The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-08-03

dltion Of the IL abitanis Of these Islands - COM
pared with &c poor classes Of Europe, Here,
every mar with but few exceptions, has his little
piece of ground, all his own, quite sufficient on
which 10 raise with reasonable industry ample
sup ,ies of food for a family the soil richly
rctays the labor of the huShandman the mild
ncS of the climate is such that light and ~ineNpen-
>iye clothing can IT, worn nj all seasons n native
beggar i an unhcard of phenomenon; absolute
want of the neceSarics of hte very seldom known.
There are no Hawaiian r0upers, strictly sreaking
no poor houses. no poor rates. While the aver
age means of the common people are quite modest,
Vet they are amply sufficient 10 provide them with
the necessities and many of the comforts of life.
and not a few have from the smallest beginnings
by patient industry built themselves houses and
surrounded themselves with the conyeniences and
the Injuries of civilized life. Schools are scat
tered broadcast over the land. in which the chill
dren of al are educated At public or private
expense: churches dot the landscape in every
direction, -thcre are no church rates-no state
religion to support-and the gospel is freely
preached 10 all. The courts easy of access. jus
tice, in the higher courts 1T least, is impartially
administered and taxes are far from heavy.
To Kamchameha ILL.,, rightly surnamed '. the
Good belongs q niche in history which might
well De eTvied by kings and princes Of the great
nations of the earth. By hereditary right, the
tenure of all the lands throughout the islands
was vested in him, as the heir,-through his
hrOther.-of the First kamchameha, who by
right of conquest was sole owner and arbiter of
lands and people from one end of the group 10
the other. In 1913, kamehameha H., of his
own free will, granted to every man in his do
minions the privilege of obtaining, At 4 mere
nominal expense, a fee simple title TO the piece
Of ground which he cultivated. By this gener-
Gus act, he placed his people at once in a position
of personal independence. In 1852, he gave
another instance of his liberality, by granting,
of his own accord. a free Constitution, the only
fault found with which by its opposers was that
it was too liberal-too democratic. Under its
provisions. every subject of the King was en-
titled, by his vote, to a voice in the government
of the country.
In all these circumstances of condition the
Hawaiians are peculiarly favored. But there is
one thing more that remains to he told, which
casts n shadow over the otherwise pleasant pic
ture. \ party or clique has obtained the gov
ornamental power, the persistent intention and
unceasing cndeavor of which appears 10 be TO
lower the political condition of the people to that
of mere serfs. And to this end the great major
ity of the masses have been. without a shadow
of reason, deprived of that right which they had
long and intclligently exercised-the right to a
voice in the Government through the ballot. If
we would continue to shun the pauperism of
Europe, we must zealously guard the rights of
the poorer and laboring classes, and seek 10 in
terest them in the great problem of government,
in which, by divine right, all should share equally.