Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 294, 5 October 1891 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

 

KA LEO O KA LAHUI

 

John E. Bush.

 

Luna Hooponopono a me Puuku.

 

Monday, October 5, 1891.

 

"Verdict Before Trial."

 

With characteristic inconsistency we read in the P.C. Advertiser, Oct. 3rd, 1891, an editorial accusing us of publishing a verdict before trial in an alleged complaint against Aseu based as near as we would gather on causes which were fully set forth previously in one or two issues of the P.C. Advertiser. What we said is simply what we were given to understand was the alleged cause of complaint, and the cause was the same that prod@@@ an attack on Aseu at his h@@@@@ published in the P.C Advertiser soon after the occurrence. Nearly the whole of our article refers to the sugar-barons who are at the bottom of the trouble and to the government for allowing such misunderstandings to occur: which some day will lead to more serious trouble and a striture on the system of making a contract with a number of ignorant men to go into another country without the least knowledge of the place and cost of food. The P.C. Advertiser, makes the following reference as to what all reputable journals should do in such cases:

"It is generally considered proper by all reputable journals to abstain from comment or at all events from expressing any decided opinions pro or com, on any mater before the Courts of law while still "sub judice." How far KA LEO is governed by the wholesome rule may be seen on the same page as that on which its political platform is set forth in its issue of September 30."

After the above judgment by that journal, one would suppose that the immaculate P.C. Advertiser as a "reputable journal" would abstain from comment, or at all events from expressing any decided opinions, pro or con, on any matter before the Courts of law, while still 'sub-judice.' "

After taking us to task for announcing the fact that the Pactolus Chinese, had evidently awakened to a sense of having been wrongfully treated, and had entered a suit against Aseu, which we understand to be the case, claiming that such publication was very wrong, and no "reputable journal" would do such a thing. &c. we find this highly "reputable journal" publishing inits local column on the third page of the same issue the following reference to a notice issued by the Marshall, and in the latter part of the paragraph asserting "that these were Pactolus Chinamen. and there are doubtless tired of trying to get their clothes incidentals and fun out of $2.50 per month":-

"A poster is up, issued by the Marshal, announcing that two Chinese from Kohala, Hang Lock and Shen Tong, have deserted their contracts. Twenty dollars reward is offered for the capture of one of them. The runaway are doubtless in hiding in Honolulu somewhere. These were Pactolus Chinamen, and they are doubtless tires of trying to get their clothes incidentals and fun out of $2.50 per month."

The real grievance which the P.C. Advertiser has against KA LEO, is not because it loves justice, or the Chinamen, Aseu, but, on account of our condemnation of the coolie or peon system practiced by the sugar-barons and supported by the government. When we touch the "barons" we touch nearly if not all the stock-holders of the P.C. Advertiser, and it is there where the pinch comes in. The cry for Aseu is like the false cry of wolf, it is the wail of a bloated and over bearing hypocrite ever ready to condemn KA LEO or anybody else who dares to criticise the action of our wealthy sugar-planters.

 

In the aspect of the case most favorable to the P.C.A., its article is no better than the Pot's compliments to the Kittle. Will the P.C.A. purist kindly consider how long it is (less than a week) that immaculate sheet rendered a "verdict before trial."- at the same time perpetuating an outrageous libel both upon the quick and the dead- by its inhuman reference to the recent occupation of the late Moses Keumi? Did not the pious scribe know when penning that libel, that the question he so glibly decides to the prejudice of Keumi is also sub-judice and involved in a criminal suit for trial at the October Term? Go to, thou Pharisee.

 

We accept, however, the admonition, given by the bloated sugar mouthpiece, the P.C.A., leaving out the pharisaic spirit that prompted it. And not to be outdone in doing good, even if it is only in words, we would advice our friend, in order to make its teachings more effective he must first regenerate himself with a new spirit, an honest, truthful spirit one whose teachings comes from a pure and unselfish heart. When the P.C.A and its patrons are ready to turn from their selfish ways and teach others from a true spirit of charity, we will bow down in all humility and become its co-worker to renovate the Augean condition of our government and plantation labor system.

