Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 306, 21 ʻOkakopa 1891 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

 

K @  LEO O KA LAHUI.

 

John E. Bush.

Luna Hooponopono a me

Puuku.

 

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 20, 1890

 

Be Thankful.

 

  While many of us here in Hawaii nei, are discontented and are complaining of hard times  and worse coming, should read the accounts of suffering and starvation that is occuring in myriads in other parts of the globe. In comparison, we cannot help being thankful that we have an abundance for out daily wants, and feel a deep sympany for the sufferers as we read of the terrible sufferings experienced, elsewhere, more especially in some of the provinces of Russia, through the failure of the crops people are eating grass and leaves and thus lingering a painful existence which finally ends in death. Note and ponder well the following and compare the same with our condition:

  "Great ditress exists in Russia on account of famine. In the province of Pensa, peasants opened the grave of a woman, who had recently died of heart disease, and ate the flesh. The government made no arrests."

 

Equality.

 

  All men are born free and are equal before God who made him. No man has any claim whatever to any greater right to freedom or superiority over his fellow being. By our standard, the Bible, the only one which gives us the clearest and best proofs of man's origin and nature, we are made to understand that he was made to be free and to be equal with his fellow. Taking this as our foundation to start from, we are satisfied that any rule, law or act that operates contrary to these two foundamental principles, are unjust and arbitrary, and is a pervision of the original statute given man after he was made.

  Taking the standard that all men are born free and equal, all human laws made against it are retrogressive and should be abolished, and the original condition of man's right restored. Every step we see taken in this direction is subject for congratulation, and evinces an appreciation on the part of those making the effort to obtain that which belonged to them from the beginning and is a part of his natural rights.

  Here, in this country, the effort is been made to restore thess privileges of man, against the action of others who find it to their interest to perpetuate a usurpation of them. To-day, we see two political divisions of the country, setting up standards of action, whereby they pledge by word they will carry out, in the even of their being elected by the majority of the voters of the country. One of these political divisions proposes as a plank in their platform of action to make the effrort to do away with a law which makes a distinction in man's rights. The one referred to here, is that termed in the law, property qualification by which the successful or fortune man in business or by inheritance may have a superior right over his less fortunate fellow through that particular circumstance, though intellectually, he may be to the poor man as the ass is to the lion physically, or the monkey to the man mentally.

  This principle has been set forth in a declartion by men, who were elected once before in the interest of the majority on the same lines and adopted by political associations, representing the vast majority of Hawaiian people and the foreign element of the country. The division of the populace represented by these bodies are nine-tenths mechanics and laboring men; who toil for their living and in most cases are debarred, by the claw by exercising an equal right with his fellow men in the privilege of voting to make rulers for their guidance and protection.

  The Hui Kalaiaina was the first to adopt the declartion made on this point, followed by the International League and lastly the Mechanics' Union. the declaration which reads as follows:

  "We hold that upright and honest manhood, and not the possession of wealth, arbitarily fixed, should constitute 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 principles of right and justice, and must be abolished. To this end, we will favor a leveling of the present distinctions 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 countrp, and of which they have been unjustly deprived."

  The Mechanics' Union, the last to adopt this declaration of principles, after a careful study and earnest debate of the same, is a body of men though not poor, are not in the category of the privilege classes. Their adoption of this open and manly declaration of principles is a sign to us of the dawn of advancing light and an evidence of an awakening sentiment among the masses. It is a just appreciation in favor of "upright and honest mahood" against the usurpation and assumption of wealth  ,i. e., "that no more power should be accorded to the ballot of the rich man than to the ballot of the poor man." It is the acceptance of a first principle or right which was part of man at his creation, and in accordance with the eternal principles of right and justice, or as the Bible has it. with the righteouness of God. We know of no sound argument that can be adduced against the adoption of this principle by any class: self interest may conjure up a conglomeration of words and ideas against it, but none can be produced to refute the eternal principles upon which man's right are based. They are fixed and no effort on the part of man can justly alter them.

  The alterations and changes, which man ia his assumed wisdom, has made in the foundamental principles as set forth by the author of all nature, is a perversion of the immutable laws which govern nature and is sure to lead to anarchy and confusion. Nothing that man can do can better that which God has made. Who can deny the greater glory of the rose, the product of nature, as instituted by the Creator, over the glory of Solomon, with all his wisdom and tinsel. This proves man's utter insignificance and should open up our understanding @o see that the path of wisdom, is to restore all things to their former freedom and equality and this can never be accomplished until we are freed from selfishness and pride. No greater proof can be shown of our equality than our first inception into and exit from this life.

 

THE COST OF ROYALTY.

 

  The expense of maintaining the head of a nation, varies according to the nature and circumstances under which a people recognizes its duty and obligations towards its head. The chief of the English nation receives for herself and family about $5,000.000 annually. This is an example of the expense a nation pays for the luxury of royalty. The republic of the United States, pays to its Cheif Executive $50,000 annually for the maintenance of the dignity of the nation, but it is stated that there is a secret service fund of $3,000,000 from which he may draw to make up any deficits to his purse, which is usually done, without any accounting for whatever is used from said amount.

