Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 397, 25 February 1892 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

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

 

  In a recent number of Ka Leo we gave an account of how the patriarchs on Kauai manage manage nominating conventions  How the Deputy Sheriffs and tax officials on that verdant isle undertake to run politics. Some of these gentry are recent arrivals being only two or three years in the kingdom, and to speak literally, have nothing in their own personality either in the shape of intellect or morals or family to entitle them to unhinge their jaws on Hawaiian politics.

  They simply hang on their billets by reason of the fact that they can show the proper degree of contempt for the native Hawaiian and all hi. ways to entitle them to the favor of the four Nabobs who rule Kauai.  Only let one official exhibit a small degree of manly independence and the next steamer would bring an order for his removal from the government corncrib.  Consequently things in general are, as the P.C. Advertiser says, very harmonious on Kauai; for to be out of harmony, would mean that the “kicker” would soon have to be out of Kauai.  Therefore the unofficial resident on Kauai, who ventures an opinion on the subject of nominating conventions will, if he wants to live on Kauai, admire the sagacity of the Lord of Lihue in appointing certain government officials to grace the nominating convention, and the Her Majesty ought to recognize the fact by appointing him governor of the island. 

  The Advertiser say a great deal “has been done for employees in a variety of ways and as a consequence a better tone of feeling prevails” on Kauai.

  To which we would remark that there is room for much improvement still; and we would like to have as expression if opinion from the apologist of the Kauai aristocracy, as to whether the following incident is a sample of what that paper considers calculated to produce a “better tone of feeling.”

  On the 16 ^th of November last the natives of Waimea, Kauai, being desirous of keeping alive the aloha for their late King, decided to have the luau (native feast) on the day the anniversary of his birth, and which had been for so many years observed as a national holiday.  Three native laborers from Kekaha plantation absented themselves to attend the feast.

  At noon a posse of policemen went to the feast grounds and producing warrants for the arrest of the three laborers, handcuffed them and march them off to Waimea lock up, where they were kept until the next morning.   

  At nine o’clock Herr Glade brother of the German Consel, appeared to prosecute and the three laborers were sentences to pay a fine of 10 dollars or 20 days in Lihue Jail.  Their pay being the princely sum of 16 dollars a month

   They took it out in Jail.  Accordingly the three were marched off to Lihua on foot a distance of twenty three miles to spend 20 days on government road work, and at the expiration of their sentence to be marched back again on the chain and handed over to their owners at Kekaha.

  One of these same laborers named Kaaha recently overslept himself, and was not present at 5:50 a.m. muster of Kekaha laborers.  He was again arrested and is now doing another 20 days at Lihue.  Oh yes, Advertiser as you say “the relations of foreigners and Hawaiians are so harmonious on Kauai.”

  We’re sending a @ our papers to Siberia, as it may console the wretched in that region to know that we have a small Siberia in this Paradise (?) of the Pacific.

 

                        FINANCIAL.

                        (No. 5.)

                        (continued.)

  In order to encourage the investment of local capital in government bonds, to further increase our currency and banking facilities, there should be a national bank established under a government chapter.  This bank should have permission to issue notes based upon Hawaiian Government Bonds deposited in the Treasury as security and up to ninety per cent of their face value, similar to the National Bank currency of the United States.  This would relieve the money stringency and render available a large capital for permanent investment in various industries that would thus have an opportunity to develop.  The capital thus created would be greedily sought and easily loaned here on as good securities as our disloyal capitalists now find in California, Oregon, Washington and elsewhere.

  Money could undoubtedly be obtained by the government at 5 per cent interest, and we would suggest that the first use to which it should be put to, be the funding of the present 6, 7, and 9 per cent bonds, whereby there could be made an annual saving of about $700,000 interest.

  It is a dangerous and unpopular feature of our present financial condition that the monied men can dominate and control the admiration.  It renders popular government impossible, as long as the public finances are dependent upon the favor and good will of private capitalists who as a rule are always opposed to the masses that form the political majority.  It must be humiliating to the Queen and the people to feel that no cabinet can successfully hold office who are not approved or is subservient to the monied plutocrats.  It is derogatory to the dignity and independence of government action that such should be the case, and therefore we strongly urge the consideration of the financial scheme which we have suggested, or something similar, for the benefit of the government and the people.  It is necessary to revolutionize the financial system that exists in the country and we are convinced of the acceptability of such a move to the agricultural and industrial classes, and of its financial soundness. 

  The government needs money to aid the development of the @ rally rich resources of this country; to give it prosperity, commercial and industrial activity, and act justly to all classes and interests of the nation, the cabinet must be un@ by the domination of any monied  @coarie.  They should control rather than be controlled by the financial affairs of the kingdom. 

  Money invested by the government for the purpose above mentioned would be one of its legitimate functions, would prove vastly remunerative and build up a rich and prosperous little nation.  It could be almost proved in exact figures that the increased revenues accruing to the government as a result of the proposed outlays, could both, from direct and indirect sources bring a large resources and bring a large interest and in a brief period reimburse the government, from personal taxes, improved taxes for improved property, and the many indirect taxes on increase population and commerce.

