The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-07-26

II. {llSf " 10
or a total of 49, at present in service, including
rank and file. In calculating the average
force the Secretary exhibits some fraction-in
one place the third Of a man. decreased after
wards TO 4 quarter. These fractions are sup
posed 70 include the unfortunate soldier, OF what
was left Of him.. who was shot from Punchbowl
Hill some months ago, and who was generally
supposed to have been dropped from the roll.
Ii will appear somewhat singular that the Sec
rotary ignores altogether the existence Of the fine
volunteer corps of Honolulu Rifles, which in
any case Of emergency, would probably be Of more
service 10 the King than thrice the number of ma
tive infantry. Had the Secretary Of War bestow-
ell less labor and space in giving his =. opinions
upon matters Of theology" and quoting scripture
texts. which may be very pretty child's play. and
made At least honorable mention of the existence
of this corps. his report might have been adjudged
more impartial. In passing. we cannot avoid
saying a word in behalf of this gallant corps Of
citizen soldiery. Considering that it holds itself
ready at all times 70 obey the summons of the
King. it is not too much to ask that some appro-
priation should be made from the military fund,
for the purpose of providing and keeping in re-
pair their uniform and arms, now done at rri-
vale tA!tilef- LIS t'Aii l44iN. an HpHC4 ILilcI
ought not to do. The King has no more honor
able or loyal subjects than the members Of the
- Honolulu Rifles"
Accompanying the War report is q table, show
ing the area population, revenue and military
force Of fifteen duchies and kingdoms. and four
republics of Germany, prepared for comparison
with our military and population. But any
comparison made between this kingdom and the
old and wealthy states of Europe, who are con-
stantly subject 70 civil instructions or war with
their ~neighbOrs, is not a fair one. We are isola-
ted. with little 10 fear from without, and much
less TO fear from within. Even should any exc
gencv ever arise similar TO the sailor mob of 1852.
alluded to by the Secretary, the volunteer and
regular forces now in existence are adequate for
our necessities. Such an event, however, is be-
coming every year less probable, inasrnuch a. the
policy now pursued by the ministry will soon
drive away all our foreign shipping and seamen.
rendering even the present forces, according to
his reasoning, unnecessary.
But referring again TO the Secretary's European
statistics alluded TO, we find that the fifteen Ger
man duchies employ on an average one soldier to
every 127 Of the population and in rhe four re-
publics, the proportion is one soldier to every lib
persons. Our paid military force, according to
the table printed above. amounted. March 81, to
49, rank and file. The population Of the entire
group Will probably not be found by the census
Of this year 70 exceed 65 900. This will give us
soldier to every 474 inhabitants of til. entire
group. Or. if We take this island alone, which
would be the more proper comparison, we find
our military force bears a proportion Of one soldier
10 every I4G inhabitants. not including the volun-
teer corps of Rifles. This certainly is not q
defenseless'' position. as maintained by the
" ar Secretary, even compared with European
governments.
There Is another point in which the vision of
the Honorable Secretary appears 70 be somewhat
perhaps by too steadily gazing ut the
Offering steel Of our standing army (prospec-
ive.) He says d. The late Duke of Wellington
calculated that in England. each soldier costs
per anuum.' The 81 late duke" Is certainly
high authority. and we would recommend to the
Secretary To practice in our army the
ame economy for which he was 50 noted. In
tead Of our military, in a season of the most pro-
ound peace. costing Us as in England $500 per
we find from the statistics published by the
secretary that during the first fourteen months
in his report. the cost Of - rank and
lie was at the rate of S236 per man, and during
he balance Of the term. ten months. the COS for
81 rank and file was S2l7. Considering that
.ur soldiers live on fish and poi for the most part,
his must be conceded to be rather a lavish ez-
for q small nation.
In one thing the public coincide most heartily
the Secretary, / e. in providing all necessary
ccoutrcments and arms. These should always
Ne kept mere in some safe place, if they are not
lreadv On hand. and should he in sufficient guam
ity to meet any emergency that might arise. On
subject. the report says:
You will observe the Prince Commander in Chief,
mougst other arms. asks specially for $1,000 for the
urchase Of guns. If We are to have no regular f,
lIiiers. let Us a; least have good and efficient arms,
18th all necessary Gccoutremcnts and sm1uuitons, %
, as that in case Of necessity the defence Of the State ?