Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 400, 1 March 1892 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

 

KA LEO.

 

John E. Bush.

I una Hooponopono a me Puuku.

 

TUESDAY, MARCH. 1, 1892

 

A MAN TRAP.

 

As the six year old son of Mr. Williams of Kinau St. was walking along the side walk of that street near the top of Miller St., his foot became entangled in a waterpipe, which threw the child on his face and severely injured his nose and disfigured him.

That his Uncle was not also injured is due to the fact that he did not happen to be walking in the middle of the side walk, as the small water pipe is a trap in the form of an acute angle which commences from the center of the footway. Some day there will be an action against the Hawaiian government for injury or account of lose of life or limb through several of such man traps in the same vicinity, and the great circumlocution office will then spend a hundred dollars trying to find out which of two departments, the Waterworks or Roads, is responsible for the trap. In the mean time we suggest to the new Road Supervisor to send two men for one day in order to bury the water pipe which the late Road Management left exposed in cutting the road down.

 

“PATRIARCHAL.” KAUAI.

 

In our last article we proved by unimpeachable figures from the latest report of His Honor the Chief Justice, that Kauai, with a population of less than one-seventh of the entire kingdom, contributed about 30 per cent of the gross number of contract laborers who have been convicted under the “contract labor” law.

One might therefore suppose, that the “garden island” was peopled by a pretty hard crowd, but a comparison with other islands proves the reverse. Under the heading of “criminal business,” Kauai figures for only 695 criminals, out of a total for the kingdom of 7895. This clearly proves that the general population of Kauai are all right, and that the saccharine Patriarch who carries on his business by contract labor must, in some cases on Kauai, be exceptionally fond of imprisoning his laborers, and have every facility in the shape of accommodating courts in furtherance of his desires. Indeed, the machinery of law and police is kept in active running order by the everlasting “running in” of the “contract laborer,” and if we add to the 777 who are set down in the said report as deserting or refusing bound service,” the @ on contract”—which is part of the same business—numbering @, we have a total of 875 as the number of “contract laborers” convicted on Kauai for 1888-9: being 180 convictions over and above the number set down under the forty eight headings of Crime.

The number of @ @act laborers on Kauai plantations for the period of 1888-9 is set down on pages 29, 30 of the official report at 1735, out of which 875 fined or imprisoned!!

What a commentary on a vile institution, against the existence of which not a voice of, so called christian missionary is heard. What a handle does not this dark chapter in our social history furnish to the enemies of Hawaii abroad!

Yet it is upon an extension of this “Fugitive Slave Law,” by procuring a larger supply of cheaper human chattels, that such godly (?) men as Young and Baldwin and whole host of Fort St. Deacons propose to found a new era of national prosperity!

The act under which the Pactolus Chinese entered the kingdom is a standing monument to the hypocrisy of this same class, and were it not for the existence of the “alien agitator”—as their organa dubs all good men here who object to slavery—this same sniveling hypocritical crowd would revive the South Sea kidnapping which ran on here for years in the interest of the un@tious Deacon who bought and sold them, and that of the pious man who used and starved them on his plantations at five dollar a month and stable room.

We are not through with the “Patriarchs” of Kauai and in so far as they may be taken to be foundation representatives of a christian people, we would expect an honest Buddhist to say of our exemplified Christianity: “I’d rather be a pagan suckled on a creed outworn.”

 

OUR PRESENT SITUATION.

(Communicated).

Editor Ka Leo:

It cannot be denied that the great industry of our country has been and now is the cultivation of sugar, but this industry is on the verge of ruin unless some help arrives. Perhaps some do not understand why it is on the verge of ruin. It is because that the United States once had heavy duties upon sugar, which made the price of sugar in the United States from four to six cents a pound. The duties, however, were remitted upon Hawaiian sugars by the treaty. This enabled the sugar industry to grow up and to become very prosperous in the Hawaiian Islands. Now the Americans have taken off the duty from sugar and as a result the price of sugar is now so low in the United States that there are almost no plantations in the Sandwich Islands that can raise sugar cheap enough to live. For instance, if the great expense of sugar plantations makes it cost $80 to raise a ton of sugar and only $55 can be received after the payment of freight and other charges, it is very evident that such a sugar plantation must stop work, because it would be ruinous to go on. I ask you, Mr. Editor, if the sugar industry goes to the wall and is ruined, as has been the case in some countries that were not assisted as we have been, then what shall the country depend? A large part of the taxes are paid by the sugar industry; large amounts in rent are paid by the plantations to natives who own kuleanas and lands where the sugar plantations are situated. The natives who are working on plantations are yet able to obtain something from the plantations in the value given to productions they may raise and from the fact that they may occasionally take contracts to go plowing and other work upon which, as we know, they make a good deal money, but if all these things are to be lost, then what is to come next?

No true Hawaiian wishes to see the country go back to the condition in which it was before 1860 or before 1870, when we found that the natives mostly lived in grass houses and had very little money from one end of the year to the other; and when they did not have the benefits and advantages which they now have in material things.

