Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 395, 23 February 1892 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

 

KA LEO

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John F. Bush.

 

Imua Hooponopono a me Puuku.

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TUESDAY. FEB. 28, 1892

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OUR VIEW.

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            The fact bearing on the question of whether a Notary Public is an “officer of the government” within the meaning of section 20 of the Constitution, lies on the very surface.  If we take even the literal wording of that action in its most restricted sense, we find the words: salary or emolument from the government as the bar to an entrance to the Legislature.

 

            It may be truthfully contended that a Notary Public receives his fees from the Public and that the government exercises no more control over a Notary or his emolument. than the Supreme Court does over Attorneys-at-law.  Both receive their fees from the public whom they serve, and the “King in Privy Council” being the sole appointing power, therefore, a Notary is free of all control from the government, as such.  This was a wise provision of law, intended to secure to the holder of so important a trust, perfect freedom and independence from the influence and control of any branch of the gonverment.  In this important view of the position of a Notary, it is difficult to understand how their Honors the Judges, in the opinion rendered in 1887, could have classed “commissioners to take acknowlments” in the same category with Notaries, as far as their legal status is concerned.  If we consider the very serious inconvenience to which the public would be subjected by the resignation of a Notary, we may reasonably conclude that the Legislature nor the framers of the constitution ever intended the view taken by the Judges.  What disposition is to be made of the documents which remain in the possession of the Notary after he has become a member of the Legislature?  Is he to hand them over to some one else?  Who will be entitled to receive the fee for inspection or copying?  Who is to perform the duties of Notary, in such districts as Kohala or Hilo for instance, during the interregnum between the resignation of the Notary and the appointment of his successor – which, as he can only be appointed by the Privy Councel; may not take place for months.  Where is the law which has anticipated all this.  None, proving that no such shifting of Notaries was ever contemplated in law. or equity.

 

            In England a Notary is so independent of the Government, that the Government can neither appoint nor remove him.  The Archbishop of canterbury is the appointing person in England and there is no bar in that country to a member of Parliment holding the position of Notary.

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HARD TIMES.

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            Editor O@ of the Advertiser, @@ of the Tammany ring and the Bowler-Castle faction have assumed a grave responsibility in the affairs of this little nation, and we will watch with jealous interest to see how they will acquit themsleves.

           

            Previous to the election, the Advertiser like a bird of evil omen, predicted hard times and disaster if the Liberal Party should gain the ascendancy, but promised progress and prosperity if the good people of Honolulu would only help them defeat the Liberals.

 

            The Bowler-Castle faction succeeded in knocking out the whole Noble ticket of the Liberals, and preventing their obtaining a majority.  The Advertiser now claims to lead the situation and we therefore look to them to redeem their prophecies and promises.

 

            But the good times that were to follow the defeat of the Liberals do not seem to materialize, and the hard times are getting harder.  Tradesmen complain that there is nothing doing; mechanics are not working on full time; laborers are hanging around the streets eager for any job that will produce the means for food; the hackmen wander around with a woe-begone look, hunting for quarters that are not very nimble just now.  Working men are leaving the country in considerable numbers, some as passengers, many as stowaways—the “Monowai” took away 27 stowaways last trip.  Verily the times are hard and dull, and it is high time the Bowler-Castle faction were beginning to exhibit their statesmanship and steer the country out of its difficulties, for they assumed the responsibility.

 

            The leaders of the Liberal Party, for some months prior to the elections has given careful thought and study to the situation and outlook. and had formulated an intelligent policy of action.  The platform and its contingent policy were not devised in any blind partisan spirit, but the result of deliberation and careful study of the country’s needs.  The Liberal policy was well known to those high in authority in New York and Washington and had their warm moral support and promise of financial aid.  For it was recognized as being truly liberal and progressive, and being supported by the people, the native Hawaiian people especially, it merited consideration, respect and success.

 

            But now comes the Bowler-Castle factions and in a spirit of blind prejudice against the Liberal leaders, succeed, by false representations and malicious spite, in defeating the Noble ticket of the Liberal Party, and creating a muddied situation.  Where are we now?  The Liberals, representing the people, and the strongest party in the House, but without a majority to carry out their policy.  They had the courage of their convictions and felt competent to face the difficulties which confront the nation.  The opposition calling themselves the “Conservative” party. disunited without definite object or policy, except some vague ideas about sugar.  They do not represent the people, and do not appear to have any views or comprehension of a policy for meeting the changed condition of our affairs, brought about by the McKinley Bill.

            Now, gentlemen, to use an expressive vulgarism, you played the part of “smart alecks” in defeating a party that was well equipped for the serious duties of government that are before us.  You tri@ed with a serious question that involves the fate and prosperity of a nation.  Did you consider well what would be the result of your work?  Are you prepared and competent to guide the country out of its troubles?  Presumably you are. or you would not have undertaken the destruction of a party who were prepared.  The nation holds you responsible. and looks sharply at you to observe what method you will employ to extricate our people out of the muddle you have created.  You cannot afford to trifle with things now.  You are at the bar of public opinion.  Upon your action depends the prosperity or ruin of the nation.  We hold you responsible, and you will hear from the people in public mass-meeting, if after defeating the peoples party, you fail to prove yourselves worthy of the pretensions you have made to superior intelligence, statesmanship and ability.  The times are hard and distressing, and the nation crys out for relief.  It is time the Bowler-Castle faction were up and doing, and exhibiting a little of the prosperity that was to follow the defeat of the Liberals.

