The Liberal, Volume I, Number 42, 4 February 1893 — Untitled [ARTICLE]

IN AGAIN appearing as editor of "THE LIBERAL," I have no occassion to say what my course is to be. When I founded the paper, I stated that it my purpose to make what I could for political and social progress - process toward a higher destiny -and to turn not to the right nor the left, neither for lions in the road nor for cars at my heels. Then there were as many things to discourage truth-speaking in this little community as could be found anywhere on the globe in modern times. "Nobody liked it, and they used their best endeavors to suppress the writer. My enemies could have done their worst, but my friends were enough to wreck the best of causes. King Bolabola on his power and Liliuokalani on her throne did not awe THE LIBERAL. The puppets are off their pedestals. Incense of praise and flattery no longer ascends to the nostrils of lowdry wooden gods from fawning demogogues and servile press. An elaborate system of effete humbug has been swept away. There is a fairer field and better prospect now for those who contend for the highest principle. THE LIBERAL is not likely to fall down and worship any graven images of recent manyfacture. THE LIBERAL does not care for success. Our aim is higher. Success in this wicked world frequently implies closer relations with His Satanic Majesty than we care to cultivate. MANY have done me the honor to try to injure me personally. They have not been able to deprive me of much I prized. The Bulliten keeps up its covert attacks yet. Though it does not dare to even snarl at the missionary heel planted none too tenderly upon its neck, it still proceeds on the assumption that the Liberals have no friends and that it is permissible to use slander and invective against them without restraint. THE Bulletin hints that one of the reasons for the provisional government requesting the protection of the United States forces was that they feared the Three Hundred would turn against them. If the government feared treachery from the Liberal League, it was because there minds had a turn toward treachery for certainly the Three Hundred had given them no cause for suspicion. It is absolutely false that they had made any extravegant demands, or demands of any kind. They have not been considered in the formation of the government nor in the appointments so far made. They only expect the government to do them justice according to the government's idea of justice. That is, they expect very little. Having been identified with the Three Hundred from the beginning, it is natural that I should bring forward their claims. THE Advertiser's comment on the services of the Three Hundred shows a spiteful narrow-minded-ness, as its account of the revolution did. The Advertiser during of the whole of the unpleasentness never once referred to the Three Hundred or mentioned one of their names. Being in Kauai and reading the published accounts, I supposed that the Drei Hundred had not been in it at all. But every body in town knows that they were in it. It is like Professor Alexander writing a history of Hawaii and omitting all mention of the Wilcox affair, because, forsooth, he did not approve of Wilcox. It would be like writing a history of the United States and making no mention of Jefferson Davis. I suppose if a missionary hereafter writes Hawaiian history he will studiously avoid reference to the Liberals, lest it detract from the glory of his clique. Is such the measure of the breadth of the missionary mind? The Advertiser has never yet been able to speak of any of the Liberals without a sneer. What is means by "tablets of brass?" I do not know. It does not sound enlogistic. I should wish the editor