It is also a fact, Mr. Editor, that a large number of native Hawaiians are discontented with the present political state of the Islands. They believe, whether right or wrong, that they do not have the political power, the political privileges which they should have. They feel that the political control of the country which was largely in the hands of the native Hawaiian has now been taken away. The question therefore arises by what means shall a change be brought about whereby we may have a return of general prosperity and there may be a more perfect political equality. I confess that as I survey the political horizon and turn over in my mind the various means by which we can receive a general benefit equal alike to all the people, there seems to me but one course which is open and by which we may obtain those rights and that prosperity which we know we must have or ruin will come to the country. This course is for us to ask our great neighbor the United States to admit Hawaii to the American Union as one of its parts. I know that the native Hawaiian has in years passed dreaded and feared the subject of annexation. There has been a dread and fear which they would not explain, perhaps, but which existed in spite of all arguments and presentation of fact. But I have thought that within a few years past this dread has somewhat decreased. Native Hawaiian have discussed the matter with me and in my presence and have seemed to feel that annexation not only would not be terrible, but would be of great advantage to this country. Supposing that Hawaii were to ask the American Republic for admission as one of its member, this would not be conquest. This would not be a loss of our importance or of our power or dignity. On the contrary we would at once assume a position of dignity and power which we never before have exercised. In becoming a member of that great and powerful country we should secure and retain the respect of the countries which now regard us with good natured contempt. Our position of natural importance in the middle of the ocean would then have its full significance and power; but perhaps what is of greater importance to us is the fact that by the liberal constitution of that great country we should at once secure that equality before the law which many Hawaiians feel does not exist under our present constitution. All of the political power would then go into the hands of the people and capital as such would not be recognized as having a voice in the government. The labor contract system, which is now regarded by many as a plot and stain upon Hawaii’s fair record, would be at once and forever obliterated. And what is of equal, perhaps greater, importance in the minds of some, our expenses would at once be so reduced that taxation would be light and yet enough would remain after paying the salaries of what few officers we should require, to leave a large surplus for that internal improvement which must go on or we shall drift back into the dark ages of savagery. And I will next attempt to explain these suggestions.

 

ON DIT.

 

That equal rights in liquor H@ is as far off as ever. Monopoly is still on top for two years more.

 

That the other side are tired of our honest account of patriarchal Kauai, for which reason we give them some more.

 

That big shark that played around the steamer Kaala, is nothing in company to our land sharks, some of whom are six feet long and 250 to 300 pounds weight.

 

That a meeting of the International Liberal League will be held this evening at the usual hour and place.

 

That our local Bankers should be compelled to publish their Balance Sheets same as in the United States.

 

That the itinerant harper and fiddler seems to have taken the place of Berger’s “matinee musicales for business men” that used to come off in front of the Post Office.

 

That it is high time the Marshal made some regulations about bicycle riding on the side walks, and bicycle having lights at night time.

 

That the merchant and traders are beginning to feel a little tired shelling out to the local Banks one per cent premium for gold coin, seeing that for so many years past the balance of trade between the Islands and California has been greatly in favor of the former.

 

That the Queen will object to the use of Uncle Sam’s gold coins in this country and will insist that Hawaii, and independent, shall have its own old coinage, impressed with the head of its own ruler.

 

That Mahope Tophet did call for harbor bar dredging tenders, but somehow or other nothing came of it, and no explanation was given by the newspaper as to whether any tenders are lodged or were accepted.

 

That people are wondering why the Government can’t go ahead and do the harbor bar dredging themselves without calling for tenders, taking into account that they own the dredger which is supposed to be fit for the purpose and also that they have built the enclosure to contain the dredging without calling for tenders.

 

Platform of Principle

Of the

HAWAIIAN NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY.

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, @ of all sectarian or pati@ spirit, and to tender 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 the press.

 

MONOPOLISM

 

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.

PROTECTION TO HOME INDUSTRIES

 

7. We are in favor of encouraging all home agriculture and industries, @ our native products, @ rice, cotton, wool, tobacco, etc. should be protected and fostered by proper tariff regulation; and also it must be the duty of the Government, in its @ and other @ to give pr@ to national products over imported @.

 

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

 

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 @ of their wants. In fact, the principle 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.

 

PUBLIC SERVANTS.

 

6. Better laws should regulate the Civil Service. The principle of the election 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 adequate compensation for the services rendered. All excessive salaries should be reduced and all @ cures or superfluous offices abolished.

 

PROTECTION TO THE LABOURING CLASSES

 

9. We shall endorse all measure tending to improve the condition of the working classes, and consequently, without injuring 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 aim, in the interest of the better protection of the poor, ask for more liberal exception of their property from forced sale on execution and from seizure in bankruptcy proceeding.

 

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 as 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 population, --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 developed as soon as possible to homesteads and conferred upon bono-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 @ them,--local, national and international,--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 @ of wealth, arbitrarily fixed, should @ the right to vote for nobles as well as representatives, and no more power should be awarded to the ballet of the rich man than to the ballet 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 pre@ distribution of wealth and choose 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 expenditure of proficient names to secure a number of needed public improvements on Oahu and other Islands: school, railroads and harbors and wharves, public light, and @ a thorough system of @ and water-works, not only for Honolulu, but through-out the other Islands.