The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-10-02
Don QUIxorR-
Sc

Mr. EDITOR Being one Of those who have looked
with pleasure upon your effoIs to reform the fouies
of this Government L have often wondered why your
searching eye has not been directed uron the abuses
existing under our present system of Police. The ar
t;cle. with the signature of 50 Hoe, u1rickr appeared
in your last issue, partially reflects the sentiments Of
a great majority of the foreign residents of this COM
munity, but fails to point out the greatest evil, which
is one that cannot fail to force itself upon the mind
Of every intelligent person, viz, the utter iRsecurity
Of our torn at night. Judging by the number of
robberies which we hear of almost daily, it is not IN
reasonable to suppose that many of our native police
men are either in league with some band of house
breakers, or are, in many cases, themselves the thieves.
Residents here who have become acquainted with the
native character know that this supposition is not far
fetched, for stealing is one of the ruling passions of
the great mass of kanakas, and may justly be called
one of che : customs of the country
Be this as it may, experience has taught us that
our present watchmen are inefficient to prevent
thieves and incendiaries from apprOpriating our prop
erty or wrapping our buildings in flames. A list Of
robberies committed In this city during the past
twelve months would be a long one, and, not a fort
night since, several buildings were burned, with the
most imminent danger that a large portion Of our
town would be laid in ashes. A night or two after
this, an attempt was made to fire a large wooden
building, but it was happily discovered in time to pre-
vent mischief. The r. II. Agricultural Society, I
presume, have not yet forgotten their loss. which hap
pened within a few feet of one of our most frequented
thOrOrghfares and with no less than six policemen on
duty On the same block. Mr.. WAREHOUSES; stores
have been frequently broken into, and yet they have
been under the immediate protection of a native
policeman In most of these cases Of robbery the
thief cannot be discovered, but if by some unusual
chance he should be apprehended, he will find (f he
is a n%ative) plenty of friends who are ready to prove
an dti6i, or anything else that is necessary to &C
qulttal. These facts seem TO me proofpositive that
there is -" something rotten in Oahu, and that a
thorough revision of our Police is necessary for the
protection OF life and property.
L have no charges to make against our Marshal or
ais Deputy, we all know them to be above the sus-
picion of wrong, but it Is possible that a little more
attention TO the capabilities and good character Of
those whom they oPPoint roud Pr64s0v Svod results.
Under the present condition of things nine out of ten
Of the native policemen are such as no $ haIoe" would
trust out of his sight inside his house if there was
anything in 1t that could be pocketed. Are these the
proper men to put in places of such responsibility
With your permission, Mr.. Editor, I will at some
future time show up more of the pecuIiarifies Of this
interesting crowd. VIGILANCE.