Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 271, 2 September 1891 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

 

KA LEO.

John E. Bush.

Luna Hooponopono a me Puuku.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 2, 1891.

 

OLLA PODRIDA.

     The Bulletin has been squirming under the lash of the LEO for sometime; with a dismal groan it blurted out some vaguw but misdirected personalities and its last squeak was a complainet that the LEO wrote E. C. Macfarlane out of the "party" and then asserted that he should have led the new Cabinet, as he headed the polls.

     The "Leo" reasserts that according to all principles of party or popular government Mr. Macfarlane ought to have been called into the new Cabinet that succeeded the Thurston administration.  He polled the highest number of votes for nobles in the election district of Oahu and thereby appeared to be the most popular candidate.  He was an active worker in the National Party during the election campaign, and on the stump he spoke strongly and well on the declaration of principles, and announced his adhesion to that document which had been adopted in mass meeting of the party.  He asked the people for their suffrage on that basis,and they gave it to him believing that he was a friend of the natives and working classes and would stand by their rights and their party in the Legislature.  The opening battle was a victory for the Nationals, and Macfarlane ought to have been a minister.

     But would Mr. Macfarlane have been an acceptable minister to the party?  We think not.  In the Legislature he proved recreant to the party that elected him, assumed and independent attitude, oftern voted against party measures, avoided and worked against his party colleagues, and was openly in league with men outside of the party and opposed to it.  In fact Macfarlane bolted from the party and is still off the track.  He has erred seriously and has no one to blame but himself. if he has fllen from the pinnacle of the most popular national, to the level of being regarded as a hostile traitor in the camp.

     There were other traitors also in the national camp who got themselves elected under false color, but they were little men of small calibre, and as they will not appear on the surface again, we will allow them to rest in the shadows of oblivion.

     What dismal reading the "Bulletin" and "Advertiser" are anyhow.  Their readers are daily treated to abstruse articles about every country from pole to equator that we have already read about in our foreign papers, and their locals are mainly personals about obscure people that the public never heard of and care less about.  Hawaiian politics appear to be a terra incognito to them.  Little Dan of the "Bulletin" has made several ventures, but has stumbled all over himself and then tried to cover his tracks by slinging mud.

     Little Dan is all right, but when we publish the list of the "Bulletin" stock holders you will understand why neither he nor Johnstone could succeed in making a readable paper, while the management is composed of such a variegated coterie.  The public will give but little credence to the Bulletin's utterances when this list of shareholders and directors is exposed.

     The LEO article on "discontent" has met with congratulatory commendation from all quarters, more particularly among the mechanics of Honolulu.  The LEO'S devil made a tour among the artizans of the capital and learned that the feeling of discontent is now as keen as it was against the last two cabinets; they are getting impatient for the next elections; the feeling is general that the cabinet are not doing their duty; times are hard and work is scarce.  Because the suger men are in the dumps, the cabinet sit down and mope with them; instead of inauguating the public improvements authorized by the last Legislature, thereby keeping money in circilation and giving the working man a chance to earn his daily wage.  The national must win the next election or we shall starve, says the artizan.

     But the LEO's article on "Hawaiians for Hawaii' was very distateful to a great number of present office holders who fear that it forebodes no good for those who are incompetent or wrongly placed in office, or for the precious gang of opium smugglers who infest the civil service.  Certain Bureau chiefs also fear that their false promises will come home to roost. 

     Speaking of opium smuggling, we are reminded that on the Southeastern shore of Leahi is notorious for opium smuggling!  Oh, no!  it is celebrated mainly as a resort for dames of pleasure and noted magdalens, for its hula rackets and drinking bouts; but in the bay, just in front, is a noted shark hole, which is visited frequently by mysterious small crafts who have been seen to fish up queer things out of that shark hole.

