Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 433, 15 April 1892 — Page 4

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This text was transcribed by:  Eve Scott
This work is dedicated to:  Awaiaulu

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

 

KA LEO.

John E. Bush.

Iuna Hooponopono a me Iúuku.

 

Friday, April. 15, 1802.

 

THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

 

It appears more and more apparent that the Hawaiian as a Nation will soon become conspicuous by his nonentity in the law and in the general affairs of his country, unless he takes immediate steps to save himself from being shoved and jostled about in public and private life. The last bit of farce in law practiced on the Hawaiian people should create a desire in them to rise to a man and make an effort to prevent any further enactments being made to disfranchise and to prevent them from obtaining a proper understanding of their rights and privileges by law as a voter. We cannot see how a nation can submit much longer to be made a thing, in his own country, when laws are made and adjudged, as consistent with the spirit of justice, that a foreign language should be the rule in the most vital matter that concerns their welfare. We are beginning to believe what has often been told to us, that law and justice for the Hawaiians is only a farce. The decision of the Supreme Court, presumably in accordance with the strict letter of the law, in the election case, may be all very well, but we know wherein the law has been made to stretch outside of the strict letter of the same, in some cases, and a spiritual interpretation given to it, that would puzzle the best English scholars from whence it could have been derived, all because it was inconvenient and inexpedient to be in strict accord with the letter of the law. The interpretation of the law in matters of vital importance to the Hawaiians if gathered together would make quite a conglomerate of opinions, that would be well worth preserving as a curiosity, and as @owing the pli@ and kaleidoscopic coloring matter that the human mind is capable of producing, when it is laboring under peculiar influences and circumstances.

Under the circumstances it seems to us that the Hawaiians are brought more and more forcibly to the study of the problem, of what is the best rememdy for them to overcome this unequal distribution of law and justice. The government should be the dispenser of equal rights irrespective of race, but alas the government is only a puppet and an imbecile as at present constituted and conducted. A change is required, and a change must be had, otherwise we shall be driven to a state of chaos, that we hope may at least evolve a form of government that will give us equal rights and justice.

 

We are satisfied that a different opinion would not be unlikely in the case of a contested election, where the ground of contest would be that the Hawaiian alone was used to express the meaning of words on a ballet. In fact a howl would be heard all over the country if such should have been the case, as a prelude to a very preoper decision in the case. We reiterate what we have so often stated, that no one can contemplate the present treatment of the masses of the people without desiring something like a revolution for the better.

 

Judge Dole's Decision

The Chinese merchants have been on the qu@ hoping that Judge Dole's Decision would sustain the arguments of their counsel and that an order for a few thousand more Chinese coolies could go on to China by the outgoing "Zambesi." Messrs. Hartwell and Castle deserve every credit for the way in which they got their big feet on the Hawaiian Constitution and squashed it down and jumped on it and characterized it – though largely the work of their own hands – as a thing of shreds and patches. It is well masters; and the working class will not forget your heroic efforts in the interests of cooliedom. The way in which these two hired advocates of unrestricted Chinese could be seen flitting about the law office anxiously enquiring "what do you think the verdict will be?" Do you think Judge Dole will rendder a verdict before the Zambesi leaves? looked as if the weight of the retainer would be considerably augmented if the Hartwell and Castle number twelves had unmistakably gone through the Constitution. Had they been enabled to guarantee to the representatives of the six Chinese comanies that it would be safe to send an order for 10,000 coolies, as @ne Hawaiian constitution no longer offered a barrier, there would have been great rejoicing in Chinatown. But the fact remains that the Hawaiian Constitution is still capacious enough to hold twenty-five cents worth of beef-trust steak, and the Chinese coolie can come in all the same – as the ward of the Board of Health – on payment of a small fee, and as he can be landed on a plantation for $300 he will come.

This question suggests a variety of others specially effecting the industrial classes, one of which is that the Board of Health can neutralize one of the most important provisions of the Constitution. The Board of Health are responsible fort he landing of these Chinese and no one else. In not permitting the proper officers to examine the passports in question, it assumed functions altogether outside of its recognized sphere, and viewing the whole surroundings the public can only arrive at one of two opinions concerning the motives which actuated the Board of Health in this particular matter; either it knew that its action would let loose a number of Chinese who had no right by law to enter, or it did not. It does not meet the case to pleas that the law provides a penalty for illegal entry; for the Board is well aware that the sentiment of the public is for Chinese exclusion. The Board of Health in this as in its more recent folly of uselessly detaining government officers, has proved itself incompetent and a danger and a menace to the trade of the port, and they most grateful aol they could conclude with is to resign. The business of the public would probably be in less danger by entrusting the whole control to one man of sense and experience and travel, and officer Reynolds could fit the bill. The Board of Health will be very different instituted when it shall cease to be constituted at royal pleasure by court toadies.

 

SIX HUNDRED MILLIONS.

 

The following paragraph from the Railway Age (Chicago), Feb. 26, 1892, headad "Railway Capitalization," brings to view indeed, as it calls to a "very wonderful" state of things: -

"Very wonderful has been the increase in the capitalization, of single railway companies within a few years. It is not so very long since 850,000,000 was considered an extraordinary amount to be represented in a railway property, and when a few years ago one of the greatest companies consolidated its indetedness into a bond issue of $160,000,000, all the world wondered. But now one plan for reorganizing the Richmond & West Point Terminal contemplates an issue of $600,000,000 is a matter of current talk. This tendency, however, is not confined to railway companies, but characterizes all financial interests. This is merely the day of large things."

