Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 262, 19 August 1891 — Page 4

            There is some satisfaction in noting the sudden, though we hope, sincere conversion of the missionary organ to a view of the land question nearly in accord with our own. When we consider the land-grabbing propensities of those whom the P.C.A. professes to represent, it is subjecting our credulity to a serious strain, to place any faith in the sincerity of that organ, when it pleads, even moderately and modestly, for a more equitable division of land. We suspect that the dishonest old sheet is engaged in an attempt to subject this project to the damnation of faint praise.

            In this connection, it is to be observed, that an article from the pen of Judge Dole has lately been published, wherein he takes advanced and liberal ground in support of this project.  We do not in the least doubt the good faith of that honorable gentleman, though we remember no very practical work in that direction as having been done by him during his parliamentary career. Notwithstanding to do his Honor any injustice, we willingly accord him so much credit as of right appertains to an advocacy of our original Homestead Act,--though the provisions of that act were and are altogether inadequate to the needs of the community.

            Ka Leo holds that it should be the policy of this Government to as soon as possible dispose of all public lands to bona fide settlers, who bring them under cultivation, or otherwise bring them to their highest utility. In no other country where modern ideas ate professed as forming a guide of political conduct, do we find the national government posing as landlord, either great or small, and rack-renting a train of tenants, in a manner worthy of a non-resident Irish proprietor. It is, in our opinion, an infinitely small and shoddy occupation for a sovereign government to dabble in land transactions and be continually flaunting its rent roll in the face of the community. Besides past experience shows, despite the attempt stringency of the laws aimed at the prevention of favoritism in the administration of these lands opportunities are presented and availed of for defeating the spirit of those laws. The position of a haggling rater of house lots is by no means consistent with the dignity of either the government as a whole, or the Minister of Interior in particular.

            It has been urged in the past that this landed proprietorship is conducive to the best financial interests of the government, in that it produces large and reliable revenue, and that the public lands produce in tents much more than any prevailing rate of interest upon their value for purposes of sale. But if it be conceded that the production of such revenue is the highest aim of enlightened government, why not have the government acquire by the exercise of the right of eminent domain all the balance of the balance of the real estate in the kingdom, for purposes of rack renting? If the principle is good, when applied to 8000,000 acres, why not extend it to all the land in the country? Would it not rent for more, under the pressure of the present system of tactics, than present systems of tactics, than would pay interest on the purchase price?

            We contend that the true interest of this, as of every other country, lies in the promotion and maintenance of the principle and policy of what, in Europe is called peasant proprietorship, that is, that small holdings shall be made available to the poor, upon just and moderate terms, to the end that a class of resident owners shall be created and encouraged, by remission of taxes, times in which to pay for their homesteads, &c. &c. to so improve and develop the agricultural possibilities of Hawaii that, in the course of a few years, the taxes assessable upon such lands will more than compensate for any immediate loss of revenue involved in a departure from the present methods. But suppose the taxes ten years hence should not equal the rent of today;  Is it not better to have a contented and prosperous rural population developing the latent resources of the Kingdom, and contribution in a thousand ways, to its revenue, and well being, than to see the lands surrendered to the wild bullock and the cowboy on the one hand, or the seigniories of the sugar baron on the other, while the government bailiff rides figuratively among them, with his rent roll and his “sack”?

            During one hundred and fifteen years past, the American Union has pursued the policy of getting out of its own hands, and into those of small farmers, all its vast domain, as fast as the increasing population could absorb the public lands. That policy, in America, has built a magnificent aggregation of rich and prosperous common-wealths. Will not the same policy, if wisely applied to Hawaii, promote our interests, in no less a degree? We will have some remarks to submit upon the Crown lands, and the manner of their administration (or rather mal-administration), within a few days.

            That for a long time in the good city of Boston, robberies were committed and no clue or trace of the delinquents, could be found, for a long time. But it was eventually discovered, however, that the robberies were done by the police themselves. We do not say, that this is the probable way to explain the mysterious thefts committed here for the past four months, but we heat that the native police attribute this midnight maranding to his foreign brother on the force, who claims extra rights and privileges of entry at any time. Doesn’t seem possible.

            Three of the worst maladies that afflict the human race have been deprived of their horrt by methods founded on this recently acquired knowledge of the nature of diseade; to wit, smallpox, rabies and antrrax; and recently lupus, a disease as disfiguring and loathsome as leprosy, and probably consumption that carries off a majority of all the people of the world, have yielded to Dr. Koch’s treatment. With so much accomplished and the way wide open and sign posts everywhere pointing out the line of research, it seems that success is sure to attend a scientific and persistent search for a remedy for the dreadful scourge that afflicts our people.   To be Continued.

            That the lecture and magic lantern entertainment was quite a treat, and deserves to be patronized. We sincerely hooe that Mr. Crowley will give us a lecture on scenes and life in Australia.

            That the Steamer Australia came in eary yesterday morning, with quite a list of returning islanders and tourists, and possibly with those danamite shells and greek bombs lately ordered in San Francisco frothe Iner-National Rifle association by General Wilcox.

            That the fire-lads of Engine No.1 got sadly left at their little party the other evening, while housing their new engine. It seems that the “barons” get in before the “boys” and mopped up everything spirituaous leaving nothing but the empty shells.

            That the P.C. Advertiser buried a lady one day, and its contemporary, the Bulletin resurrected her the next day. The age of miracles is about to reappear, having already made its appearance in the Bulletin office.

            That the Inter-National Rifle Association is like a huge snow ball gathering as it moves along, judging from the swelling numbers of the association. We expect this body will one day be like an val anche, sweeping everything before it in its onward course.

            That the experience of the royal tourists around Oahu, at Manana, Ewa, shows the apathy of the populace, when no food could even be obtained for purchase, and many of the weak one’s of the party, had to delve after the crumbs in the royal lunch basket, and the carriages of those who had been forwarned by reading Ka Leo of meeting such a contingency.

            That the Advertiser finds with Wilson’s police force and Nowlein’s battalions, and Ka Leo as a pointer, that it has no more use for guns and is now advertising an old revolutionary –gun, which has no doubt been laying in the editorial sanctum since June 30, 1887. The dawn of “Peace and good will” is upon us, we hope.

            That the Chinese Secret Society here is only an association organized for the purpose of buying out the Kingdom and all the Sugar Corporations of the country, with the intention of employing the present plantation owners to work for them. This we hope, will explain away the fears some may hawe that the three dollars levied on all Chinese going and coming into the Kingdom, is for any bad business; it is partly to save the planters from entire ruin through the McKinley bill.