Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 200, 25 May 1891 — REPUBLIC AND ANNEXATION VERSUS AUTONOMY. [ARTICLE]

REPUBLIC AND ANNEXATION VERSUS AUTONOMY.

Some comment seems to liave been made on the fact of the Leo publishing a few days ago, an artiele 011 annexation,which was kindly contributed by one of the Leo's friends and aduiirers. The new Hawaiian newspaper Ilolomua, especially tried to muke of it against us. Therefore, we do wish, onee for all , to Btate what we eonsider the duty of the puhlie press, and this wiil BUffice to show why we often publish articfes we do not or cotild n«t endorse personallv. The duty of the press is to eif» iighten the masses; newspapers have to give instruction on Bubjects whieh are reached in no ©ther sch6ol. But how is pubiic educatjon attain» able, if not by free and exhaustivo discussions 011 all topics of public interest? Social probJems are not Bolved by ignonng theni, any more ilian the oFtrich ean avoid dunger by hiding its head undeV its wing; on the contrary, the only way of making a healthy public lifo, in bv «l!uwing every man, in the papers as in the legislaiive hall. to fuljy j ventillate hi,s idoas: if wr<»ng, pub« licity will kill lliein when Bupprt'6sion \vonld only mako them nmre dcingerous; if righi» they will be

adopted for the generai l)enēlit. Now then, the q«ostione of loeal government are among ihe most important ®nes on whieh every citizen is entitled to have a say ; and theBe questions embrace republic and annexaliun as well, both systems having their well-known partizens; and the only Avay for the masses to form a sane opinion 011 these questions is by hearing and reading all tho arguments possible, pro et eon. At any rate ws recommend our contributorVpictures of afFairs in Hawaii Nei, to the attention of all our readers. This is why the republican ideas were given, some time ago,- the honor of an "expose" in these eolumne, not because the LEofavors the proposition, whieh may be ideal perfection in theory, but whieh we with danger in such a cosmopolitan community as this,-but because discussion is necessary on it, among the native element especially. In similar way, we published a friends argument in favor of annexation, and we would have been equally glad to have been called upoa to publish some- other eontributor's refutation of the same. The Leo is not and cannot be in favor of ānnexation, we are Hawaiian born and wish to die Hawaiian. and we would only accept annexation,—(ajid that only with States rights) —as a last resort the rule of a few tyrannising over the masses, and refusing to listen to public opinion. As long as there is any hope 5 -*the smaliest,-4hat the masses may yet obtain & hearing and have their desires attended to in the management of the public affairs, we want Hawaii to remain what it is, ait autonomous native kingdoxn. But who ean be prepared to say that tlie abues present and passed, signaled and enumerated by our contributor, in liis kk Annexation," —as justifying his proposition,—are untrue? Who ean dei>v that reforms are sadly needed here? If these reforms ean be obtained under our present form of government inade more por>ular, well and good; if not, then it will be well to study the matter, to see whether - they could be obtained through annexation; and, in that manner, we also point out to our rulers what might be the dangers of misrul«, a warning for whieh they ought to be thankful in this century of discontent and con> spiracy, and when rumors; of new "leagues" are rife everyw3iere.

As we rea<l the criminai ealan-; der of the May term of theCircuit Court at Hilo, wf= v ere attacked by an aeute sensatio n of regret and retiiorse. We saw there the aames of several unhappy wretchos who are sufforing for our misdeeds. When we attempted to practice law in the 6eini-aquatic villago of liilo, the Hitchoock fatnily who run the whole legal machinery at Hilo, soon developed into a very lively ouprx?ition. Ono of the cousins led a I\>rtugucse mob against us, for wliieu we were dulv fined. Twice we were assulied m oj>en court, twi<v we were āttacked hy hire*l ruiUaus on t-ho highwny. .■But worse than all, every inan who t vur employeil u* was finevl for it. and if po«siolo impriBoned t m discour;tgtny otl»er? from patrohining tiie nep lawyer. Wo nre

sopry to see that some of these victims still linger in the Hilo 'JTail. It is a favorite device wit!i Mr. Hitchcock to arrest all the wUnesses on the other side on a charge of pejury^ The court meets only twice a year, so he ean keep i.hem in jail for several months, and then sav that he has. not evidence t© convict them atid enter a nolle pmaeaui; ©r if he feels tliat ii requires a year's retribution he ean easily manage to have the v.ase go v>ver t« the next term; and until the next term the offeuder lies īn Hilō .lail. Personally we are glad to escape alive from-the island of Hawaii; but it is very unpleasant to reflect ;that our unfortunate clients still suffer in durance vile. I>. L.*H.