The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-06-30

as the expense of maintaining a weekly journal,
caused both papers to be given up.
In January, 1913, the Friend was commences
by Rev. S. c. Damon, and has been continued b.
him to the present time, being now in its l6tl
year. 1t is consequently the Oldest paper on thes
islands. : The plan on which its publisher com
menced and has conducted it to the present day.
has enabled him to print it without any serious
loss. Being devoted principally to s~eafaring
men, and circulated gratuitously among them, it
has generally met a cordial welcome not only
from that, but also from every other class among
us.
The Polynesian (second series) was revived by
j. j.. Jarves in May, 1874, under the auspices o
the government, and has been continued as III.
official paper to this time, under the successive
charge of Mr.. Jarves, C. E. Hitchcock, E. O..
Hall and {. G. Hopkins.
Besides the papers noticed, the following have
been published the Cascade, in 1S44-5; the
Monitor, in 1S45 the Fountain, in lS47 the
s. 1. Nelcs, 1919; and the Honolulu Times and
Neac Era, from 1S49 to 1S53-all of which have
been discontinued. In July, 1856, the CONNER
cial Adcertiser was established, which, with the
Polynesian and Friend, remain the only foreign
papers now printed here.
We nave Sldnceu illus ndSIily over Tic IlSt duu
growth of journalism in Honolulu. to show how
from its humble origin in 1886, with a small edf-
ton of about one hundred copies, it has gradu-
ally increased, till now a weekly issue of 1000
copies of the Commercial barely satisfies the de-
mand during the " dull season." while in the
busy season, the edition consists often of 1900 and
even 1900 copies. A regular monthly edition OF
$500 copies is also issued of the Friend. l.
twenty years have worked such a change in the
wants OF the foreign-resident, mercantile and sea-
faring interests of these islands, what may we not
expect at the expiration of another twenty years?
We hazard nothing in saying that some who read
these lines, will live to see the day when not sim
ply one, but rival daily papers will be issued by
steam in Honolulu. and the arrival and departure
of steamers will be of daily occurrence.
The history of journalism in Honolulu illus
trates one fact, that the foreign population ,ciH
have an independent journal in contra-distinction
to any official or governmental publication. The
first journal established. the Gazette, was started
mainly to exhibit the faults of the government
and its advisers. So too, with the Ne,os, one of
the most sarcastic and powerfully-e1ited papers
ever published in any country. Both these jour
nails, when private enterprise failed to sustain
ehClh CIV III ioh N'N oePICh"0 viz
mercantile public. The Times, the Era and
Argus, as well as the Commercial, were all called
into being to oppose and contend with the real
or imagined tyranny of officials and with govern
mental restraints on freedom of thought, and to
maintain a fair and open expression of public
opinion. 1t is a trait inherent to the Anglo
Saxon mind, that it will not submit to mental
despotism 1t calls for, and will have the same
freedom for thought, as for limb. The despot
who attempts to chain-else than for crime-or
restrain in any manner the bones and sinews of
the Anglo-Saxon race, does it at his peril.
Wherever such personal oppression has been at
tempted ON that rac4 it rises with the power of
o giant, and breaks the letters. To attempt to
chain the mental faculties, meets with the same
resistance. Wherever the English language be-
comes established, newspapers, devoted to free
dom of thought, are as necessary to the existence
of the community as the light of the day. With
out a paper through which to utter it's griev-
ances, the public mind, always changing and
restless, lies pent up, like a boil, that racks
with anguish the whole frame of its victim, and
aches for some vent to discharge its singing poi
son. Such was the case ON the establishment of
the Ne,os in 1847, which pursued the government
and all its officers, high and low, with a rancor
and bitterness rarely exceeded. Such, too, was
the case on the establishment of this Journal in
1856. The public mind had for several years
been pent up, the indscreetness of the govern
ment editor only adding force to the fermenting
elements at work.
Thanks to the liberal government under which
we live, liberty of speech and of the press has
been introduced as an essential element in its
organization. In this, wisdom has been shown.
To attempt restraint would be suicidal, and most
surely followed by internal connection. There
may be, there often are, temporary ex~citements,
of IA political, social or religious nature these
are to be expected in any form of government,
but like the ehervescing goblet, they soon settle
down to quictness, when they have found utter
ance through their proper channels.
We shall continue to issue this paper weekly
for the present. We had made our arrangements
to issue it seri-,ceekly, and should have COM
menced Vol. 4 thus, had the government made
the contemplated change in its organ-from d.
weekly to a monthly. From many, particularly
among the laboring classes, we have received warm
assurances of support in a s~emi-weekly issue. The
time, however, has hardly yet come to undertake
it; and probably some time during the year
1860, will be more suspicious.
In its general character, there will be no
change. We shall continue to conduct it under
the broad motto, pro bono pubicO, seeking to i'm
prove it in every respect that experience shows
advisable. In commercial and marine news, par
ticularly in everything relating to the whaling
fleet and whaling interests in this ocean, we shall
spare no pains or expense. Besides correspond
ents in every part of our own group, we have our
regular correspondents in Tahiti, Talcahuano,
New Zealand, Melbourne, Hong Kong, San Fran
cisco and Oregon, and everything of interest
transporting in either section of our broad Pacific
Ocean is communicated tc us by the earliest OPP
portunity. Probably no paper published in any
49, &C 4l.S a.. $1,000 a.. 4