  Will we ever have an administration with intelligence, energy, ability, and independent patriotism sufficient to do something in this line for this country?  We hear the pessimist say that it will be impossible for this government to negotiate a foreign loan.  Judging from past experiences this might appear to be true, but at this present moment the government hold in their hands, the power (thought their financial acumen will probably not discover it) to obtain a loan without difficulty and at a reasonably low rate of interest.  If the present men cannot do it let them give place to their betters.  The present laisses faire policy means stagnation, retrogression and ruin.  The times demand intelligent and energetic action.

 

            ON DIT.

  The fiend Hill of the Post office deserves a vote of thanks for reducing the foreign postage.

                        _________

  That the next Kona storm will knock the new sea wall to smithereens.

                        _____________

 

  That the Honolulu storekeepers are about to have some “cops” and private detectives to watch all departing vessels for departures.

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  That folks ask the reason for the mysterious delay in selling by auction the lesses of the big tract of government land (several hundred thousand acres) situated in Hamakua district.

                        ______________

  That the Postal Savings Bank is supposed not to reveal the affairs of clients, but yet when anyone makes a deposit, a large book is showed in front of the deposit or wherein can be read the names of the preceding depositors and accounts lodged.

                        _______________

  That the Bulletin from whence we first received information about the toll established on the Pali, lied purposely to entrap us, and to get some of its friends, whose civil rights were only restored lately, to throw the ones on to Ka Leo the fat gutted road did eat some of the fish that was extorted from a man named Malama for a little help given him by Watson’s road hands in helping him over the pathway left at the Pali with his load.           

                       ________________

  That whole Post Office building is antiquated and out of date.

                        _______________

  That one capitalist said he would stand bondsman for the new Road Supervisor, if Mr. Rooney could be given the Assistance Road Supervisor” at the Custom House will publish the names of the parties who purchased and shipped the dope on board the Velocity.

                        _______________

  That people are curious to know whether the “Bonnie Chief: at the Custom House will publish the names of the parties who purchased and shipped the dope on board the Velocity.

                        _______________

  The sugar plantations are useful for creating population to whom opium can be sold profitably, and thus a new interest to created to make up for the failure of sugar as a money making industry, and the good and bad are all ging into the new business – OPIUM.

                        _______________

  That it is high time there was a Japanese post office official.  At present when Jap enquires for a letter at the delivery window, a bundle of letter with Japanese writing on them, is thrust into the  applicants hands, and he can pick and chose as many as he pleased.  Why doesn’t the Japanese Consul see about it?

                        ________________

  That an ex-minister wished Mr. Mattoon to allow Mr. Horner to have the contested seat for representative, right or wrong Me. Mattoon referred the gentleman to the Supreme Court.  The gentleman is a direct descendant of the old “Puritan stock, that believe a dollar is as big as a cartwheel, and that righteousness is only a secondary matter.

                        ________________

  That when “sunset Sereno” goes to Maite’s for his mid-day pork and beans, the first thing he says to the attendant is “Bring me a Ke Leo?” and like Pears Soap baby, “he won’t be happy till he gets it.”

                        ________________

  That strangers coming here wonder why the foreigners have a large delivery window at the Post Office, and the natives of the country are compelled to transact their business at a pokey little hold about a foot square.

 

Platform of Principle

OF THE

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­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 arbitrary 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, we the present Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom never has had the approval of the People, but we established by intimidation and fraud the benefit of a certain class, therefore we favor the adoption of a new and more @ Constitution, to truly @ a Government of the People, by the People, for the People

 

MONOPOLIES

 

5. We shall @ laws by which all @ in-@ government and all monopolies, @ shall be rendered, @, by full, definitive and mandatory statutes.

PROTECTIONS TO HOME INDUSTRIES

7. We are in favor of encouraging @, home agriculture and industries, and all our native products, like rice, @, wool, tobacco, etc. should be protected and fostered by proper tariff regulation; and also it must be the duty of the Governments, in its contracts and other operations, to given 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 pre @ of the public @ for development of their resources and the extinction of their wants.  In fact, the principle of loval Self-government should be extended, whereby giving localities may choose the most important of their local executive officers, and levy taxes for the purpose for the improvements of a public nature.

PUBLIC SERVANTS.

9. Better laws should regulate the Civic Service.  The principle of the selection 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, @ salaries should be adequate compensation for the services rendered.  All excessive salaries should be reduced and @ cures or superfluous offices abolished.

PROTECTION TO THE LABOURING CLASSES

9.  We shall endorse all measure 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 ruining 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 our @ and from seizure in bankruptcy proceedings.

SMALL FARMING AND HOMESTEAD.

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 parceled 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 @, it should be encouraged by a new and more liberal Homestead act, by which the ownership of small tracts of land and the settlement @ of families of our present population and especially of the native Hawaiians who have been left almost homeless in their country should be rendered @.  To that end, the government and Crown lands, (in so far as can be done without invading vested rights) should be @ as soon as possible to homesteads and conferred upon h=bonafide settlers free of taxes for a limited period.

 It should be the further aim to @, at once, no far@ as to provide, in all districts, @ means of conveying the product of the sell to market.

ELECTORAL RIGHT.

11. We held the upright and @ manhood, and not the possession of wealth, arbitrarily @, should @ the right to vote @ nobles as well as the representatives, and no more power should be @ 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 external [rinciples of right and justice, and @ be abolished.  To this end, we will favor a leveling of the present, distriction of wealth and classes which blemish our lows with respect of the right to vote for nobles, therely restoring the native Hawaiians privileges which pertain to@ in their own country, of which they have been unjustly deprived.