Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 177, 22 April 1891 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

 

KA LEO

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1891

 

NOTICE

      Copies of the KA LEO O KA LAHUI can be found every morning at both the News Agencies in town. Price 5 cents a copy.

 

To Be or Not To Be!

      It is rumored around town that Her Majesty begins to realize the blunders already made by herself and those that her Cabinet have forced her to commit, but that she means well and is fully disposed to try and do better for the future. The LEO has always been loyal to Her Majesty and disposed to help her to do what is right, but the first loyalty and duty of the LEO, above all others, is to the People, to the Nation, and therefore we have openly told Her Majesty that when she sins against us the State or her subjects, we are bound not to spare her. In fact, the unwelcome truths that the LEO may have had to say against her, are only for her good, so that she might discover the abyss which she is helping to excavate under her throne. But, as soon as we see from Her Majesty, "facts," not "words," showing that she intends to be true and loyal to her subjects, soon will the LEO sing her praises.

      In the same manner it is rumored that the Ministers also mean well, that they have found out some of the errors that are damning them in the opinion of the majority of the Nation, and that they intend to do what is right. We have never doubted of the sincerity and good intentions of the Premier, but as regards the other three Ministers, the LEO--who is only the voice reechoing the sentiments of the People--is not yet so positive. However, we would willingly take it for granted that they all "mean well," and in the event of that admission, the LEO would be ready to bestow on them a full support.

      But unfortunately, the people we represent have been kept awaiting too long, and from Niihau to Hawaii they are getting tired of promises and presumed good intentions; deeds and not words, are what the nation is thirsting after, and if the Ministry want a cordial support, the must--like the Queen--produce facts accomplished, not only intended; otherwise, they may be sure of being kept in hot water, until the day arrives--and time is flying--when the next Legislature will ignominiously decide that "no confidence can be placed in them!"

      Thus, let it be well understood by the administration, that the People are now using their last ounce of patience, after which the pent-up feelings will--always according to rumor--explode in public meetings which might not be very satisfactory to the Ministry;and the first of May is reported as the eventful date on which the tide is to turn.

      Therefore, the Ministries are now a quandry, which no amount of soft-soaping will allow them to slip out of. The Nation, on all the Islands, is more clearly than ever divided into two political parties, and the Minister cannot expect to stand eternally on the fence; they must declare themselves: either for one party or for the other. Dame Rumor had it that some of the cabinet officers had quite lately expressed the opionion that they did not care a continental for the National Party, but would be kept in office by the "wealthy merchants" of town and by the guns of the American vessels. The same brag has been made by the wretched Brown--Cummins Cabinet; but it did not help them worth a cent. The present Cabinet are too intelligent to make the same miscalculation, for certainly the "wealthy merchants" are quite as weary as the "mob," of our friend Charley Mahope's unrealized promises, and of the stubbornness of two other Ministers, and the American gun are not here for coercion and will not be used to support any four men in any policy unsavoury to the majority of the Nation. Therefore, the Cabinet must declare themselves and no compromise measure to concilate the "Revolutionary" Reform [the expression comes from their own ranks] will ever be satisfactory to the National Party, who does not ask much, but who much receive some satisfaction and recognition. In our next issue we shall review the points, very few in number and very moderate, that are claimed by our Party.

 

Answer of the "Leo" to Bystander.

      IV.--We deny most emphatically that Mr. J.O. Carter ever was "a very enthusiastic member of the National Party." Dear Bystander, the next time you take the trouble to contradict the humble LEO, do try to know what you are talking about. Don't you remember that J.O. Carter refused to declare himself for the Anti-Chinese Union and its successor the Mechanics' Union, at times when a word from him might have had great weight and perhaps helped the popular classes to obtain the reforms they were clamouring for? Mr. Carter may not belong to the Revolutionary Reform he is reputed too egotistical and self-opionionated to belong to anything outside of his own personality; but his connection with Brewer and Co. and his affinity with Bishop & Co., are sufficient proof that he never was nor can be a national man, the same as his words and actions have proven that he is no true friend of the natives, and, in a like manner, his nefarious influence over on at least of the national elect nobles, who is now therefore discarded by the party shows how Mr. Carter is considered by the true men of the national party; but this is again one of your side issues.

