Hawaii Holomua, Volume I, Number 82, 23 December 1893 — TOPICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE]

TOPICS OF THE DAY

The joy exbibited by tbe 'ontbinking crowd araong tbe anuexationists is ainusing to behold. Tbere is i»o rerf.soning ar;d no seo8e in tbeir jubilant hurr.tbiug. and all tbat tbey know tbems<dves. is tbat they bavo sowe vagne idea that sorae tbiug “bas gone to Congress.” Tbe small fr«ction who are able to tbink cannut soe thut tbe situatiou bas cbanged one little bit. Tbe usoal inqniries bave been ])reseuted in Congress, and may or mav not be answered by the President. Sucb enquiries are nearly always preferred when mattcrs of importance are being transacted duriug periods wbere Congress is not in session. lt is tbo prerogative of the President to furuisb tbo desired iuformatiou o» rcfuse it for reasons of State. Tbat President CIeveland after having demanded tbe surrender of the Provisioual Governraent ever again could treat with them as a sovereign and equal power is perfectly absurd. If the bosb and aud jingoism in tbe Repnblican press and araong Republican benaiOrs and Congressmen could have inllueneo on a Democratic admiuistration, we would like to know wbere tbo beuefit would be for the party whieh electod sucb an admiuistration and defeated tbo Rapublicans in tbe last eleetion. Nob dy who bas followed tbe vote ou tbe repeal of the silver act eau doubt tbat President Cleveland bas bis party well in band aud tbat all mem- ‘ bers l>elongiug to tbe Democratic - party will act as bonest men and -«tand sboulder to shonlder ■ou everv matter of importance ratber tban risk a split and a possible ruin of their party. President policy in jregard to Hawaii will be carried out eveu if it takes every man in tbe United States to do it. In tbe meantime, the P. G. is - feeling ver>’ unhappy, because it oannot learn wbat Minister Willis proposes to do if a refusal is given to bis demaud for s surxender. If it eouhl be ascertained tbat tbe American Minister intenvled to seud tbe answer of tbe P. G. to '\Vasliington, and await . furtber instructions, there might be some reason for the revolutionists to rejoice, and it would perbaps give ihem a little more iime to draw their salaries «nd enjoy tbeir brief antbority. But if the Mmister already has full iustructious to act—and all indications teud tbat way — there is not so mueh fuu in seuding a refusal and riskiug being kickvd out bv forco. īn tbat case n surrendcr —say andcr protcst—would suit tbe coustitutiou of most of onr wise rulers —mneh better tban an open stand of hostility. It wou!d be advisable for the heads of the government to find ont where they are— if it is possible for them to do so.

We pablish today » letter from Cha<». Nordhofl whieh appeared in tbe Nevc Tork HeraUl on December the 3rd, and whieh farnishes some very interesting reading and places by eomparisons old Stevens in 1 a yet more nnenviable l;ght than 1 he heretofore has appoared in. Whv any sympathy shonld be fonnd in the Repnblic of the United States with the Provisional Government, we fail to ooinprehend. A government whieh openly has declared it intention of disfranchising a nation th:it bas exercised self- | govtr.iraent for decades ean harJly be a pleasant spectacle to a true American. A government whieh ruthlessly bas tbrown the country into min, and by auto cratieally appropxiating and spending tbe taxpayers raouey is not expected to be supported by Araericans- A governmeut whieh bas indulged in gag laws, and muzzling laws, and fought the freedoin of the press aud of free speech is bardly in harraouy witb tbe principles of Americans. A go.vernment whieh neglect public works because all its reveuues are needed for the purpose of supporting atmed forces, poliee spies, aml special guards does not look very mueh like a government of tbe people. An olligarchy whieh dares not stake its existence on tbe deciding vote of tbe peoplo, but simply exists behind fortifications and cannons shonld find little favor in tbe eyes of Americans—but so is the government of Hawaii today, tho government of S. (and) B. (ag) Dole. On a late oeeaaion there was a dedication of a temple whieh represents one of the grandest orders in the civilized world. But a few short years ago the order lost, in the deceaseof two members, dcvoted and good friends, honored and respected as such. Within alraost the shadow of that temple, io-day, there sits a woman, lone and sorrowful who was the wife of one and the sister of the other, of those deceased brothers. Utterly alone is she now, bereft of husband, brother, plaee and name. With not a malo relative to defend, or even speak in her defence. And yet she was the wife cf one and the sister of another of those who gather tngether in that temple whieh indicates visits to tbe sick, assistance to the needy, and succor the belpless widow and ophan. Merry ! A very —Merry Christmas, brethren ! A Happy Christsias it must be for those who hold the fort of the o!igarcbist government, whieh at present rules; happy for them, but for none of the people of Hawaii. The people contribute tke wherewithal to supply the means to bring pleasure and bappiness to the *‘liltle people” of their false and faithless countrymen while they thsmselves, the majority, the people, with saddened hearts find tbemselves now debarred from tbe opportuuity of obtaiuing even respectable employment. A happy Christmas ? No, a sad, a mournfui one, for lovers of the nalional prestige ar.d honor of Hawaii nei.