Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 434, 18 ʻApelila 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.

 

MONDAY, APRIL, 18, 1892.

 

SMALL FARMING.

 

            "It is vain to pretend that small farming cannot flourish in the tropics. The P. C. Advertiser. in its editorial last Saturday published the foregoing, and never were truer words spoken in that paper. Small land holdings is the only sure means of increasing the prosperity of the people of any country, and is especially of more advantage in a small one. One of the best instances on record to illustrate this fact is the case with France, and shows how unsafe it is for a community to have the land locked up in the hands of a few, as it is a sure means of producing poverty among the populace, misery and discontent. and eventually revolution. It is an unnatural condition to have the soil in the possession of only a few people.

            Previous to the Revolution, the landed property of France was owned by a few landlords in immense estates. These estates were required by law to remain undivided, so that no heirs on creditors could partition them. But revolution knows no law and in the anarchy that then reigned, the titles of the nobility were abolished, and their lands disposed of in small parcels for the benefit of the public exche@ner. The historian thus rerecords this unique transaction:--

            "The confiscation of two-thirds of the landed property of the kingdom, which arose from the decree of the Convention against the emigrants, clergy, and persons convicted at the revolutionary Tribanals...... placed funds worth above @700, 000, 000 sterling at the disposal of the government."

            In disposing of her lands in small holding, thus encouraging settlers and tillers of the soil. every inch of ground is made to yield, and thus. France, became the riches country in the world, supporting and amassing wealth from the products of her soil, that for its size have no equal in the world.

            The same rule is applicable here and everywhere and with the same good results. It is the natural order of land tenure, and all good government in this country, should give special study to the matter. Our government should by all means prevent the departure of people, whom it has encouraged to come and settle in the country at some cost. by offering every inducement to them to stay. A Boad of Agriculture should be established to study out the best and most profitable products to cultivate, and the government should give the planters bounties to encourage whatever new industries may do started. To make a start the government should assume the use of the crown Lands as soon as possible, and take hold of the matter in earnest, and in that way demonstrate to the people their sincerity and desire to help them, and save the country from hopeless re@rogression and ruin.

 

"OVERWORKED."

 

            KA LEO welcomes the P. C. Advertiser to the field of battle for radical reform in the system of our judiciary. But while we agree with many of all of the conclusions thus far announced by our contemporary on this same subject, we desire to distinctly disavow one of its premises viz: that our Supreme Court is overworked.

            The fault heretofore has rather been that the members of the court were so ridiculously under-worked as to leave them far too much time for the indulgence of a vicious and mischievous propensity to gossip, with the entailment of all the undesirable consequences to be apprehended from a too free indulgence of such propensity,-- not the least among which has been an interference in the political affairs of the country, -- usually covert, but frequently apparent--of a character to bring odium at once upon the judicial system and its representatives.

            It would be unfair to some of the members of the Bench, past and present, to allege a general meddling in politics and other outside concerns, on the part of the judges. But the public will need the mention of no names, -- more's the pity-- to identify the offenders in this particular. It is beyond doubt today that our Supreme Court does not possess the confidence of either the Bar or of the People, and the gossipy disposition and meddle some propensity of certain of its members, -- past and present--is largely to blame for such want of confidence.

            We are in justice forced to admit that these faults are less intense in the Court to-day than they were on January 1, 1890, but this is owing to changes in the personnel of the court, rather than to any reform or improvement in the offending members. KA LEO will pursue this subject, -- and all such offenders--from time to time.

 

Explained at Last.

 

            In his euglogy upon the late Judge McCully, April 12th, Chief Justice Judd made use of the following very modest language:

            "* * The companionship between we and our deceased brother, begun long ago, and, cemented by fifteen years of intimate association upon the Bench together, has made the tie between us so strong that its severing is now very painful *  * He associated only with the best and purest spirits,-- nothing low or degrading met with response in him."

            Just, so and the conclusion is irresistible that the deceased gentleman's long continued and fifteen years cemented friendship for his eulogist was not only in strict accordance with, but because of the deceased's taste for association with "only with the best and purest spiits." It is reassuring to be thus informed, upon an authority no less respectable than the certificate of the Chief Justice himself, that the lead of our judiciary is one of "the best and purest spirits." -- With such a judgment as to his goodness purity and spirituality. so deliberately rendered, by one in so good a position to know, upon @ solemn an occasion as the late "slobbering match," -- it is improbable that a reversal of that judgment will be recorded in he Honor. the eulogist's court. The reason of the markedly fervid aloha of the late first associate for the Chief Justice, is now happily explained and certified.-- but with the perverseness of humanity, we somehow wish the explanation and certificate had come from a different source.

