The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-08-26

gether at variance with the c0ndlt10u OF 0uf peo
DIE or with the former mode of rule in thesl
> islands, which was q simple c~hisfdons, in which
. the power and will of the chief ruler was recog
nised by all to be supreme. This policy has beer
!: made most apparent by his untiring efforts, made
in direct opposition to the counseis of his fellow
Ministers and the will of the people, expressed
through their Representatives. create and
maintain at a burdensome expense, a large and
useless military-useless, except TO add to the oc-
casional parade of a minister DESTROYS to ap-
pear in cooked hat, epaulettes, and sc gilt but
TONS"
Had the wild and visionary theories of the so
called 6 Secretary at War; been fully carried out
as proposed in his reports. the government of
Kamehameha ". might to-day have been bur-
dened with a debt of hundreds Of thousands, and
an annual expense for military alone of from
500, 900 to 800, 900. But thanks to the firm
opposition he has met at the Privy Council board,
in the Cabinet and in the Legislature-thanks to
a wel-balanced public opinion which has always
opposed him-his warlike theories were 80 far
demolished that, instead of a debt of $500 900, we
can only boast to-day of one of $40 900. Still
the bellicose theory Of the Minister is, the same
now as when, years ago, he entertained the pub
lie with his dramatic writings on the indispensa-
bleness of pixies, bludgeons and sabres.'
1t was in 1852, we believe. that the Minister
got frightened at certain flibuster rumors sent
down from California for his special benefit, and
reported to the Legislature as follows. We quote
the extract that our readers may see what we
might now be enjoying, had the Min...er had full
sway, as well as that he may see himself in his
own glass
az cnrl;r n, n 1nth - Nova,,ta ,,st ~ V;,o ba;o.
absent, l gave notice that would move beforehis council for the
100 men for Maui; 1900 msn for Oahu; SO men for Kauai;
$50 men for Mofokai 80 men for Niihdu; and so mounted
or the whole 5ioo my proposal was that only 100 should be KEEP.
permanently embodied and paid-"-Reporto Of Secretary at War
1852, p. %, etseq.
The visionary imagination which gave birth to
the widest theories of a military rule and des-
potism throughout the Hawaiian Islands could
fortunately find but few supporters, and the min
%isterial castle building and fertilization schemes
collapsed and fell to the ground. There is no one
who has not been thoroughly Disguised with the
published theories and schemes of the Minister,
and fully satisfied that his counsel in regard to
the military, 80 far as they have been carried out,
have been of permanent Injury TO the country, and
had they been fully realized, might have scaled
our fate as a nation.
To a judicious establishment of police or mill
tary aid to ensure the public peace, and especially
TO protect the person of the Sovereign, no liberal
mind can be opposed ; but in this, as in all other
matters of state, the end should conform to the
means. Our ability has been entirely overlooked
or rather disregarded by the Minister, whose
policy, in every public measure he has proposed,
has resembled that of a young man just launch
ing into business with the aid of his fat er's
purse, who lays his plans and keeps his establish
ment on the scale of q millionaire, regardless of
his income, till he finds by bitter experience the
folly of his course, which can only entail on him
disgrace and ruin.
In financial matters we frd him equally OBJ
noxious to the interests of the State. His. in
huence has been to increase rather than decrease
the public expenditures. Witness his annual APP
peals for an increased otilitary appropriation.
But we are told that in the House of Representa-
tives he Z has repeatedly proposed that 25 per
cent. be deducted from all salaries exceeding
$500" Without asserting that this statement
is false, we are not prepared TO receive it on the
mere ipse dir1t of the Minister'S organ, unless the
record of it can be pointed out. We do not be
lieve that he has ever advocated such a reduction
in the House of Mobiles or in any other public
He may have suggested it in the Privy
Council, where the seal of secresy is supposed to
be imposed on ones acts. But that is a different
thing from publicly advocating it. On the other
when the salary of the Chief Justice was
raised "25 per cent, /" and the salaries of the
various judges and clerks raised 33 per cent.
then was his vote? His action bellies his
repeated proposals. if ever made. Even the
salary of his own departmental clerk (whose
time, unless public rumor is more deceitful here
than usual, is partly occupied with the Minister'S
private business) was, if we remember Alright,
raised at his own request, 33 per cent. A minis
Ter must be ju6yed by his acts, not by his profess
'ions. Had he possessed the remotest desire to
zee a reduction in the salaries, he has had ample
opportunity to take an honorable lead in "pro-
posing a reduction of 25 per cent in the salary
If the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On almost every questi' n that has come up be-
ore the country, as everybody knows, he has had
he tact to have something to say on both sides,
o that proof is easily obtainable, when wanted,
hat he has said this or that. Such being the
ase, the Ministers principles can be determined
by his actions,-a rule which the public can
lever be denied.
We have already shown that in the House of
Mobiles his influence and his votes were openly in
avor of the tariff of 1S55,-a measure which, if
arried into effect. will, in the opinion of our
intelligent merchants, seal the destiny of the
nation. We have seen that he is in
.vor of a reduction of the spirit duty to three
ffhs its present rate, and of throwing the onus of
taking up the deficiency in the revenue caused
hereby, on to the trading community, the (,
-haling fleet, and the poorer classes of the peo-
lie. We care not what his professions are or !
ave been, or what he may have said in this or r
nat report, if his actions belle his assertions, we a
IN only judge him by his acts. a
We have shown, moreover, in a late issue, that a
is impossible to expect the completion of a lib f
treaty with France while the present Minis