The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-02-13
SATURDAY, Is.


The POIynesidn has ceased TO exist, the last
number having been issued on the 9th inst. The
reason of this is, that Mr.. Fernandez has been
unable to fulfill the contract which he assumed
about two years ago. The expense of carrying
on the establishment has exceeded it's income,
resulting in pecuniary loss to him, as in former
years it was a heavy loss to the government.
In releasing him from his obligations, the gov
eminent has acted honorably with one who has
undoubtedly tried to do his best. The expert
ment. however, has shown that it is no small
undertaking to carry on a paper and printing
Office. even when it has the assistance of the
public work, and every opportunity for making
q fair trial.
We shall miss the Polyncsian from our ex-
change list, for with all its faults, it had some
good qualities. and served to put us on our
guard, as a competitor must always do,-check-
ing the bold style we have sometimes INDUCED
in, or correcting us in matters of fact and fig
ures, reflected back with a light in nowise fatter-
ing to a writer's vanity. In this respect, the in
fuence of a rival and competitor in journalism
is always beneficial. and we shall regret standing
alone, for none more than we enjoy keen and
pointed discussion, even though spiced with sar-
casm, or ourselves made the mark of its wit.
The Pokynesian has been in existence about
90 years, and no one can deny that 1T has done
good service in its day, but mainly as a public.
newspaper, and not so much as a government
organ, for in the latter capacity, one result was
to create much opposition, which to a certain
extent has been unnecessary, and which judi
cious management might have avoided. There
has never been in this country any organized
opposition party, and whatever opposition the
government has had to contend with, was created
BY injudicious writer's in its own organ or by
unwise acts of its executive officers.
1t was to meet and rebut these, as well as to
supply q commercial and literary want, that
the Advertiser was started in 1856, and has
been continued as a necessity to this day. On
many questions that have arisen, it has been
compelled to assume an attitude of opposition
and often an ultra position, because driven to it
by the strong partisauship of the government
organ. Had the latter been more discreetly
conducted, in all probability the former would
never have been started.
One thing we wish to state here, in order to
correct wrong impressions. There may have
been sometimes an impression that the CONNER
cial was originated and supported by a clique
or party. 1t has been so frequently limited at
and reiterated in the POlynesian, that some may
have come to believe it. This is not so. On the
contrary, it's Publisher has had to rely solely on
its advertisements subscriptions and jObwork
for its support, aided with che experience OF
more than twenty years as a printer, and
in no case has the paper received any sub
sidy or pecuniary assistance from any person
or society whatever. 1t was the liberality
of such men and firms as A. p. Everett,
G.. Brewer & Co., Gilman & Co. and Il. w.
Field, that sustained and encouraged it in its
earlier years. For several years, these firms
paid this paper for subscriptions, advertisements
and printing, over $4,000 a year, Mr.. EYerett's
bills alone amounting to one-half tha9 sum.
Times have changed now, and Honolulu cannot
boast the business it then had, and it is doubt
full whether half the amount of printing is now
executed here. For the same reason, it is ques-
tionable whether more than one weekly paper
can be supported.
IL falls to the lot OF the proprietor of this
paper to conduct the only Journal now pub
lished kere. The experience of the past will,
we trust, enable him to make it what 1t ought TO
be while it remains sucIl-conservative in its views
and conciliatory in its course. There has no
doubt been much unnecessary bitterness at
tlUes Expressed Let DNSoheo &c oySOnes-
Its columns will always be open to its patrons,
as they have always been, for the fullest and
freest temperate discussion of all questions of
public interest.
Although this paper is now the only medium
of advertising, our friends need fear no combina-
ton against their interests nor any rise in the
price of advertising. On the contrary, we pro-
nose to revise the scale and reduce the charges,
especially on business cards and advertisements
of that character. There can never be a nonop-
oty in the printing business in Honolulu, unless
1t be like the Steam Navigation Company's mo-
nopoly-something that don't pay. We wish to
encourage advertising and printing, and with
that object in view, shall make our prices as lib
eral as we can possibly afford. More than this
our patrons cannot ask. ~
When occasion requires it, We shall always be
prepared to issue extras, either for important
foreign or domestic news, and in this way, as far
az possible, supply the want of a second paper.
We understand that the Government intends
70 keep open its printing Office for its own
work, until the meeting of the legislature, when
some other plan may be adopted, or the present
perhaps be continued.
= We are under obligations to Messrs McRuer s.
Merrill. and C. W. Brooks & Co, of San Francisco.
and to Capt. Patty Of the Yankee, fer files Of later