     Some of the LEO writers have been having lots of fun with the "Bulletin's" menagerie, but we fear that others have been unwittingly injured in the cross-fire.  The menagerie began with a cat, but this got strangled by its exhibitors, who then re-opened with a beaver and a kangaroo.  But the beaver in its vanity wanted the public to believe that it constituted the whole menagerie, and endeavoured to keep the modest kangaroo out of sight, but the kangaroos ears protruded so markedly that the public could not help seeing both animals.  But our friends inform us that this kangaroo appears as a chamelion at times in anuy hue to suit the visitor.  In fact we are informed by ouir science editor that government pap as an extraordinary chamelion effect upon human animals.  Men wil change to all shades of opinion and action under it, and since the "Bulletin's" kangaroo entered the government nursery, the animal dozes on the fence and will show you any color that suits you.

     In the demise o the Prince Consort, the nation has sustained a serious loss.  His conservation and careful advice was respected by his royal spouse, and was the only check against the intrigue and malicious advie of a notorious power behind the throne who has not enjoyed the respect of the community.  A Queen is ever surrounded by scheming and ignorant favorites, and the pages of history are blotted with the result of their misdeeds and mischievous advice.  A sovereign should be guided only by the Cabinet and the Privy Council.  Let favorites have plae and pelf, but not power.

 

A Prince from Schenectady.

     Many an Old Forter will remember a little dark skinned, black haired, foreign looking boy playing in Front street and around "s's" engine house forty-five or fifty years ago.  He will be recalled as Johnny Dominis.  He was a stranger and the boys took him in.  The story of the boy was this:

     His father was a captain of a whaler, who, with his wife and three children, Johnny and his two sisters, lived at 26 Front street in the hospitable home of the Rev. Dr. Andrews Yates.  Dominis cruised in the neighborhood of the Sandwich Islands.  This was missionary ground, and Dominis was a pious man.  Dr Yates became interested in him and his family.  So during the long cruises the wife and children remained here.  The two sisters, Fanny and Catherine, died of a remarkable complaint, too rapid th - Like lillies they rose rapidly tall, slender and fragile, drooped and died.  Both lie near the tomb of Colonel Christopher Yates and by the grave of Dr. Andrew Yates.  The captain took his last voyage.  Pirates seized his ship in the South Pacific, and the brave office was made to walk a plank into the sea.  The widow and her children went to the Sandwich Islands, leaving some boxes of household goods in the charge of the family with whom she had lived so long.  A prey to dementia and melancholy, she walked every day along the shores of Honolulu, refusing to believe the death of her husband, and watching hourly for his return.  A little while ago the faithful wife's vigil ended, and she met him on another shore. 

     Meanwhile Johnny throve space.  He was well taught at Miss Richie's school, grew to be a man of brain and nerve and activity, won the confidence of King Kalakaua, was made governor of the Island of Oahu, married Liluokalani, the king's sister, and ultimately became in reality the ruler of the island.

     King Kalakaua came to this country on a visit in 1881, and Johnny came with him.  Johnny was written to by those of Dr. Yates, family who were then in Schenectady, to come and get his two trunks.  But he had his hands full with the royal traveler, and he wrote a letter of thanks, saying that he had intended to come there, but his constant attendence on his Majesty made it impossible.  He did not say he was having a worse racket than he ever had on the Old Fort, but it could be read  between the lines.  He directed the trunks to be opened.  They were, but nothing what had evidently been handsome furs and laces and other feminine bric-a-brac crumbling into dust was disclosed.

     And now the king is dead.  Hohnny's wife is queen.  Johnny himselfs is prince consort, as Prince Albert of England was.  But Johnny is really king; has been for fifteen years.  Think of a boy educated at Miss Ritchie's school, and under the refining influences of the Old Fort, coming to be a king. - Schenectady Union.

 

A Series of Errors.

