The Liberal, Volume I, Number 41, 1 February 1893 — BRIEFLETS. [ARTICLE]

BRIEFLETS.

WE HAVE HEARD that Mr. Cleghorn, the Collector-General of Customs, and father of the Heir Presumptive, has consented to take the oath of alligence to thhe Provisional Government "under protest," whatever that may mean. Perhaps that gentlemen has confused the ideas of the payment of Customs' duties "under protest," and the taking of an oath of allegiance in the same form. We respectfully submit that the taking of such an oath is not one of the occasions to which a "protest" is applicable. Such an oath, like any other pill, should be bolted whole, in order to benefit the "system." We hope that, if the oath of the official named shall be taken "under protest," the P.G. will at once dispense with his official services, - also under protest, of course. REFERENCE, to Mr. Cleghorn reminds us that he is still loaded with the little of Governor of Oahu. The mere title, we believe, has done the gentlemen no real mischief, further than to impose upon him the obligation to stand around in gold lace and look ridiculous at Palace fetes. But, by the terms of the Act of 1890, creating Governors, those superfluous officials are made military commanders-in-chief within their respective Islands, and are invested with authority to declare and abro- looking for some statutes upon which to exercise its "repealing" propensities, we commend the Governors' Act to their attention. SPEAKING OF Commanders-in-Chief calls to mind the fact that we are now blessed with three of 'em, right here on Oahu, - Mr. President Dole, Mr. Governor Cleghorn and Mr. Commander-of-the-Forces-with-the-rank-of-Colonel Soper. These Commanders, like the successive Ministers of a certain Scotch parish, are "Each waur than the ither." 'Rah for our trinity of Commanders. WE ARE PLEASED to note the improvement in the Advisory Counsil consequent upon the appointment of Hon. Cecil Brown to its roll of members. Mr. Brown's accession to the Council is a distinct gain in several necessary directions, among which may be named the matter of liberalizing and popularizing the P.G., and the securing of legal talent of which the Council formerly stood in great need. If the next vacancies shall be filled by the appointment of able and popular Hawaiians, the outlook for the P.G. will be still further improved. BROTHER BUSH of Ka Leo o ka Lahui has announced his intention to take a trip to the States. Perhaps he will be upon the briney, when this issue reaches our readers. The P.C.A. states that Brother Bush is going merely "as an editor in search of a change of climate." If this be true, his action is most prudent, not to say prophetic. Since reading the Sedition Laws of the P.G., we think a "change of climate" the most appropriate prescription for each editor in the country, other than be of the government organ. It looks as though we may all soon feel the annoyance of climate conditions. The signs of the zodiac betoken a change of temperature. The editor of THE LIBERAL contemplates going into winter quarters after this issue. THE Editor of THE LIBERAL has applied for a commission as Colonel on the staff of Mr. President Dole. To the best of our knowledge, we have to compete with no earlier ap-

plicant for that honor. We were once before dressed in a military title, - and other garments of less splandor, but it proved ephemeral, and now most of our friends, eve, have forgotten what was that title. We yearn for more splendor in that line, and have already bargained with a Colonel on the late Staff of her recent Majesty for the loan of his dazzling uniform, to be "restored" with the monarchy. Mr. President was, as usual, suave and amiable when approached for that commission. We expect the document, as we go to press, and are patiently waiting for it. Yes! Mr. President, we're waiting, -still waiting! TALK ABOUT OPERA DOUFFE, but what shall suffice to describe the royalist "embassy" to Washington? Ye Gods, and little fishes, we thought the P.G. had done badly enough in that line, but this latest aggregation discounts the first, -in certain particulars. If the two "embassies" could now pool issues and expand the field of their operations, some entertainment, if nothing more, might be extracted the show. Let Paul be and play the Diplomat, as Thurston for the Undevout Divine, -the late "Prince" for the Dude, and the Son-of-his-Father for the Clown. Let Mongoose Joe play the Statesman, let Wilder "play sick," and get out of such company, while Castle "plays the deuce," as usual. Then thing on. Thurston, being an ex-barn-stormer, can fill in the chinks in the above outline with valuable details. THERE IS ONE GOOD thing to be said for the sedition act. It meets the case of those who, either openly or secretly are engaged in circulating petitions for the restoration of the Monarchy, or otherwise plotting to re-saddle us with that incubus. We hope the government will energetically suppress that particular variety of "sedition." In short, the government must of necessity, protect itself from all forms of dangerous attack, but it should not be too ready to invade the liberty of speech or of the press, nor confuse the limits between a just criticism and inflammatory appeals to violence, THE LIBERAL is nothing if not loyal. We recognize the power of the P.G. - wherever we turn our eyes. We recognize it in the advertising columns of the "organ," (one dollar per inch of space each insertion), wherein appears a demand that all presidents shall report to the Commander-of-the0Forces-with-the-rank of-Colonel all arms in their possession. THE LIBERAL hastens to comply; and here recites the list of its deadly weapons, via -one Antique laber, considerably battered in a conflict with former types of arbitrary power, yet good for a few more rounds in case of necessity; one cherished quill, plucked from the pinion of one of the Muses; one ditto from the wing of Icharus; one paste pot in which the wasps have built a nest; one pair of scissors, a sheer superfluity in this office,) rusty from non use; an interesting collection of modern penholders, half-a-dozen corroded a bottle of ink, Dr. Jayne's alamanae for 1870, and a bottle of liver pills. If the Commander of he Forces wishes any of these weapons, we trust he will take the pills first, while we observe their effect.