 

ON DIT

 

That the flagship Akamai is up for sale, her owner finding the yacht probably too expensive to maintain without a subsidy from some quarter. That the owner's pilikia- the result of a laudable ambition to be booked at Lyoyd's and known in the Auld Counthry as a steamship owner- affords an opportunity to our government to buy a cheap vessel, as was the case with the Kaimiloa, as a revenue cutter, or as in the cases of the bark Kalakaua for another South Sea labor bubble. The tremendous butting power of the Akamai, only needs a long ram attachment to either end of the vessel to make her extremely useful for butting the false bottom off that opium pirate that has lately put in an appearance off our coast. That the peculiar speed of going backwards is also another incentive to the purchase, the government running no risk of losing the vessel in case of a fight, as the retreating power of the Akamai is her best safeguard.

 

That the "election of government officers." by suffrage is a plank in the NAtional Liberal Platform that will prevent holsters and jockeys from being foisted into the public service at the expense of the Treasury. The "Reform" Party must be pleased with this particular portion of the Platform. This is decentralizing of power. No Caesar, no four knaves to put loafers and favorites into office for their own private satisfaction.

 

That Mr. Hammond says that the ten commandments, otherwise called by Paul, the Apostle the Royal Law of God, was made only for Jews, consequently to those who are not Israelites and are not under restraint of any moral law, they are free and without sin. "For sin is the transgression of God's law," and where no law applies there can be no sin, and all preaching is unnecessary for salvation to those who are not in need of it, according to the inevitable conclusion to be drawn from Mr. Hammon's argument with Mr.Burgess. This new doctrine, must give quite a relief to those who are thus lead to think that they are not under the law. What sophistries.

 

That another opium miracle occurred last week this time in the mysterious disappearance of about three hundred tins of opium while being taken away from the surveillance of the Board of Health to that of the Customs Department.

 

That some of our friends are not going to run at Koolauloa and Waialua because R.W. Wilcox is up for that district. That Wilcox may also change his mind in consequences and run for the first ward of the City.

 

That the negotiations, which was suppose to be pending, for the purchase to be pending, for the purchase of Col. Maofarlene's interest in the Hawaiian Hotel, by Mr. Lycurgus has vanished into vapor, and the expected management of the Hotel a la Francaise has gone up in smoke-not opium smoke either.

 

That that "Yacht" is in sight, and is only waiting an opportunity to make a landing in which case, it will undoudtedly relieve the monotony of the smugglers who have been out on the watch for a week or two past. This vessel is the famous phantom schooner that drew the Army and Navy and the Police Force out to ransack the high seas for her, and while the force was watching the ocean, the pirates were running the stuff to Honolulu, part of which was afterwards seized in trunks at Central Park.

 

That her Majesty the Queen caused quite a disappointment to the O.R. & L. Company, who had extended an invitation to the Queen to an excursion to Ewa by rail. That it appears her Majesty did not even deign to make a reply to the Corporation's kind invitation. Considerable snarling was heard among the hundreds of excursionists, who were kept waiting for about a half hour. Louis XIV said punctuality is the politeness of rulers.

 

The NAtional League meets Tuesday evening at the International Hail on @@@@@ St. at 7:30. There will be political speeches by members on the principles of the National Liberal Party.

 

PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLE OF THE HAWAIIAN NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY

 

PRINCIPLE OF GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION

 

1. We deem that all Government should be founded on the principles of Liberty. Equality and Fraternity; we hold that all men are born free and equal before the law and are endowed with inalienable rights to life, to liberty, to property, to the pursuit of happiness and to self-protection against arbituary concentration of power, irresponsible wealth, and unfair competition. We believe that just government exists only by the consent of the People, and that when it becomes necessary for the public welfare, they may abolish existing forms and establish more advantageous and equitable system; and, as the present Constitution of the Hawaii Kingdom never has had approval of the people,  @@ was established by intimidation and fraud for the benefit of a certain class, therefore, we favor the adoption of a new and more liberal Constitution, to truely secure a Government of the people, by the People and for the People.

 

INDEPENDENCE OF THE COUNTRY

 

2. Out of consideration for the inherent rights and present opinions of the native population, we desire to retain the independence of the Country and defend its autonomy, under a liberal and popular form of government; but our Treaties with Foreign Powers, and especially with the United States of America should be revised, so as to better meet present necessities in exchange of those granted by us.

 

JUDICIARY REFORMS

 

3. Our Judiciary system and Code of Procedure must be submitted to a thorough revision, so as to secure a cheap and prompt administration of justice, free of all sectarian or patisan spirit, and to render the Judges more directly responsible to the People; and we are in favor of a more liberal interpretation of Constitutional guarantees of the freedom of speech and of the press.