     The golden calf has been the god of the pious schemers who have heretofore controlled the government of this country; in its name they have worked miracles - of intrigue and theft.  The people have not been factor of any importance in political calculations.  The high priests of the auriferous sniff the air and snort:  The people be hanges.  Only once have they desired the assistance of common men.  They did not have that unrestricted access to the public treasury and despotic power, that belongs by devine right to the possessors of gold.  Things needed reforming in that respect.  With sanctimonious emotion they began to preach "reform" and point with pious indignation at the corruption in public affairs that they theselves had wrought by practice and by example.  The people joined the bayonet league and tht reform was accomplished; the missionaries were all in and reasonably happy.  Thurston and his friends scorned the people who had put them into power.  The had fixed the constitution and laws for a life reign but the prophet of the reform lost his place through want of popular support.  It must have been a great shock to the elect.  It ought to be a lesson to all would be politicians.  The new cabinet no sooner found themselves in power than they forgot their pledges and became blind devotees of the aforesaid deity.  They have gone out.  The Queen would not have dared to discharge a popular ministry, but every one was glad to see them go.  Now we have another set following in their footsteps.  They too are bull worshipers; and their days are numbered.  No party liked them.  Probably of all things in the world the ministers desire to hold their positions.  That is why they have done all they can, for they used little common sense and tact towards the people and made no honest endeavor for good government.  Their places would have been secure, such policy is short sighted.  We have two examples within recent times of the results to cabinets who pursued such a course.  It seems that there must be some natural viciousness as well as stupidity that influences them in their self-destructive course.  Another example or two will be sufficient for politicians; what we will need then will be a lesson to monarchs.

    

Entertainment.

     The show last night at the Hall on Bethel street was fairly patronised a drawback to a crowded house being Ben Hogan's meeting at the same time in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, which was a free show.  The music of the Quintette Club under the leadership of Mr. Peterson was good throughout, while the lantern pictures were much appreciated, but were rather hastily rushed through, in order to give way to the variety part, and partly through the blackguardian of three hoodluns who with English accent spoke of Manchester from some slum of which city the were probably spawnes.  The clog dancing and singing of Messrs. Dillon and White - two professinals - was excellent, especially as it was their first public exhibition together.  An Italian's idea of Sullivan in broken English, by Ben Whitney, was comical and set the house in roars.  The playing by Mr. Walch, of two instruments at the same time, the harmonic and guitar was really clever. 

     The farce of "Barefooted Bill" was the feature of the evening. It opened with Bill visiting Honolulu once again, "the sleepy hollow of the Pacific, the home of the palm and the opium ring."  Bill's search for lodgings brings him across an old sweetheart, now a widow, Mrs. Snowball (Mr. Decker), between whom there was some good acting, but the best scene was spoiled by, Bigah upsetting the tray on the stage instead of waiting for Bill's tete-a-tete with the widow, and tumbling through Bill's foot lifting him off the side of the stage.  The characher of spotter (Mr. Whitney) in his dealing with the police, and later as Bill's confederate, was well done by Mrssrs. Williams and Daley, whose song "are you there Charley B.," as a parody on "Moriarity" was deservedly encored.  But the acting of Mr. Dillon in the character of Bill Leftfoot was good enough for any company, and his fun with the widow - whose part was very well played - provoked roars of merriment to the "breakdown" at the finish.  The drawback was the small stage; it would have been best for the company to give such a good farce at the Opera House. 

     We may remark that Saturday night is better for an audience than Monday night, and a good ministrel show with such a farce will take better than pictures.

 

 

ON DIT.

     That Thurston will stew his pineapples and guave in the cauldron of the crater.

     That J. Mott-hyphen-Smith begins to realize that he fell into the wrong soup, when he undertook to take a hand in the present Cabinet deal; and the public think that a plain Smith is better than the hyphenated article.

     That it is now definitely known that the Premier and Cabinet are down on all aspirants for office who are Hawaiian or have the shadow of Hawaiian blood or ties about them.  False Catiffs!  Let the band play Hawaii Ponoi for their delectation.

     That if the Marshal can successfully bring the judgment the noted gang of opium manipulators at the Custom House, he will have fairly won his spurs of public approbation.

     That the Bulletin reporter has given the public a fresh proof of his accuracy, by announcing the departure for Samoa of the exclerk of the Postal Savings Bank, who is still here, leisurely waiting for the Cabinet to allow him to present his vindication prior to his departure.

     That many people are asking what kind of important business obliges the Deputy Collector of Customs to such frequent absences from his office at hours when he ought to be attending to business, thereby obliging the public who want to make entries, to weary hours of waiting.