The Liberal, Volume I, Number 40, 28 January 1893 — MARTIAL LAW. [ARTICLE]

MARTIAL LAW.

No doubt the Provisional Government was actuated by the highest motives in having issued a declaration of marital law as to this Island of Oahu. Things of which we, when viewing the situation with coll deliberation ten days later, do not observe the necessity, may have then appeared to them as being very necessary, to the protection of the government. We frankly confess our inability to discover any necessity for the declaration of martial law. But we waive that point, and confine ourselves to the assertion that whether the original proclamation was necessary or unnecessary, there exists no good reason why the system should be continued to the present time. It is not a sufficient answer to this proposition to allege that martial law hurts no one,that no act is or has been done under it, that no one is deprived of liberty because of the proclamation. All those facts, if true, only serve to fortily the position that martial law is unnecessary in the present condition of our city and Island. If unnecessary, then its imposition upon the people is a wrong and an injury. Our reputation abroad cannot be otherwise than injured by the fact that martial law is continued so long after all possible occation for its protection has passed away. Gentlemen of the Provisional Government, what scales have fallen upon your eyes, that you are unable to see these truths? In this connection THE LIBERAL would also enter its protest against the further employment of armed guards in and about the Capitol during the hours of daylight. The men now on duty there are, as we understand, volunteers, many of whom could be much more profitably employed in their regular vocations. They should be permitted to resume those vocations, without delay. Do not imagine, gentlemen of the Provisional Government, that we would for a moment advise the relaxation of any necessary or reasonable vigilance in the protection of the government and Capitol. They must be protected at all hazards. But, we contend, their protection is ample and neither the United States forces, nor martial law, nor the very numerous volunteer forces who swarm in the Capitol and its grounds are necessary to that end. The sleep of infancy is not more placid than the condition of our city-to-day. Such martial pomp is quite uncalled for. Let the volunteers be ready for an emergency, should it arise, as they have ever been in the past, but, in the meantime, let them be dismissed from the Capitol, at least during business hours.