The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-06-26

Kamehameha ". and his reign, and will I'M
doubtedly be the best that can be made.
Regarding a change in the administration Of
the Finance Department, our views have been
often expressed. The position we have assumed
has been taken not from any motives of person
al hostility TO the present incumbent, but be-
cause we have believed that our duty to our
country outweighs obligations to individuals,
and that the Minister of Finance has not shown
the necessary qualifications for that Office. The
proofs which we have from time to time brought
forward against his administration, have been
sufficient to satisfy all and there can be but one
sentiment with the public, viz that the inter-
ests of the nation call for a change at least in
this department. If His Majesty has not, thus
far, deemed it advisable to comply with the popu-
lar wish, it can only be because other reasons
have outweighed the public interests. In case of
a change. it has been suggested that Mr.. Chas.
r. Bishop or Mr.. Webster might be selected.
Both are competent and possess the full conf
dence of the people, and either would undo4bted-
ly infuse new life into the administration of the
department and restore full confidence to the
credit of the government.
For the vacant Office of Chief Justice, (f the
changes noticed are made,) we have heard no
name suggested but if the rule of promotion is
observed. it would belong to Associate Justice
Robertson, whose long and intimate acquaintance
with the people, their language, peculiarities
and traits, admirably qualities him for the posi-
ton. The remaining seats on the bench, as it
has been proposed to fill them with foreigners,
should only be occupied By persons qualified by
a knowledge of Hawaiian and English and by
other requisite recommendations, to award full
Justice to the native race, to attend to whose
wants constitutes the chief labor in this depart
ment.
There is another important department of the
government service, that of Public Instruction,
which has been practically without a head, since
the death of the late DIR. Armstrong, which oc-
CURED nearly two years since. Without intend
ing any dsrespect to its nominal head, His Elk.
the Governor of Oahu, we have every evidence
the department has suffered in efficiency
since the death of its late President, and is even
now lying as under a stroke of the palsy. The
schoola are becoming disorganized, while the
are growing up only half taught, even
in the elementary branches required of them,
and but a moiety of the real good is derived from
them that was had a few years ago. This is not
the fault of the school system, but is attributa-
BILE to the want of some directing, controlling
head, to whom both teachers and scholars may
look as their luna, for adrice and direction, and
who might create and maintain strict responsible
from all under him, and impart more vigor
to the system. There are as good and capable
men now here to fill the post, as there have ever
been, men qualified by a thorough knowledge of
she native language and the native race, and
by warm love for the intellectual
Improvement of the people. 1t is sad to look
the islands and witness. the labor of years
n our common schools being destroyed for want
# a head to govern and direct them to see
children growing up in vice and ignorance, IA
,idly returning to the ways and modes of their
athers, and having revived in them those natural
and idle traits, to eradicate which, every
fort has been made during the past twenty
ears. 1t is folly to talk of seeking the moral,
ocial or physical improvement of this race,
Vhen the fountain spring is thus left uncarcd for.
1t is said that efforts have been made to obtain
abroad a head for this department. This
annot be. 1t would BE the height of folly to
ntrust the management of any department of
he government service D "a stranger, which re-
uires a full knowledge of the native language,
habits and dispositions. Such an act as
aould be little else than an insult to the
eople, and might justly create the indignation
fall who have any regard fer the instruction and i
Improvement of the rising generation. There is }
o necessity for employing strangers, when far {
etter men are to be had on the spot. If in a G
reconstruction of the cabinet, a competent head |
an be selected and placed over this department, |
ne who is qualified by an intimate knowledge |
T the natives and whose labor in their behalf |
-ould be one of love, the change could only be :
ttended with benefit. l
a