The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-06-10
(corrs.ponaenoe Of the commercial Advertiser,

inst, on the subject of officials being permitted to
enter into private speculations. is worthy Of his call
ing as a Government toady, although he says he IS
not q Government officer. nor does his scions of rela-
tionship dance in that grade. Whatever he may be,
however, from his startling flow of ~plethoric denun-
citation, he undisguisedly evinces talent not the most
refined in the language of polite literature ; but. on
the contrary, smncks rather of the coarser qualities
of the genus " Man." Starting in an argument by
calling his adversary g an ass, is quite sufficient to
establish his position and character as a gentleman
of a certain class. Thus far we will leave him to his
own refined "reminiscences on that point.
From his understanding of the subject he pretends
to discuss. ESQ " amicably,'' ) he assures us that no
better authority is required for his assertions than
his own and that of common sense. As to his un-
Outstanding or ideas on the point, we will at pres
ent throw them overheard. As to common sense, we
believe in it, inasmuch as we feel it to be a very ne
cessary ingredient in discussing and ~disposing of all
subjects pertaining to the good of society in all its
grades. As to its application in the sense he puts it.
as well as his kindly wish to forward the interests of
the Islands, we hold rather strong doubts.
Our friend Pro Bono Pu5lico hopes that your
former :" Gross correspondent (better be cross than
malevolent and vicious) may CLEAN information and
wisdom from his enlarged and expansive explana-
ton of the subject in point, and from his enlightened
views expressed on the subject, believes that he has
put a final screw upon your correspondent x, and on
any further remarks of his on the subject.
Practical experience of both the present and by
gone ages proves that the practice of allowing Gov
eminent officials to dabble in private speculatons,
for self-interest, causes neglect of public duty. pecu-
lations of all sorts on the people, and defalcations of
public money. 1t further holds out inducements for
the preparation of almost every kind of roguery, in
Guiding cheating, assimilation, hypocrisy. forgery
and tyranny-in fact, it is a bonus for everything
that is bad.
We will take a suppositious view of the consequent
ces that might take place by allowing such proceed
ings to be carried on even in this little kingdom,
where the nation is ruled by the few, over whom the
people have little or no power of punishment in the
event of any of them committing themselves, as their
self-made law says that when any of them commit
an ofense against the state, they are to be tried 6y
their peers meaning that they are to be judged by
each other. Thus, where all are alike guilty, less or
more, there is a small chance of any of them coming
to harm.
We will suppose that an official, holding under his
sole control all public works of every description,
might think it advantageous to himself to purchase,
on his own account, old and worthless material at a
mere noiulIfil price-Say, LOT instance, Ou nulKS,
timber, &c.,-and then again dispose of them to the
very department over which he might preside, at the
highest market value for good timber, &C., and have
them wrought up into the Government works. per-
haps even taking the money for which the old and
worthless material was purchased, from the public
funds. If %dabbling in private trading were prohib-
tied to officials, this could not we'll occur.
We will take, suppositiously, another official, who,
r. =. -
proper to covet some of the very best lands or other
property on the islands, for the benefit of himself and
family, or other favorites and friends. and for the sake
of appearances, give a nominal value, or perhaps no
value at all, on gaining possession of them, thereby
shamefully cheating both government and people of
their property. If private speculation by officials
were prohibited, this could not occur.
Again: Suppose another official to be in the receipt
of public funds to a heavy amount, say several thou
sands, annually. This might occur either here or on
another island, where said official might not be called
upon to hand over the amount for long periods, in
consequence of the distance, or other causes. Well,
in the meantime a gold fever arises in some place. say
Oregon, as a specimen. He might think it a first
rate opportunity to benefit himself, or perhaps make
a large fortune; he invests the public moneys he has
in charge in gold speculations, and the result turns
out IL uou dIu IL puouO ioSc u Hohcy' AidO
dabbling in private trading speculations been prohib-
tied such loss as this, to the government, in all prob
ability, would not occur.
Then again, we will suppose that another Govern
ment servant, who from the laxity or want of pror er
government regulations, may take it into his head to
turn merchant, banker, land or other property agent,
mon ey-lender, stock-jobber. or anything else that
within or interest might spur him into; and to carry
- Ill xIoeo ,osao ~ p,,~bt t1,p1y 20 ~co0ov c.I
right to use the labor of men whom the Government
employed and paid for their own service only, work.
ing them at all times and all hours. not emitting Sum
days and holidays, and even at nights, and not allow
ing them a cent remuneration from himself for their
hard, overweight labor on his private affairs.
Were proper and equitable rules and regulations
enacted by government, and private jobbing and deal
ings prohibited, none of these occurrences would be
likely to take place.
As to Pro Bono Publico's slang of a man alien
ating himself, body and soul, as well as his private
rights, or that he deprives himself from engaging his
funds, if he have any, (query y and a little Of his
time, in enterprises calculated to promote the pros
perity of society, and at the same time be adraatage-
Gus to himself. is beautiful logic, and very interest
ingly expressed. l reply, we wish to ask Pro Bono
Pu6lico, in the event of his engaging a man on ex-
traN1HiUt Y hdetS, " iuS ttiN "Obfu ~ ~
mand of the man in the fulfllment of those duties he
paid him so extravagantly for performing, and what
quantity of little time, as he calls it. would he be
willing to grant that man daily in his own peddling
or dealing transactions or, otherwise, how much
time does q mercantile or banking firm allow
their servants for such purposes? We think we
may sum up the whole quantity by adding and
diminishing, and bring out a total balance of mil.
IT, c.nt &c, oil pupopfs claim, tho Qntira labor
and attention of their servants, both bodily and men
tally. AS to their souls, they can dispose of them at
their own good pleasure, either by selling or tratfick-
ing them away to the old fellow with the long tail
and cloven feet, and they may rest assured that the
Government will not in the slightest degree interfere
with them.
Mr.. Editor, in conclusion, we do think that Mr..
Pro Bono Publico has been sc this occasion, very
unfortunate in the selection of rs subject, aud we
believe that if he is not a Government servant, he is