to expand the idea a little, so that we may see what there is in it. We have more than once joined the Advertiser party in aid of a good cause; but for myself, I have never received any recognition more complimentary than being referred to as "Placehunter," and my friends have not fared as well, even. The Advertiser's party are successful and dominant now, and they can afford to be a little more charitable, and give us fair play. THE Boodlers probably expect that the Liberals having been used, will now be kicked as has been the custom heretofore. The Bulletin is ready to aid in the kicking, and to take advantage of their dissatisfaction in the good old way. But it is not to be. Things in Hawaii will never be what they were before. THE Bulletin says that I am making attacks on defenseless people imaging myself safely intrenched. Any way I am not intrenched behind the pseudonym of a fictious correspondent as the Bulletin is. The Bulletin is trying to foment discontent and disorder, especially among the friends of the new government. If the Bulletin is boycotted or suppressed, it will not be a holy martyr by any manner of means; it is only the organ of defeated corruption turning its attention from boodle to miscellaneous mischief making. IT IS a great consolation to the enemy to be able to excuse their cowardice and incompetence by saying they were overawed by United forces. The truth is they had no appetite for fighting when it came right to the point, and there was not a single man in all the Queen's crowd that had the knowledge or ability to take command and defend the throne. The United States had not attacked nor made any demonstration against the existing government. They simply came here to protect American interests as it has always been the custom to do in times of public excitement. It was their conscience that made cowards of the royalists. They stood awhile trembling in their way to turn or what to do, they collapsed. The American Minister refused to recognized the Provisional Government until it had full possession of the government building, police station and barracks. It would never have been recognized if the Drei Hundred had not gone and taken those places. STILL IT IS TRUE that the feeling of the American people, government and officers was not very friendly to the monarchy. Monarchies are odious to the free born citizens of the great republic, and the fame of Liliuokalani and King Bolabola had gone abroad, and made an unfavorable impression among the civilized people of the world. The American government has been accused of supporting an effete monarchy. The government soon saw that the people would not approve of such a course. When the support of the American government was withdrawn, the rotten institution went to pieces of its on accord. IT SEEMS to me that the indications are that United States intends to annex these Islands. At least the present administration at Washington does; but as there will be a complete change in the government on March 4th, it is difficult to say what the outcome will be. It will be a good many months before that is settled. The United States will not want to annex an unwilling people. The Hawaiians might hinder annexation by getting up a lively opposition to it; but, as their only hope of ever again participating in the government lies in ananexation, it is possible that they will have sense enough to favor it. ANNEXATION means more liberty, more influence and more prosperity for Hawaiian than they have ever had. But it seems as if Hawaiiands do not appreciate or desire political liberty. They have cared more about words and phases than about realities. They talk of the independence of Hawaii as if it were a real and sacred possession.

In fact, Hawaii never has been independent from the time is was discovered by Captain Cook. The smallness and the condition of its inhabitants in the scale of civilization left it at the mercy of other countries. Its fate has always been in the hands of foreigners. The rule of the native chiefs was servitude for the native people. They were originally serfs with not a right in the world that a chief was bound to respect. They had no property, not even in their own labor. The foreigners have gradually given the natives more rights, liberty and power which he had never fully appreciated an which he has frequently abused. This last and greatest step in the civilization will be the most beneficial of all to the race. I AM with the Bulletin on the question of political preachers, and read with approval the well written article on the subject in a recent number. I have been one of the political preachers who did not wait till the enemy was vanquished to enveigh against their wickedness. I cannot recommend the course to others. It is better for ministers to wait until evils are abolished and public opinion is settles than to run the risk of becoming unpopular and perhaps losing their jobs. In olden times many teachers were rash enough to preach against established evils, and they were usually roasted for their pains. Modern pastors are more provident, and lag discrectly behind the times till the Lord reveals the safe side. Few preachers spoke against George III. before or during the American revolution, but since the surrender of Cornwellis innumerable sermons have been delivered on the beauty of liberty and independence. Almost all the discourses against slavery have been preached since the institution became extinct. In this country all the pulpit orations against involuntary servitude and traffic in human chattels are yet to be delivered. But I advise the revered gentlemen not to be premature and get people down to them. THERE is a general impression that no natives participated in the recent movement. There were a few who did and many more who w willing to Liberal League turned to join the Drei Hundred first break, but their services declined by the officers. It was an invidious display of race prejudice, it seems to me. If they had been called, at least a hundred and fifty natives might have been found ready to join the movement and take their chances with the rest. I believe in equal rights. It is a unfounded and mischievous idea that all the natives are opposed to reform and political progress. I know the monarchy is dead, and that there is no risk in abusing the absolete institution. But being dead, it can do no more harm. Let us praise and bury it. That the Hawaiian monarchy outlasted all other native governments in the Western Hemisphere shows that it was the best of its kind. The desposed Queen is a cultured lady, who risked and lost her throne in the interest of her native subjects. She was a true patriot, according to her understanding, in attempting to carry out the almost unanimous wishes of the native people. That she failed was her misfortune. Her great fault was the unworthinessthe greed, meanness, treachery - of those she trusted as her friends. I have now more respect for Queen Liliuokalani than I ever had before. BUT for the jackals that surroundded the throne and preyed upon the monarchy, they are more detestable than ever and almost as dangerous. The boodlers are still alive, and corruption is an insidious thing. We may expect they will be edging themselves into office again, truckling and cringing by hook or crook to get into the government. At the next election whenever that may be and for whatever offices, they are sure to turn up again in full force. The boodlers cannot be too much damoed. When I refer to boodlers I do not mean any of the large numbers of respectable voters who supported the National Reform party, but to those practical politicians who made money out of the business.