The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-07-07
Weighed in the Balance and
found Wanting.

which occurred on Tuesday afternoon. The bill
had been before the House for some FIVE or six
weeks, and great uneasiness was felt among our
business men as to the final result, knowing as
every one does the manner in which the votes OF
the Representatives, are often controlled. But
the result has proved them true to the country
and the trusts reposed in them. All honor to
them, and especially to the delegates from Homo
lulu, who have stood up manfully and resisted
successfully a measure which would undoubtedly
prove the most disastrous of any ever sought to
be introduced into the country. The thanks of
the whole foreign and native population from
Nihau to Hawaii, with the exception only of
twelve names, are rendered to the Representatives
and Mobiles who voted against the bill.
The Minister of Finance having given notice
that he was ready for the further consideration
of the bill, on Monday, July =, it was called up
before the Legislative Assembly. The Minister
made a desperate struggle in favor Of his fayorite
financial scheme. Three long mortal hours did
he deluge the house with - airy nothings,'' and
looked as ~self-cOmplacent as though he really
thought them arguments. The speech fell as
chill ON the House as the frozen breath of the
north wind. 1t was wild, rambling, swollen and
supercilious, with quotations from the days of
Adam to those of Mill. Any boy of fifteen at
Punahou, would have swept all his apologies of
arguments away, as Il huusemaid sweeps away the
cobwebs with her broom. We refer the reader
to the report OF his speech on the first page.
On Tuesday the Odd, the subject again came
up. After some preliminary motions and discus
sion, the Hon. Mr.. Bishop obtained the floor, and
IN Il clear, sensible and logical speech, not only
demolished all the of the Minister. but
completely denordi>ed him. lie begged the hon
os of war in the last ditch, and tried to cover his
ignominious defeat by a shameful retreat and
withdrawal of his paper banner. The House OBJ
~stinately refused a motion to indefinitely post
pone the bill was carried almost unaninouSIy, and
he was alone sustained by the ever-to-be-rcmeml-
bered shin-plaster observation-disclosures, SMITH
and VARIGNY.
If there ever was a scorching, whitening rebuke
to a Ministry, but more especially to a public
servant who WAS either recreant. to his trust, or
totally deficient in ability, it was exhibited on
the evening of the Sd instant.
1t was the eve of our glorious Fourth, dear to
all Americans wherever their lot may be cast. and
to the lovers of freedom and equality in every
land and cline. 1t was meet that it should be so,
for on that glorious eve, with "a unanimity rarely
equalled in a Legislative body, there was a decla-
ration of freedom on the Hawaiian Islands, against
the yoke of a tyrarnical paper currency, which
the insubstqHtidI Minister of Finance in his
framing hour tried to fasten on the people of these
Islands.
The outburst of popular enthusiasm began in
the Legislative hall, when the audience COM
menced to clap and cheer, but was soon restrained
- Al - r a.. f:.:-.. r.. =
bearancc, in which he was supported by the
Chair. But the popular joy was not to be thus
subdued. The preparations for the great Amer
lean Jubilee were all made, and the enthusiasm
was such that as soon as night fell, s~hrieking
rockets streamed through the air and bonfres
blazed on the hills, lighting a scene for miles
while the loud booming of the cannon
tolled the knell of the pet scheme of the Minister.
Enthusiastic professions of serenaders paradcd
our streets, and Il full band Of music sounded the
of the defunct Paper Money Bill.
But 'vaulting ambition will DER leap ITSELF"
and when Il man from an humble Sam Slick
position is raised by a = fortuitous coincidence Of
circumstances - beyond his sphere, to bask in the
shadow of royalty, he tries to soar aloit like the
dying prctender of old; but like the ancient
NEUROLOGICAL advcnturcr, his pinions of wax melt
in the sunlight of truth and reason, and he falls
rs Cardinal Woolscy, never to rise agains'
From the signs in the political heavens, he will
soon cxclaim with the fallen Cardinal - Fare
well a long farewell, to all my greatness"
1t was a saying of the wise old Greeks, that
those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first
make mad How truly this has been verified =.
iawaiirsss-ANe see Il tall, C"Se;a., nke indiyid-
.. No..
nal. with vastly more assurance than bralns'
,corD. himself, partly by Il coup ne ei0f' ana partly
Inv 4 douche de tarOr. into a position which lie
was totally unqualified to fill and swelling up
with self Importance, like the frog IN the fable
has tried to rule. govern, and force his stupid
fogy-like ideas upon Il people who have learnt
how to appreciate them and him, till his IaborlnS
mountain has not even brought forth a mouse.
We regard it as direct insanity for any man to
propose to drive the specie out Of circulation or
capital from investment in any community, and
to supply the deficit with a paper currency. More
especially is this the case where gold and silver
are abundant for all the uses of and
,rhcH the people and government are an the most
prosperous and furnishing condition.
But the web of fate is woven, and the die OF
destiny is cast. The handwriting on the wall
never glared more prophetically before Beishaz-
zar's startled eyes than the events of the last few
days have glimmered and glarcd before the aston
ished gaze of our Minister of Finance. ltrequires
no prophet to foretell that the sceptre has departed
from him. The knees of his power and place
have smCtc together, and he Is now lettering
from the pinnacle OF arrogant assumption and
absurd power. lie has been weighed in the bal
ance. and found wanting. May the gods make
his descent easy!
We regret it. We are sorry that we cannot
spread Il downy bed of shin-PidsterS, and make
his fall :. soft Us downy pillows are" But there