there are nearly as many ulnas employed on Mount Tantalus Road as there are men.

 

       That it world be far better for the community, if the Minister of Interior would put down more artesian wells then to be spending money for a road that is not actually needed just now.

 

       That a Melbourne is required to bring on a down pour of rain, other wise the people should be compelled by the Board of Health ordinance to take to sea bathing for purification.

 

       That Hon. T. Lucas and mr. Bowler are mentioned as independent candidates for legislative honors.  Ha!  Ha!!

 

       That there is not a whisper about nominating the self-constituted leaders of the National Party, who slipped in accidentally to a seat in the cabinet.

 

Platform of Principle

OF THE

HAWAIIAN NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY.

 

 

PRINCIPAL OF GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION.

 

       1.  We deem that all Government should be founded on the principals of Liberty, Equity, and Fraternity; we hold that all men are born free and equal before the law and are endowed with inalienable rights to life, to liberty, to property, to the pursuit of happiness and to self-protection against arbitrary concentration of power, irresponsible wealth, and unfair competition.  We believe that just government exists only by the consent of the People, and that, when it becomes necessary for the public welfare, they may abolish existing forms and establish more advantageous and equitable esteem; and, as the present of the Hawaiian Kingdom never has had the approval of the People, but was established by intimidation and fraud for the benefit of a certain class, therefore we favor the adoption of a new and more secure Government of the People, by the People and for the People.

 

INDEPENDENCE OF THE COUNTRY

 

       2.  Out of consideration for the inherit ant rights and present opinions of the native population, we desire to retain the independence of the Country and defend its autonomy, under a liberal and popular form of government; but our Treaties with Foreign Powers, and especially with the United States of America, should be revised, so as to better meet present necessities and to obtain more equitable advantages in exchange of those granted by us.

 

JUDICIARY REFORMS

 

       3.  Our Judiciary systems and Code Procedure must be submitted to a thorough revision, so as to secure a cheap and prompt administration of justice, free of all sectarian or patinas spirit, and to render the Judges more directly responsible to the People; and we are in favor of a more liberal interpretation of Constitutional guarantees of the freedom of speech and of the press.

 

TAXES

 

       4.  A more just and perfect system of Taxation must be inaugurated to abolish the present inequalities, by which the property of the poor is excessively taxed, while much of the rich man ʻ s goods are undervalued for assessment or entirely escape taxation; we shall therefore demand the passage of laws that more effectually subject the property of corporations and rich citizens to their just proportion of public burdens, while granting more liberal exemptions to the poor; and as a means of discouraging the locking up of large tracts of uncultivated lands, a differential tax should be levied in addition to the usual assessments of valuation, which should be in proportion to the fertility of the soil.  We shall also favor the establishment of a graduated income-tax, and thus expect to obtain ample funds attending to all necessary public improvements without further calls on the masses. 

 

MONOPOLIES

 

       5.  We shall use our efforts to obtain laws by which all favoritism in the government and all monopolies, trust and privileges to special classes shall be rendered impossibly, by full, definite and mandatory statues.

 

PUBLIC SERVANTS.

 

       6.  Better laws should regulate the Civil Service.  The principal of the election of officers of the government by the people should be extended, and no man should be allowed to hold more than one office of profit, whilst salaries should be adequate compensation for the services rendered.  All excessive salaries should be reduced and all sinecures of superfluous offices abolished.

 

PROTECTION TO HOME INDUSTRIES

 

       7.  We are in favor of encouraging all home agriculture and industries, and all our native products, like rice, coffee, @, tobacco, etc. should be protected and fostered by proper tariff regulations; and also it must be the duty of the Government, in its contracts and other operations, to give preference to national products over imported ones.

 

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

 

       8.  We desire a more liberal policy towards the different Islands of the Kingdom, outside of Oahu; they should receive a fairer proportion of the public moneys for the development of their resources and the satisfaction of their wants.  In fact, the principal of local Self-government should be extended, whereby giving localities may choose the most important of their local executive officers, and levy taxes for the purpose local improvements of a public nature.

 

PROTECTION TO THE LABOURING CLASSES

 

       9.  We shall endorse all measures tending to improve the condition of the working classes, and consequently, without injuring and vested rights, we will advocate laws to prevent all further importation or employment of contact-labor of any kind, upon conditions which will bring it into a ruinous and degrading competition with free Hawaiian or white labor.  We shall also in the interest of the better protection of the poor, ask for more liberal exemptions of their property from forced sale on execution, aud from seizure in the bankruptcy proceedings.

 

SMALL FARMING AND HOMESTEADS

 

       10.  The wealthy fraction of our population have hitherto prevented the development of an independent class of citizens; the public lands have been acquired and have been tied up in a few hands or parceled to suit favorites, and small farmers and planters have been driven out by corporations or combinations of capitalists: but a small farming is conducive to the stability of the State, it should be encouraged by a new and more liberal Homestead act, by which the ownership of small tracts of land and the settlement thereon of families of our present populations, -and especially of the native Hawaiians who have been left almost homeless in their country-should be rendered possible.  To that end, the Government and Crown lands, (in so far as can be done without invading vested rights) should be devoted as soon as possible to the homesteads., and conferred upon bona-fide settlers free of taxes for a limited period.

       It should be the further aim of government to, at once, so far improve the means of transportation, -local, national and international- as to provide, in all the districts, cheep means of conveying the product of the soil to market.

 

ELECTORAL RIGHT.

 

       11.  We hold that upright and honest manhood, and not the possession of wealth, arbitrary fixed, should consti@ the right to vote for nobles as well as representatives, and no more power should be accorded to the ballot of the rich man than to the ballot of the poor man.  The discrimination in favor of wealth now made in our Constitution is contrary to all the eternal principals of right and justice, and must be abolished.  To this end, we will favor a leveling of the present distinction of wealth and classes which blemish our laws with respect of the right to vote for nobles, thereby restoring to the native Hawaiians privileges which pertain to them in their own country, and of which they have been unjustly deprived.

 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS

 

       12.  We favor the expenditures of sufficient sums to secure a number of needed public improvements of Oahu and other Islands: school, railroads and harbors and, wharves, public light, and also a thorough system of reservoirs and water-works, not only for Honolulu, but through-out the other Islands.

 

       That voice in the crowd at the last meeting said, no more haole nobles this time; too much punipuni he say he vote new constitution, but he smart, he forget all tim, -and like fool Kanaka too m ugh.  Me @be him now.  More truth than poetry, in this.