The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-08-17
The government Printing ONCE.

The Governments Printing Office.
From the native newspaper huotoa of htst
week. we translate g. lending article with the
above heading. Il Iolts peculiarly approPEi-
ate IA an economic pint 81 view. just a. the
legislative Assembly l. about t. convene TO pro-
vide some way IF making up tire estimated Lss
2, tis reycunc by the reduction Of duties under
tie proposed reciprocity iryaty with the United
STATE. Tie native writer SAYS
" st tide junction Of two streets in the most
Iubiic Iart Of Honolulu. stands = twu-story stone
building with the above name. a. t. the u~e- and
c,-t> of which we dc-ire To say a few words.
The employees of that establishment are paid ont
Of government fund, and in the expenditure of
th1-e fund.- we have - right 10 a Voice.
" Were this Government Printing Office en-
Iloyei for the purpose Of producing books for
our schools, - ~ to reduce the eost Of the same
We should have no Injection to make. Ii also.
tie establishment was carried On only for the
proper publication of government notifications.
then the only question would bc a. t. whether
sueh a course would be an actual saving. But
ia the way ia which the ofice l. carried ON 1T
present. We find just cause for complaint before
this whole nation. ami before the civilized world.
Whenever any city or country l. destitute of
some desirable public benefit, and there i not
sufficient wealth in the hands of private parties
or organized associations To secure such public
benefit, in such clsc, with the consent of the Pco-
PIE and rulers previously Obtained. the power
and property of the government may be used 10
forward the object desired. Thus roads and
bridges are built harbors are improved; and
other public works carried on, which are for the
benefit Of the entire nation. But if the desired
enterprise can he accomplished by an individual
or an association. it i far preferable, because it
i always the ease thar in works undertaken by
government, its officials are lavish in cxpendi-
lures, not being themselves personally the losers.
The contrary il the case with private parties, and
consequently that mode l. the cheapest for tine
government.
The works which it l. proper for the govern
mcnt TO undertake are such a. are for the good
of the entire nation, undertaken also by the de-
sire OF the majority, and such as cannot he car
ricd on by private PARTIES or associations.
The Government Printing Office does not
come under any of these conditions. 1t is not
carried on for the good of the whole nation, 10y
consent of the majority, nor is it a kind of work
that cannot be done by persons disconnected with
government.
We ihNt W.. A4HN4lAA tdhet- VI NphlAhihl
against that printing Office and the two weekly
papers Issued from it. We utterly deny the au-
thority Of the government to publish u newspaper
which constantly supports any particular rcli-
gious sect. What makes this worse is the fact
that the two scc;s most favored are those most
dislikcl by the majority of the people. Govern
mcnt should keep ulppf from religious questions
II las no rghf ar authority 10 take our money,
pail Iy as as tarc'. trih urhicA 10 support reG-
gious bcEgs contrary Ia our OtrH. This Il great
wrong, and opposed e. :hc rights of the people.
This matter cannot L. hid, bat will lie known IN
all countries. the civilized people of which are
regarding this nation.
{" Had these two newspapers been established
the funds Of the two sccts alluded to
Roman Catholic and Rciormed-wc could have
no fault To- find. IL the Ministers or any of the
chiefs chose, out Of their own private resources,
to set up a newspaper for the purpose Of advo-
eating either of those sccts, We might debate
with such a paper, but we would not object to
its existing. But this laying out of our own
money for the purpose of shutting our own
mouths .-thc time for such a policy rs that has
passed away with The former days of the ignor-
ance of the nation. Let the Representatives see
- 50 N"Ah ~" =a1AN "AF'6 - AAF'N 'Vh''A
We would not bc committed to support
newspaper that OPPOSES our theory of the gov
crnmcnt; that opposes free suffrage; that sup
ports the evils of tie rctrogrcseivc Constitution
but we do not propose to discuss these things
The writer goes m to inquire if it is proper or
Tor government to- import its printing PAPER
Of duty, and thus be able To " cut under
other printing establishments? Why, he says,
DOESN'T government start Il blackSnith's or a
butchers shop, or Z dry goods store? lie winds
mp as follows:
We are unable to pass through the shadow
IF that building with patience w do not like To
lave it resting ON oar head and we cannot look
with respect upon the servants of the government
there employed for the wrongs which we have !
set forth above are day by day present to our
'ccollcction. Let those who are in authority he
link themselves, lest the unqucnchablc fire of
Indignation in the breasts of the majority of this
shall burst forth. Let them reflect that
his Is the age of progress all over the world,
mi that if they fail To conform themselves to the
'pirit OF right, they will fall INTO the rear of the
ace, and the power PASS into the hands of those
who will regard the rights of the people"