  Under the existing order of things, every nation has to have its head,--a ruler, some one to represent the dignity of the nation and as chief in the execution of the will of that nation. For that purpose, a fitting allowance should be made for the maintenance of the head, ruler or chief executive of the people. This varies according to the eminence of the establishment to be supp ported. The difference cannot be better illustrated than that between the English monarchy and the Hawaiian. The one is vast an expensive and requires a great deal to maintain it. the lesser monarchy is very much limited and consequently its maintenance calls for less means for the support of its rulers. In each case, however, the source of revenue should be a main factor in the calculations of those whose duty it is to apportion out this support.

  In proportion to its size, its population, and revenue, the Hawaiian people, probably, pays as much for the sweet privilege of being ruled by a sovereign. The civil list of our Queen needs cutting down to suit the times. The revenues of the Crown Lands are large, and the next Legislature should appoint a Committee to take the subject in hand, and investigate it, in order that an intelligent and just allowance should be made for the support of the office of Chief Executive. Or that the Crown Lands should be turned over to the government and a fixed sum given in lieu of the revenue derived from it, and whatever deficit there may be in the civil list, should be made up by an allowance from the Treasury.

 

ON DIT.

 

  That T.Evans has been acquitted by a jury of his peers, on a charge of having opium in his possession. The testimony and the addresses of the lawyers in this case would be quite an interesting study.

 

  That the people employed by the govenment are feeling the necessity of making straight their ways, especially the little official fishes.

 

  That opium is King since sugar got sour. Oh ! for the morality and the preachers and teachers of morality, to whom is due the downfall of the one and the uprising of the other.

 

  That Elder Haws of the Re-organized Church of Latter Day Saints, accepts a challenge to to meet the learned Dr. Hammond on Bible doctrines. We hope the gentlemen will meet and discuss these questions in a friendly spirit with the Word of God as thier standard.    -------

  That little Hawaii is to have a little lot to its use at the World's Fair, which little section we hope will be well maintained and a good name given to Paradise of the Pacific. There is no question that full exhibits of our product and a report of the pssiblitities in store from the abundant riches of our soil, if properly made and laid out to the eye of the world, who will be assembled there, will do our islands a vast amount of good.

  It would be well for Hawaii to embrace this offer, and not wait for another generation, for the wickedness of the world is so great, so much like the days of Noah and of Sodom and Gomorroh, that we do not believe that another opportunity will ever again appear.

 

Platform  of  Principle

OF THE

NAWAIIAN NATIONAL

LIBERAL PARTY.

 

PRINCIPLE OF GOVERNMENT AND

CONSTITUTION.

  1. We deem that all Government should be founded on the principles of Liberty, Equality 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 propertp. 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 system; and, as the present Constitution 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 liberal Constitution, to truly secure a Government of the People, by the People and for the People.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE COUNTRY

  2.  Out of consideration for the inherent rights and present opinions of the native population, we dersire to retain the inderpendence of the Country and defend its autonomy, under a liberal and popular form of govenment; 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 system and Code of Procedure must be submitted to a thorough revision, so as to secure a cheap and prompt administration of justice, free from all sectarian or patisau 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 press.

TAXATION

  4. A more just and perfect system of Taxation must be inaugurated, to abolish th present inequalities, by which the property of the poor is excessively taxed, while much of the rich man's goods are under-valued for assessment or entirely escape taxation; we shall therefore demand the pasage of laws that will 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 @a@s of discouraging the locking up of large tracts of uncultiyated lands, a differantial tax should be levied in addition to the usual assesement on valuation which should be in porportion to the fertility of the soil. We shall also favor the establishment of a graduated income-tax. and thns expect to obtain ample funds for conduction the government and attending to all necessary public improvements without any 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, trusts and privileges to special classes shall be rendered impossible, by full, definite and mandatory statutes.

  6. Better laws should regulate the Civil Service. The principle of the eletion of officers of the government by the people should be established, and no man should be allowed to hold more than one office of profit, whilst salaries should be adaquate compensation for the sarvices rendered. All excessive salaries should be reduced and all sinesures or superflueus offices abolished.

PROTECTION TO HOME

INDUSTRIES

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

PUBLIC SERVANRS.

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 satisfactirn of their wants. In fact, the principle of local Self-government should be extended, whereby giving localities may choose the ost 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 measure tending to improve the condition of the working classes, and consequently, without oinjuring any vested rights. we will advocate laws to prevent all further importation or employment of contract-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, m the interest of the better protection of the poor, ask for more liberal exemptions of their property from forced sale on execation, and from seizure in 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 parcelled to suit favorites, and small farmers and planters have been driven out by corporations or combinations of capitalists; but as small farming is conducive to the stability of the State, it should pe encouraged by a new and more liberal Homestead act, by which the ownership of small tracks of land and the settlement thereon of families of our present population,--and especialily of the native Hawaiians who have been left almost homeless in there country,-should be rendered possible. To that end, the Govenment and Crown lands, ( in so far as can be done without invading vested rights ) should be devoted as soon as possible to 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 internationa,--as to provide, in all the districts, cheap 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, arbitrarily 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 disor@ination in favor of wealth now made in our Constitution is contrary to all the eternal principles 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 Hawaiian privileges which pertain to them in their own country, and of which they have been unjustly deprived.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS

  12  We favor the expenditure of sufficient sums to secure a number of needed public improvement@ on Qahu and other Islands: school, railr@ had harbors and wharves, public light, and al@ a thorough system of res@reirs and water-works, not only for Honolulu, but through-out the other Islands.