The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-04-14

which it is the duty OF the government
age? We think the law an injurious one at TINS
time, and for the following reasons:
lst.-H must inevitably resuA in checking, q nor
Destroying, all correspondence among the na'sre
population.
1t is well known by those who are any way ac-
ouainted with the natives that they seldom write
strictly business letters, and that most OF their
correspondence is simply for the sake of writings
to let their friends know how they arc and when
they expect to come or go. There can be very
little doubt that the slightest tax will stop all
this correspondence,-that is, so far rs the mails
are concerned. Now is it right for the govern
ment or the Legislature to take a step that will
have this effect?
But it may be said, in reply, if their letters
amount to nothing, what harm to stop them? 1t
should be recollected that native Hawaiians are
not like foreigners. The correspondence now car
ried on among them is tending perhaps more than
any other measure to civilize them, or rather to
elevate them in the human scale, to give them new
ideas, as well as to practice them in writing.
while at the same time it tends to unite them and
make those residing on different islands more in
innate with each other, more interested in each
others welfare, and of course more united as a
people.
2d.-We think the law unwise at this time,
inasmuch as, though it may produce a small
revenue, it ,ciH soon cause an increase in the er-
penses of II department mhich ,riN ore:6alance
the revenue produced.
The government cannot expect, under the new
law, that post-masters can be engaged to take
charge of the increased duties of their offices, pay
and receive postage money, all for nothing. This
would be unreasonable. The services of post
masters are obtained now gratuitously, because
the inter-island post office service is a gratuitous
one. Salaries must soon follow the imposition of
hostages. Neither can the owners of vessels be
long expected to carry the public mails for moth
ing, when the government derives a revenue out
of such gratuitous service. it would be as unrea-
sonable to ask it as it would be to expect foreign
vessels to bring and carry our foreign mails for
nothing. Here, then, must arise another increase
of expense for service which is now cheerfully
done gratuitously.
3d.-There is no necessity far a change in the
present system, inasmuch as the post-oficed depart
ment is self-supporting, with the exception of the
salary of the postmaster. This is shown by the
last report of the postmaster, and, we believe, the
department has paid its way with no other ex-
pense to government than the above one, ever
since its establishment. Why, then, seek to ere
ate n change which must increase the expenses,
and at the same time do incalculable injury to
the social relations of the people?
4th.-The law introduces the frankiny privilege
to officers of government, than which no provis-
ion more injurious could be made. Provision is
always made for necessary expenses of govern
ment Offices, and why not include hostages with
them, as is done in England?
The whole law will be viewed as a retrograde
step, and, if carried into effect, must tend to check
in no mail degree the improvement of the Hawai-
ian race. Among such a people, no legitimate eff
forts should be sparedb by therulers to develope their
character and elevate them, even if there is some
pecuniary loss arising from the effort to do it. We
trust that the law may be SO modified as not to
work injury and defeat the very object it has in
view, as it surely must in its present shape or
what would be preferable, that the imposition of
inter island hostages be deferred till some more
urgent necessity calls for it than now exists. Even
if enacted, the public interests will undoubtedly
call for it's repeal at the next session of the Legis-
lature.