 

THE GAMBLING SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

 

            There is but one fruit of gambling in all its forms, and that is sure disaster. Of the prevalence of this pernicious habit the Pall Mall Gazette has something to say that is pertinent and timely. It asserts that the betting men on the turf are, at the worst, but poor rogues in comparison with the gigantic operators who have chosen the world's exchanges for their sphere of action; and any examination of the subject will fully bear out the statement. It says it is no doubt unpleasant to contemplate the conversion of the stock exchange of the world into gigantic gaming houses. In the case of the races, moral reformers may propose to put them down; but no one would suggest the abolition of the stock exchange. Nevertheless, it is tending more and more to become the gambling center of the world. The Gazette says in all seriousness that "no other rival can for a moment be compared to it for extent, for convenience, for temptation, for the magnitude of its operations, or, it may be added, for the wholesale deception which has come to be recognised in many quarters as one of the legitimate tricks of trade. Monaco is but a poor country beside this gigantic substitute in which me gamble with all the produce of the world. The 'leviathan plungers' of the turf are but infants compared with the magnates who corner the harvests of a continent, and starve a province in order to make a smart deal in 'futures.'"

            Returning again to the summer sports as an illustrative figure. the Gazette thinks that the best thing about the horse racing as a mode of gambling is that the mischief it does is confined to the gamblers. It is far otherwise with the gamblers of the Bourse. Referring to the fact that a famous cornerer, whose exploits had made light dear in every workman's house in Paris a whole winter through, had committed suicide in a bankers parlor it adds that unfortunatley the entire brotherhood of cornerers did not follow his example. They go on, it says, making dear by turns light, food, drink, and clothing. They gamble in the necessaries of lite, and all mankind pays their forfeits.--Selected.

 

ON DIT.

 

            That the bald-headed child of frenzy who lately returned from a globe-trotting tour, did not bring back a bank in his waist pocket, according to his expectations. His own record as a minister had helped so far to discredit the country abroad, that capital would not trust itself in such hands, to the extent desired. That it is hardly to be regretted that the community is not to be cursed by a subjection to capital in the hands of a frenzied crank.

 

            That Hawaii anxiously awaits the news from the Coast, to learn how the report of the "sand-bag" barricade foolery affected the efforts of our local seekers after capital in that market. Two to one they will not receive a cent.

 

            That the Daily Bulletin still exists as the thinnest apology for a newspaper.

 

            That an ugly scandal is afloat concerning the "squaring" in the Attorney-General's Office, of a late prosecution for liquor selling--a second offence --at Waimea, Kauai. That the very fresh and very last incumbent of said office may expect to hear more of this matter before he is much older.

 

            That the decision  of the Court in the election matter is a virtual admission that the Hawaiian noble voters have been disfranchised; but with a complacency not to have been expected from certain of the judges, the Court has ignored the constitutional right of the native Hawaiian to have machinery supplied by which he can vote intelligently, and has given the stamp of approval to pretended legislation. which subverts constitutional guaranties. This merely emphatises the necessity for early and radical reform in the judiciary. It must come, and come speedily, by whatever means shall be found essential to that end.

 

            That the Bulletin admits that Mr. Bush is quite right when it so strongly reprobates injustice to Hawaiians in the election law.

           

            That when one of our local Spartan mothers recently dragged her long-geared, lately married son from a Fort Street Gambling dive, at high noon, there were certain spiritual manifestations in and about the room, whose cause has lately been explained. The "noble rappings" then occurring are said to have produced the crowding under the card table of two youthful scions of missionary families, now employed in positions of trust in missionary houses, who were run to cover in those narrow quarters by dread of meeting the eagle eye of the invader.

 

Platform of Principle

OF THE

HAWAIIAN 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 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 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 clan, 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.

 

MONOPOLIES

 

            5.         We shall use our efforts to obtain laws by which all favoritism in the government and all monopolies, trusts and @dvileges 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, and all our native products, like rice, @, 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.

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

            8.         We desire a more liberal policy towards that 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 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.

 

SMALL FARMING AND HOME STEADS.

            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 con@cive 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 there 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 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, cheap means of conveying the product of the soil to market.

 

ELECTORAL RIHGT.

            11.       We hold that upright and honest manhood, and not the permission of wealth, arbitrarily fixed, should const@ 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 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 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 through-out the other Islands.

 

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 adaquate compensation for the services rendered. All excessive salaries should be reduced and all @ or superfluous office 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 ru@ 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 execution, and from seizure @ bankruptcy proceeding.