The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-12-23
Change Of ministerial Tactics.

unquestionably good.
Change Of Minisie ial Tactics.
The public were much surprised by the position
taken by the government in the last issue OF the
Polynesidn in regard to the government printing.
Whether the remarks of that paper on the sub
ject had been brewing some weeks or not, matters
little the announcement appears to have been
fastened by the action of the House of Represen-
tatives, who had taken up the subject of public
printing for discussion and had all the facts in
the case been fully investigated, we have no
doubt the position this journal has before
taken on the great expense of the public printing
as now performed, would have been sustained.
Knowing that the business of the public print
ing would soon be considered by the House, and
that a doubt was entertained in regard to the ex-
pediency of continuing it as at present, the pub
Usher of the Commercial sent in to that body a
COMMUNICATION, giving a definite proposal at
what RAJ he would be willing to contract for the
public limiting for a term of years,-which
might IF e as a basis for any action they chose
to take&RThe sum named is low, to be sure. but
not so but that it can be done with a fair
profit. using type and materials already on hand
and which lie idle for n part OF the year.
Knowing well the hostility shown on the part OF
the Ministry, during the past two years, to any
other mode of executing the public printing thar
that which had been in vogue for fifteen years,
and the blunt denial repeatedly made by the gov
eminent organ of any great loss arising there
from. little or no expectation was entertained that
the proposition would be of any weight much
less that this same government organ would at
last come out and acknowledge that " the econo-
mical necessity of a government printing Office
had been by MS undeniably disproved, and recon-
mend the disposal of it in as strong terms as ap-
pears in the following paragraphs:
..The success of the Advertiser, in a purely
business view, has been rapid and marked, and SO
far affected the customary resources of the Poly
nesidn us To reverse the position OF the two COM
petitors and range all the disadvantages of the
competition on the side of the latter. notwith-
standing the cry of Monopoly" which the
Adrcrfisc holds mp now and then as a mask, be-
hind which to hide its grin of satisfaction.
lone by one as civilization and general pro-
gress advanced, as knowledge increased and capt.
tai accumulated. the Government has receded
from its position as pioneer or competitor In prl-
vate enterprises or business speculations. and we
fully believe that the time also has now arrived
when it should recede from the printing business
and cause the Government Press 10 be disposed Of.
This seems also to have been the leading opinion
of that portion of the : Report of the Minister of
the Interior" in March last, which refers to the
= d. Government Press, = wherein the Minister re-
commends to the Legislature that he he 8 en-
powered, in his discretion, to dispose of the Gov
eminent Press, its fixtures. apparatus or both, by
sale or lease, whenever it can be done upon rea-
sonable conditions and with a saving to H.. NJ.
Treasury
up for discussion in the committee on the Civil Code,
and we were calle upon for information, we took
that early opportunity of delivering the same views
that we have now embodied above. And since the
publisher of the .4{rertiSer, Mr.. II. NJ. Whitney, has
formally offered TO I all the government printing for
the really low sum of So, 300, we would be false to
our own conscientious conviction, did We not frankly
and fully advise the government to accept his offer,
and dispose of its own printing establishment ut such
a yearly rate as would in n measure reduce the above
charge and still leave n living profit to whomsoever
might take the concern aud occupy that independent
position which the .4drertiser has hitherto been sup
posed to ELL
This is what a sailor would call lacking ship,
that heretofore pursued. 1t matters less whether
the government will save three, five or ten thou
sand dollars n year in the proposed change the
principle involved in it, is the main point, and,
if made, evinces a change in the ruling sentiment
of the administration which allowed a minister,
as is well remembered, to attempt to muzzle
the press and bring this Journal in its in
fancy into that abject submission to n dictatorial
minister, which had characterized most if not all
newspaper enterprises started in the kingdom,
not excepting the short-lived and bigoted Era ana
Argus. This change in the policy of the admin
i~stration. if made, indicates that a more liberal
sentiment is developing itself, and that there is
less fear of trusting the defense or censure of the
government with those whose interests are identi-
fed with the country.
In regard to the proposal referred to. made by
the publisher of this paper, we may add a few
words. 1t was rendered and is viewed solely as
a legitimate business transaction, just as would
be made with any business firm. The execution
of the public printing could have no influence in
the control of this journal. We wish this point
distinctly understood. The same independent
principles and advocacy of popular rights, avow-
ed in the first lumber, and which have been adj
hered to since, will continue to control it. As
heretofore, it would not hesitate to censure govern
ment. its ministers and agents, where censure is
called for. or commend them where acts worthy
of commendation are seen. And should the at
tempt ever be made again. as it was once, to
browbeat and crush freedom of speech, it could
pursue no other course than that pursued, and
which has taught even a crown minister the limit
of his authority.
MORE OF THE WRECK OF THE 6 ENNA.'-After our
| paper of last week was issued, we visited the scene OF
the wrecked vessel which lay on the reef before the
| cocoanut grove of Waikiki. The brig lies in smooth
water, and loaded boats pass from and to her with
out difficulty. Notwithstanding the severe humping