      V.--We also deny that among the chief immediate causes of the revolution were some of the bitter race articles published by the "Elele." etc...this assertion, dear Bystander, is a poor evasion, a flimsy excuse a lawyer's dodge for endeavouring to shield and condone an illegal revolution, the organization of which was started 3 or 4 years before those articles had ever been published; and you ignore that, long before the articles you allude to, the promoter of the conspiracy were so afraid of the natives, that none were received into the secret, until the last moment. But this again being foreign to your self assumed  task of fighting the LEO, we shall here follow you only to the extent of asking you one question: if according to your insinuation, Mr. Testa ought not to be retained in Government situation for having written ephemerous class articles, idest for defending his countrymen in their own territory, then what do you think of so many men actually retained in out civil-service, who have made themselves so notoriously obnoxious by partizan actions and expressions? Mr. Testa is a clever native and a staunch member of the national party, inde irca tua, and that is why, even under the present administration, a place could not be found for him. So right again the LEO!

      VI.--The diminutive size of our columns forbids us to follow you at present in your remaining side-issues and wanderings, but we do challenge you to name all the "many of the most rabid adherents of the old regime" who you say were kept by the revolutionary government of 1887, in "important and lucrative positions." We know that the thirst for office in your ranks was unquenchable and that the impossibility of finding places in the limited civil service of Hawaii, for the many hungry rifle-bearers of the day, created a split which altimately brought the downfall of your party but the context of the article you attack in the LEO never intended to blame the "revolutionary" Government for any men of merit and capacity they may have appointed: but as we distinctly stated, we do object to having good billets filled,-at the expense of tried and efficient servants,-by men whose only title was merely to have run through the streets with an old blunderbuss on the shoulder. We never asked-as your party did for their friends,-that all the supporters of the national Reform should be provided with offices, not even that some of them should obtain situations for which they be unfit; but we do ask: 1st that merit and capacity be made the leading rule of appointments; 2d. that in case of equality of merit, preference be given, by a ministry who claims to be of the national party, to worthy adherents of that party and not to personal favorites of the wealthy and hostile faction; 3rd, that in case of equality of merit between a white man and a native, preference should be given to this last at an equal salary; 4th we especially want to see the end of that scandalous system of personal favoritism, by which obnoxious officials against whom a whole population may be clamoring, are stubbornly kept in office, simply because they happen to be the fathers, uncles, sons, or cousins of some wealthy family compact.

      And now, dear Bystander, au revoir!

 

A Higher Standard of Morality.

     

      The following is the tail end of the P.C.A. report of the Y.M.C.A. meeting touching the proposed closing of the Hawaiian Branch of the Queen Emma Hall:-

      "The recommendation seemed to be favorable to many, and the subject fully discussed by many of those who are heartily interested with the work among Hawaiians, and especially as regards the means of elevating them to a higher standard of morality." As usual, it illustrates the dividend aspect of modern gospel. We are not given a probable estimate of the number of the Hawaiians who have been benefited by them spiritually, or by an apparent reformation in conduct, or by having signed the pledge to keep out of the numerous rum hells of Nuuanu St.; so we are unable to guess how much Hawaiian soul saving and increased morality and sobriety the Judge and his committee would consider value received for $900. But we have the weary old story about trying to bring up the Hawaiian "to a higher standard of morality" and he don't toe the mark worth a cent, and his parcel of gospel is done up in brown paper and ready to be hurled at him in the ill kept grounds and the ill appointed hall in Nuuanu Street, and he didn't call around for it, and the nation of natives is decaying, and in the estimation of some the whole native race is doomed forever anyhow and not worth a $900 effort to save. We have more confidence in the newly elected staff and especially in the President, Mr. G.P. Castle, who we are confident will see that the neglect lies in the "means" provided to attract, and not close an institution which properly managed is a real need and could be made a blessing.

 

ON DIT.

      That the LEO ought to be thankful for the prominent place given to it last night by the Bulletin, as advertisements in the editorial columns are usually very expensive.