 

TAXATION

 

4. A just and perfect system of Taxation must be inaugurated, to abolish the present inequalities, by which the property of the poor is excessively taxed while much of the rich man's goods are under-valued for assessment or entirely escape taxation; we shall therefore demand the passage of laws that will more effectively subject the property of corporations and rich citizens to their just proportion of public burdens, while granting more liberal exemptions to the poor; and as a means of discouraging the locking up of large tracts of uncultivated lands, a differential tax should be levied in addition to the usual assessment on valuation which should be in proportion to the f@@@@@@ of the soil. We shall also favor the establishment of a graduated income tax, and thus expect to obtain ample funds for conducting the government and attending to all necessary public improvements without any further calls on the masses.

 

MONOPOLIES

 

5. We shall use our efforts to obtain laws by which all favoritism in the government and all monopolies, trusts and privileges to special classes shall be rendered impossible, by full, definite and mandatory statutes.

 

PUBLIC SERVANTS

 

6. Better laws should regulate the Civil Service. The principle of the election of officers of the government by the people should be established and no man should be allowed to hold more than one office of profit, whilst salaries should be adequate compensation for the services rendered. All excessive salaries should be reduced and all sinecures or super@@uous office abolished.

 

PROTECTION TO HOME INDUSTRIES

 

7. We are in favor of encouraging all home agriculture and industries, and all our native products, like rice, coffee, wool, tobacco, etc. should be protected and fostered by proper tariff regulation; and also it must be the duty of the Government, in its contracts and other operations, to give preference to national products over imported ones.

 

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

 

8. We desire a more liberal policy towards the different Islands of the Kingdom, outside of Oahu; they should receive a fairer proportion of the public moneys for the development of their resources and the satisfaction of their wants. In fact, the principle of local Self-government should be extended whereby giving localities may choose the most important of their local executive officers, and levy taxes for the purpose local improvements of a public mature.

 

PROTECTION TO THE LABOURING CLASSES

 

9. We shall  endorse all measures tending to improve the condition of the working classes, and consequently, without injuring any vested rights, we will advocate laws to prevent all further importation or employment of contract labor of any kind, upon conditions which will bring it into a ruinous and degrading competition with free Hawaiian or white labor. We shall also, in the interest of the better protection of the poor, ask for more liberal exemptions of their property from forced sale on execution, and from seizure in bankruptcy proceedings.

 

SMALL FARMING AND HOMESTEADS

 

10. The wealthy fraction of our population have hitherto prevented the development of an independent class of citizens; the public lands have been acquired and have been tied up in a few hands or parcelled to suit favorites, and small farmers and planters have been driven out by corporations or combinations of capitalists: but as small farming is conducive to the stability of the State, it should be encouraged by a new and more liberal Homestead act, by which the ownership of small tracts of land and the settlement thereon of families of our present population. and especially of the native Hawaiians who have been left almost homeless in there country,-should be rendered possible. To that end, the Government and Crown lands, (in so far as can be done without invading vested rights) should be devoted as soon as possible to homesteads and conferred upon bona-fide settlers free of taxes for a limited period.

It should be the further aim of government to, at once, so far improve the means of transportation,- local, national and international,- as to provide, in all districts, cheap means of conveying the product of the soil to market.

 

ELECTORAL RIGHT

 

11. We hold that upright and honest manhood, and not the possession of wealth, arbitrarily fixed, should const@@ the right to vote for nobles as well as representatives, and no more, power should be accorded to the ballot of the rich man than to the ballot of the poor man. The discrimination in favor of wealth now made in our Constitution is contrary to all the eternal principles of right and justice, and must be abolished. To this end, we will favor a leveling of the present distinction of wealth and classes which blemish our laws with respect of the right to vote for nobles, thereby restoring to the native Hawaiians privileges which pertain to them in their own country, and of which they have been unjustly deprived.

 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS

 

12. We favor the expenditure of sufficient sums to secure a number of needed public improvements on Oahu and other Islands: school. railroads and harbors and wharves, public light, and also a thorough system of reservoirs and water works, not only for Honolulu, but through-out the other Islands.

 

That another road is to be built around Diamond Head. The first one which is about finished is for use and for the masses; the new one, is for ornament and for the classes. Another unnecessary expenditure of public funds. Better dig more wells. Charles, and leave the new road Mahope!