This would be "wonderful" enough, even if it was confined to railway operations; but when, as the Age asserts, it "characterizes all financial interests." it is more striking still. Who, even a few years ago, dreamed that such conditions could arise? It is simly called "the law of large things." But it is more; it is the day of @ic things; a prophecy foresaw, and put on record for our instruction, that just before the last great day, rich men would oppress the labourer, and heap together rea@ures @mes 5:5. If they are not doing it now, by just such combinations as those noted above, how could it ever be done?-E.

 

ON DIRT.

 

That C. Chrichton scored a point in his prosecution of the Chinese who were being let into the country contrary to law.

 

That any attempt to lessen the efects of the punishment of the Chinese adjudged guilty and punished for an attempt to steal into the country without passports, will lead to further avoidance of the law, and a flooding of the country with cheap coolie labor.

 

That a government worked on a ten-cent labor plan is not fit to exist and the sooner it is changed the better for the people of the country.

 

That Leno Peder has gone to the bourne whence no traveler returns. His funeral was a private one.

 

That the Members of the Bar have all kissed the "blarney stone" is very evident by the tone of their little speeches in Bar Meeting assembled.

 

That a @ would@ up in front of a @ side@ by Hulualoa, who is @ to return the same to the @ on paying costs.

 

That the Judges of the Supreme Court will labor harder, deserve their wages better, and will enjoy better health.

 

That Professor Totten's prophecy is receiving more credence that at first notwithstanding the sneers of the thoughtless. Father Noah was called a fool because he preached the deluge, but it came after all.

 

That Mattoon is elected representative for the district of North Hilo and the rest nowhere.

 

That a banker has gone in to test the success of oyster culture in the Kingdom. Hope he will be as successful in the new industry as he was in coin culture.

 

That a new bank is reported as one of the institutions of the future, but its establishment all depends on the appointment of its intiator at the head of the finances of the Kingdom. Very clever, very clevr, by jove!

 

That Dillingham's embrio Bank will be started as soon as Wilcox has established the new order of things, with Wagner's drei hundred Shermans.

That Hon. C. Burnit will be sent on a mission to Tahiti, probably to enlist men for the Hawaiian forces, as every nation here is turning republican.

 

That Superintendent White of the Water Works was bursted the other day. The old pipe is being repaired, and the people of Kakaako and the makai side of Queen street will have a fresh suuply of the clear sparkling liquid.

 

CURE FOR CANCER.

 

Honolulu, March 24 1802.

I, George Curp@on, can@, have condesended to these islands for the a @, in the year 18@ I suffered from cancer in the leg, and through the advice of a friend @ Mr. Lowell seek. I suffered the most excrutiating pain and had been confined to my bed @, when Mr. Lowell saw me and said he thought he could cure it, and @, in one @ the time Mr. Lowell first saw @ it as cured. It is now nearly three months since and has all the appearances of a complete cure. In three weeks from the time Mr. Lowell first saw me I was able to go about my business. Any one desiring further information can call on me at 66 King St.

 

Platform of Principle

OF THE

HAWAIIAN NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE COUNTRY

2. Out of consideration for the inherent rights and present opinions of the native population, we desire to retain the independence of the Country and defend its antonomy, under a liberal and popular form of government; but out Treaties with Foreign Powers, and yes@ 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 of all sectarian or partisan @, and @ 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 the press.

 

6. We @ to which all @ and all@ rendered impossible, by @, @ and mandatory @.

 

@ TO HOME INDUSTRIES

7. We are in favour of encouraging all home agriculture and industries, and our native products, like rice, @, wool, tobacco, etc. should be produced 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-GOVERNEMENT

8. We desire a more liberal policy towards the different Islands of the Kingdom, outside 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 principle of Ioes@. Self-government should be extended, whereby giving localities may choose the most important of their local exectutive officers, and levy taxes for the @ local improvements of a public nature.

SMALL FARMING AND HOME STEADS.

10. The wealthy fraction of our populatio have hitherto prevented the development of an independent class of citizens; the public lands have been tied up in a few hands or parcelled to suit favourites, and small farmers and planters have been driven out by corportations or combinations of capitalists; but as small farming is conducive to the stability of the State, it should be encouraged by a new and mor liberal Homestead act, by which the ownership of the small tracts of land and the settlement thereon of families of our present poplation – and especially of the native Hawaiians who have been left @ homeless in there country – 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 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, cheeap means of converying 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 consist the right to vote for nobles as well as representatives, and no more power should be accorded to the ballot of the rich 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 s@. To this end, we will favor levelling of the present distinction of wealth and classes which @ our laws with respect to the right to vote for nobles, thereby restoring to the native Hawaiian privileges wich 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 improvements on 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 throuh-out

the other Islands.

PUBLIC SERVANTS

6. Better laws should regulate the Civil Service. The principle of the e@tion 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 ains cures or superfluous @.

PROTECTION TO THE LABOURING CLASSES

9. We shall endorse all measures 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 also, in the interest of the better protection of the poor, ask for more liberal exemption of their property from forced sale on @, and from seizure in bankruptcy proceeding.