      That, as the LEO does not "take anything back," the Bulletin must have read it with the wrong spectacles unless its editor only sees the straws in his neighbor's eyes and judges by the beam in its own eye!

      That Hon. Bush, is going to be sent on a mission to Jerusalem to verify the correctness of Daniel's prophecies in connection with these islands, so as to get him out of the way of "prophesying" against the Ministry. That, for the same purpose, Hon. Nawahi will be sent on a reconnoitering expedition with order to discover the submarine reefs and sunken mines of precious metals belonging to the territories of Hawaii nei.

      That Hon. A Marques will also be sent out of the way of political mischief by a mission to the North Pole for recruiting immigrants to repopulate the Kingdom with.

      That it was a pleasant surprise to see our benevolent townsman of the ermine and cowl, as he took his departure from his many friends, walking the plank with what seemed to be an Oxford Bible under his arm. So characteristic of the Judge. We wish the venerable @ bon voyage.

      That the friends of some of the members of the Board of Health have been trying to impede the signature of the petitions circulated for obtaining the reinstatement of Dr. Lutz, as physician to the Kalihi Leper Asylum.

      That the Government are paying detectives to discover who are the "malcontents," a very east though endless task; the real difficultly would be to make up a complete list of the true "contents" outside of a few office-holders.

      That the Cbinet are full of good intentions......in their own estimation; and that they propose to show it......in the sweet mahope!

      That the Minster of Finance @ yet unwilling to wean the baby @ Master he so tenderly nursed half a century ago and lulled him with Schlafe wohl, schlafe wohl, mein kit, in that good old time, when hard swearing was not yet fashionable among government officials.

      That, if the necessity of the ever increasing rabbit plague would allow it, the valiant and noble major from Waikapu is to be the next MInister of Finance, in the event of his health compelling the present incombent to resign.      

      That the Board of Education has "long been looked askance at for its methods of favoritism and pecular educatonal notions." (Vide Bulletin).

 

A ROMANCE

     She wore a pretty dress of white and pale blue, she stood with her face turned away; and Nyama dwelt on the graceful lines of her girlish figure with a thrill of admiration.

      Approaching, he bowed low and addressed her, "Fair Lily of the Field, I hope I do not intrude, but seeing these persons acting so strangely, I feared something amiss, and I hope I might have an opportunity to be of use."

      "No, sir," said the girl, looking up for a moment, "There is nothing the matter, we found a nest of field mice, and I dropped one into Malara's bosom.

      The silly thing! to make so much fuss about a little mouse. And she looked at her toes."

      The youth was overwhelmed with the wonderful beauty of the girl. Her face was a delicate oval, the fresh color was ebing and flowing over her face and neck, her eyes shaded by long dark lashes, her lips a bright vermeleon, painted by nature's own hand, a mass of dark hair done up in simpler fashion than Japanese ladies usually affect, made her charming.

      A while our scholar looked in silence then casting about for something to say, "You, O Lily of the field, are not a worker?"

      "No" she answered "I am the farmer's daughter, our home is over behind that hill, you cannot see the house for the trees, I come out into the field to see the work, it is pleasant out here."

      "The pleasantest place in the world," said he "could your father give a wanderer some food and a night lodging do you think?"

      "I don't think you would like to stay there; there is no room, the village is only a little way farther."

      "Well fair lady, adieu, permit me to salute you according to the foreign fashion."

      The girl looked up inquiringly, she knew no foreign fashion.

      Nyama suddenly seized her in his arms and kissed her. Of course she screamed as all nice girls do in such emergencies, and the women rushed to the rescue, but Nyama was off so quickly that they could only throw a few missels after him. I am sorry Nyama did ihis, it was too bold, I don't like too fresh young men, but things are different in Japan; and I am not responsible anyway. Continuing his journey he soon reached the village.

      As he walked up the principal street he came upon a crowd in the street; all gathered around a huge poster on the wall of a house. Elbowing his way through the outskirts of the crowd, he reached a position where he could read the flaming characters.

GRAND EXCURSION TO THE PARADISK OF THE PACIFIC. (To be Continued).