The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-07-05
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THTRSDAY lily !

N commencing another. the MIN volume OF -
COXsERcAL ADVERTISER, we may be allowed :
make a few remarks on the Pres. it. influence:
and objects Some one. Burke, if We remembe
rightly. designates the Press as the fourth estate
ranking it next 70 Lords. Commons and Clergy
What il was in his day. it i still. It's inhuenc
and power differ in different communities an,
Countries Ia England, for instance. the Time
i = grand mirror. rejecting the thrJbbing o
the public heart Of the British people. It's in
Auence in directing and controlling public Opin
ion IL almost =uperhuman. In the United States
the influence Of the Press Is more divided. owing
70 the numerous rival papers. and the fact that
no one publication has ever vet been able 70 at
tain such a superiority over It's rivals as 10 con-
troll public opinion.
just four years ago. We issued our first paper.
not because there was no weekly newspaper
printed here, but because that paper was con-
trOlled and used only a. a PARTISAN publication,
a. the mere mouth-Viece Of fattery and deceit.
Our ambition has been % CREATE a perfectly in
dependent paper. and while following principle
with undertaking step, 70 avoid the error Of be-
coming the organ Of a single idea. We have
tried the experiment Of a thoroughly fearless
newspaper. While entertaining and expressing
our own opinions at ell times, we have never hest
tated 70 admit and give utrerance TO the opinions
Of others differing from u: and we are happy 10
.ay that our experiment has proved a success, 10
a degree never attained by any publication at
these Islands No merely partisan paper in this
or any other country has ever proved a success.
And this perhaps i one reason why the govern
ment organ meets with - little sympathy. If
we have at times been severe in ccndeuning
the ministry OF their pet theories, the fault i
theirs, and the remedy lies in their own hands.
80 long as they sustain, at heavy loss. an organ
TO defend than, and irritate the public, they must
erpet severe censrres. But let its system be
changed, and our wcLpon Is blunted for no man
can be found mean enough to attack a delenseleSs
ministry.
We originated this sheet, and have managed 10
it successfully for four years without
soliciting one dollars aid from the government.
lavishly expended in It's printing depart
ment for the last two years nearly $4,000. as
have shown in our issue of May 10. We have
thus done at our own expense. (aided. of course.
by a generous and approaching public. whom we
desire here 70 thank what has never before been
done, although having had. during that time. TO
with an opposition which no other
eA INDUSTRY - --AeEeu 70 meet DlL WHY
not, We are asked-why not let the government
10 as it pleases; and if it chooses TO keep up its
1ffce, why say 50 much about it? Not 4 week
since, we were thus addressed. and our reply was
that We are only contending for our Just rights
ask nothing more. We have already said
much about this government monopoly. but as
some Of our friends possess misconceived ideas of
BUR position and what we demand, We will here
repeat the illustration which we gave to the
person who thus addressed US.
We will suppose that the Superintendent Of
Public Works, with a desire 10 facilitate the pub
lie improvements needed by the government. Tur-
,uades il to allow him 70 erect q steam piaEing and
sGlr-mIH, and when these are completed. 10 i'm
port eareoes Of lumber. and keep a well-stocked
undergrad. al imPortations being duty free,
and no tqTes 70 pay, all for the public good, Of
course. Finding everything work admirably,
md wishing TO improve the business facilities Of
the place. and enable poor people and all others
10 erect buildings cheaVly. the government; allows
T. Superintendent 10 take in and do al NE nAs-
h chooses. and he employs hands ex-
Dressly for that service. and does half the work Of
he town, cheaper, Of course. than can possibly
= done anywhere else. Now all this would
= done only from purely 5e1eroleHf %nlofires,
else. and on that score, some would
ay. was very commendabIe. But where would
,ur enterprising neighbors, Messrs. Levers,
incent. johnson. Allen and others, find them
Where indeed? They would have Gll-
ies. tares and rents, and numerous other oY1lses
o submit to. which their government rival
you'd not have. Would that - a fair contest?
youId they stand any such rivalry? Would
here be no injustice in allowing such a govern
nent establishment?
But what i the difference letween the case We
supposed and the printing business in which
sc chance 10 be seeking a livelihood? We ask
ur patrons again whether our request Is an arbi-
rary one, and whether what we have been con-
ending for J. at all unreasonable? We ask the
ministers, the Representatives, tie MOBILES. and
our Sovereign himself, if this Is not 4 case Of
lJuStIcs? We pay IN to the Government Urea
ury in one way and another. in conducting our
tusiness, over $1,000 Per annum. while our rival
not pay. for the same items. the first faTit1Hg.
III this expense we willingly submit 10. if our
.usine>s can be placed on q fair and equitable bG-
IS if We can be allowed to meet with q fair and
.onesr rivalry but to have our bread snatched
rom our mouth, 70 have our work taken from
VI hands as it Is being done week after week, on
conditions, we cannot and ought not tacitly
0 assent 70. \ change in the basis on which the
printing Is done, does not necessarily
all for u suspension Of its paper. for that can he
by an independent Office a well and far
lore cheaply than by a government Office
We did not intend 10 take up 80 much space in
that must merely pass as a preface to what fol-
ows. Our drawer has been allowed q accumu-
ate during the past four years, a great variety Of
discarded contributions. and in overhauling it,
re propose 10 exhibit some specimens Of what we
re in frequent receipt of. Those who dream
hat an editors life Is one of unalloyed bliss. are
cry much mistaken. \ cotemPorary mas some