The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-12-12

q Inconsistency is on the part Of the Ministry,
and their course in this important matter, which
involves the protection of the lives and property
Of 10000 people, affords another evidence of
their unftness ior the responsible duties conided
to them. THE public asked for -etrenchineat
in the police department, and they call for
it still. But there is a great differences between
cutting OFF unnecessary expenses and rendering
the department almost useless. The mode of re-
trenchment must, of course, be left to the
Ministry, aud they hare retrenched with Q VEN
geance!
The pubiic-the property-holders in every
city or nation-haye certain rights, among
which is that of the protection of their property.
To that end u police is sustained, and is consider
ed a necessary appendage of the city or State
government. The size and strength of the pO-
lice is G dependent on the wants of the community
and its ability. If any body says that it is I'M
necessary and should not be maintained, would
the government be justified in dismisSing It's po-
licemen all together, and leaving unperformed
its part of the contract, simply because somebody
says so? Not at all. Yet this is virtually what
the Ministry have done. They have crippled this
branch of the public service, and rendered it use
less, not only in Honolulu, but elsewhere, not
because it has been necessary to do so, but solely
from misjudgment. Economy might have been
gained without rendering the service useless. A
reduction of one-half the force was called for,
not the abrogation of the whole nor even three
fourths. The last appropriation bill voted the
sum of so, 600 to be paid to the five heads of
the police on four islands. While it is admitted
that they should be well paid for the day and
sarr;co ra.rfr.1 ,E .hov, .Io Snrvina nj
and ought to be done for half or two-thirds of
the sum named.
The 81 retrenchments'' thus far made by the
Ministry appear to be little else than a farce.
Under the plea of retrenching, they have dismiss
ed three-fOurths of the city police, and now leave
the city for half the night almost without n
watch. Under the same plea, they have entered
into a private contract for printing at what we
have every reason to believe will cost the public
in the end more than ever. These things have
not been done for the public benefit, but to check
the clamor which is increasing against the pres
ent Ministry. If this is Il sample of the " gen.
eral plan of retrenchment'' settled on by the
Ministry, the less we have of it the better.
The public have their rights,-so has the gov
eminent its rights. But each must be res
pected, and 4 Ministry that long despiscs the
public voice, will learn that there is a limit be-
yond which it cannot safely go.
The recent tampering with the police depart
ment, which we have instanced, must be imme-
diately remedied in some way. The bold bur-
glaries and attempts ut arson which we have
lately chronicled, should be all-suficient argu-
ments to lead to such n result. If not remedied
soon, the public have the right to demand and
insist on n change of policy, and if need be, a
change of Ministry. Rotation, if it brings into
Office, Ministers whose Judgment and vision are a
little more clcar-sighted, will only add to the
and permanency of the government,
which under the present administration has been
allowed to descend to about as low n level as it is
to go.
When orr cotemporary again undertakes to
point out any inconsistencies in the conduct of
this Journal, let him first examine whether the
80 inconsistency is not wholly on the part of the
which he lamely attempts to defend.
call for reform now as firmly as we ever
for it, but at the same time we say that
we. do not believe that the present Ministry,
from the past, have the moral courage
or the irmness to carry out the needed reforms,
even if His Majesty or the public press clearly
indicate to them what those reforms should be.
The Ministry, like their chosen organ and de-
fender, are behind the times, and must give way
to the popular will, before any permanent re-
form or any substantial retrenchment can be
effected. The time has come when the public
voice should be heard in tones of thunder at the
Offices. The earthquake which a
week ago shook the walls of Honolulu Hale SO
as to send its inmates into the open air.
shouting, " What in the DEVILS to pay?" is but
the prelude of another shock, which can only
be averted by prompt and judicious retrench-
lnent, where retrenchment should properly be
made. 1t is not the foreign population simply,
but the whole native population, who desire
that a system of economy be promptly and
efficiently instituted. The government can be
administered as efficiently now with its legiti-
mate income as it was ten years ago, when it
was out of debt and had money to spare. And
in the name of the people, We call for such i'm
mediate reforms and retrenchments as will stop
the increase in the public debt, and will provide
for its extinpuishment