The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-11-27

~ A public journal is supposed to be established to
promote the public welfare-its aim should ever be to
seek the greatest good of the greatest number.
Though established by individual enterprise, it looks
to The public for its support. If it aims to defend the
right, to support truth, to frown on evil and i'm
morality so far as they affect the well-being Of the
body polite, it deserves the cordial support of every
lover of the peace and prosperity of the community.
On the other hand if it becomes the tool of a party,
the mouth-piece of an official, or the open advocate of
the grossest immoralities, it should equally be the
duty of every good citizen to withdraw from it's sup
port.
The position of public journalist is a peculiar one.
1t is his right to notice and comment on public affairs
and public men, IN short, on everything Transporting
in the country but it IS equally his duty to avoid
personalities, where unprovoked. But on the other
hand, when the acts or the character of a person be-
comes public, he places himself in a position to call
for public criticism on him. For instance, when a
man appears in court as prosecutor or defendant, his
case becomes a proper one for public comment. So
also when a person appears in print, he invites public
comment. on what he has to say.
In our last issue, in remarking on the amusements
Of Honolulu we took occasion to say, in the most I'm
offending manner that the English language is capa-
BILE of, that we had a circus here last year, but the
hotel keepers petitioned the Legislature against it.
We merely stated the truth ; it was our own bust
ness to know what proof we had. But up starts Sir
Roger de Coverley and accuses this journal of a false
statement. We are bound as public journalists to de-
fend our word and show our proof, and we therefore
give the petition alluded to with the names attached.
In order that the whole story may appear together we
give also the communication in the Polynesian ON the
subject, simply remarking that we have too good an
opinion of the hotel keepers, as q class, to believe that
they would have allowed the statement to have been
thus made.
To the Editor of the Polynesian.
SIR Through seur columns we beg to say, that
the statement of Mr.. Whitney, in his editorial, about
a certain petition sent to the Legislature by the
'' hotel keepers against the renewal of the circus
license, is untrue! and We are sorry to notice in the
same article many assertions of the same kind.
Respectfully yours,
THE HOTEL KEEPERS, Or. J. NJ.
Honolulu, Nov. 81, 1856.
TIE HuspLE Petition OF THE UxDERsuGxEo RESPECTFULLY
SHEwETH
THAT, Ve merchants, and hotel keepers, &C., of Honolulu,
have been greatly injured in our business by the establishment
of a Circus in Honolulu. We beg to remind the Legislature tbat
heavy loss, and at the time when we expect to make good our
hopes, We have been, and are likely, under present cir-um-
ing portion of the population being drawn of all their money
(Which they would otherwise expend with the m~erchants) by a
We would urge upon the Honorable House that a circus "a
only 50 per night license, while the hotel keepers pay $1,000 Der
annGm and that the revenue d~erivedfrom a travelling circus does
not compensate for the injury done to trade, or the money which
IS taken out OF the country by such an establishment and that
the last fall season, Messrs. Lee & Marshall of the National Cir
Gus, for the sum of $3.50, paid as licences, took away. during the
two months of brisk business, the most of the trade of eighteen
paohcans, paying over $4,000 per annun. and that of the mer-
chants and others who pay as much or even more, making a
total IN contra-distinction to Messrs. Lee & Marshall of about
S3S,00e.
In conclusion, we beg 10 state that many of our Chinese, and
even native servants, are 50 infatuated with this kind of exhibi-
tl0n that they absent themselves from our employment ON every
night OF performance, and viii even steal from us rather than
foego the amusements Of the circus. That the circus presents
no rsieemIng qualities to compensate for the injury done to the
it neither improves the morals or education of the
but on the contrary, the money is taken SUIT OF the
country, and consequently impoverishes it.
Iherefore, we, who are interested in the prosperity of this
country, respectfully pray that either a circus may be obliged to !!