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Japanese Laborers as Mechanics.

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            During the campaign, Hon. Paul Neumann assured his hearers that he knew of a people who could be brought here who knew nothing in the shape of mechanical handicraft, but were skilled in agriculture only.  The people to which Mr. Neumann referred are the Japanese, and we are quite willing to believe that Mr. Irwin the Hawaiian Consul in Japan does – as Mr. Neumann says, select agricultural laborers only; but that does not prevent the laborer from becoming an excellent carpenter or blacksmith during his term of plantation bondage in Hawaii.  As a matter of fact, on nearly every plantation there are from two to four capenters who have shipped as Japanese agricultural laborers; who, under the direction of a boss mechanic, usually a white man or half-white, are at work in the carpenter shop and when the period of their plantation contract expires, they will be expert enough to replace the white man on inferior work in Honolulu or elsewhere.

           

            What we say of the carpenter’s trade is equally true of others.  The Japanese are quick at picking up blacksmithing, and on several plantations there are blacksmiths who have learned their trade as plantation hands.  As engineers (running engines) on several plantations, the Jap has gained a footing, and also as sugar boilers Japanese are doing for $30 a month what a white man formerly got from 120 – 150 dollars a month for.  There is really no difference between importing the plantation mechanics all ready skilled from Japan and making the mechanic out of the laborer here.

 

            So far as the result to the Hawaiian and the white-men mechanics here is concerned, one plan would be about as good as the other.  There is this advantage to the mechanics already in Hawaii.  In the case of Japanese laborers learning their trades here, they cannot as mechanics, work in Japan and consequently will find it to their interest to remain here.  Japan is a stronghold of trade unionism and mechanics and artists guilds, recognized and upheld by law, into which the low caste laborer—however well taught on our plantations—could never enter.

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ON DIT.

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            That the Raymond party on their return from the Volcano are to be invited to visit the Honolulu mud Springs. celebrated for curing rheumatism. influencza, &e.

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            That the mud Springs are situated on Queen Street at the corner of Alakea Street.

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            That it was on account of the proximity to the mud pond that the site was chosen on Alakea Street for the new Sailor’s Home that is to be erected in the sweet mahope.

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            That the “dear Sailors.” will be able to enjoy a swim in the mud springs free of charge and the Fort Street Church ladies and deacons can look and see the fun.

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            That the Sugar Trust in the United States will strangle some of our local sugar barons.

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            That our sanctimonious friend of the P.C.A. has requested lawyers and their mightinesses of the Supreme Court to give their opinion as to how the law and its procedure in the country can be improved.

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            That the P. C. A. does not condecend to ask the parties most interested in the reform of our law courts to express their opinion about the matter.

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            That the parties most interested in the reform of the law and the Supreme Court are the people.  the common, low people, don’t you know.

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            That the people alias the taxpayers, would like to see the Supreme Court Judges get a move on, and work all the year round, and put in a fair day’s work say from 9 to 5 o’clock, just like ordinary mortals.

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            That Mahope’s dredger is turning out a white elephant and that it is to be converted into an armored war vesel for harbor defence.

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            That a large number of Portuguese came to Honolulu on Tuesday last on the Claudine and other island Steamers.  Some will leave by the Australia and others who have not the means to do so, will go to swell the ranks of the unemployed, the hungry and the discontested.  A high government official was heard to say, who’ll stamp on the tail of my coat.

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            That last Saturday evening a dinner was given at the British @ by W. A. Whiting and W. C. Sproull, in honour of A. M. Sproull.  The dinner was a success, which wound up in a grand mixture and the parties being hung up on the @ of the club Room for “Wearing of the Green.”  Another party a counterpart to the above in some respects, was being enjoyed at the same time at the marine residence of Her Majesty’s at the termiue of the Waikiki Tramear.

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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.

 

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 nature.

 

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 compensations for the services rendered.  All execessive salaries should be reduced and all @ine cures or superfluose offices abolished.

 

PROTECTION TO THE LABOURING CLASSES

 

9.         We shall endorse all measure t@ to improve the condition of the working classes, and consequently, without injuring any vested @, we will advocate laws to prevent all further importation or employment of @ labor of any kind, upon @ which will bring it into a r@ 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 exemption of their property from forced sale on execution, and from seizure in bankruptcy proceeding.

 

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 bee @ed 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 @ of our @t population. – and especially of the native Hawaiians who have been left almost homeless in their 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 developed as soon as possible to homesteads. And conferred upon bona-fide @ 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 the districts, cheap means of conveying the product of the soil to market.

 

ELECTORAL RIGHT.

 

11.       We hold that upright and h@ manhood, and not the possession of wealth, arbitrarily fixed, should @ 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 @ 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 reservoire and water-works, not only for Honolulu, but through-out the other Islands.