The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-30

AS to the basely slanderous charge of trea.
son urged and reiterated by G. Rhodes, becaus.
we had admitted a series of very ably writer
articles on the subject of the annexation of thes,
islands to the United States, we have a few word.
TO say.
We have often distinctly and sincerely disa-
vowed any desire to ALLEVIATE the sovereignty OF
these islands. We do not now wish, nor have we
ever wished, to hasten their transfer TO the United
States or to any ether power. We stand as firmly
for the integrity and perpetuity of this nation as
any foreigner paid FIVE thousand dollars a year
for his patriotism. We are not prepared to adyo-
cate annexation TO any foreign power, because
We do not believe that it would be for the adyan-
tage of the King, chiefs and people, so long as we
have a legitimate ruling dynasty, a free press and
free speech under our present Constitution.
Without designing to be Extensively personal,
We brand any man in the Legislature or out of it,
who persists in slandering US by the assertion
that We desire the speedy annexation of these isl
ands to any foreign power, as an unnaitigafed and
persistent fala fer, and we challenge him to show
one shadow of proof to verify his gross and cow
ardly misstatement.
So far from advocating annexation, we have
alienated personal friendships, if mot public pat
ronage, by our persistent opposition, in pri-
vate and public, 10 that measure, which we have
reason to believe, many respectable foreigners,
including Europeans, would favor SO soon as it
could be honorably brought about.
We have this more to say, that this press was
established and has thus far been maintained az
an INDEPENDENT Press, open 10 all for The Discus
sion Of airy topic affecting The present or future
leefare of THIS people. The question of the an
n~exation of these islands to England. France or
the United States, peaceably with the consent of
the King. chiefs and people, is such a topic, and
we shall be ready at all times to insist upon the
right To open our columns for the fair and cour-
teous discussion of this subject by writers on
either side of the subject. whether they agree
with our personal views or not. We do not yur-
pose 10 Be baLied, or frightened, or eoared Out Of
this position. THIS PRESS SHALL BE FREE so LONG
As WE HAVE PERSONAL LIBERTY.
We will not meanly use our own position to
gag those who disagree with us on this or any
other subject, so long as, in our opinion, their
articles are well written and worthy OF public at
tention. Tie Ministry are not honored by the
admission that, lacking the brains to sustain a
discussion which they permitted the Government
press in the most offensive manner to open, they
have no alternative resort but to silence those
who diaer from them by force, the ultimate resort
ofJo0b. Nor do they show much confidence in
the stability Of their administration, when they
are 80 thin skinned that they will not permit the
discussion, on these islands, of 4 question which
has lately been discussed with the largest liberty
in Canada and British Columbia, the Danish and
Spanish, West Indies and Russian America, with
out subjecting any man to trial for treason, or a
free press to II rigid censorship. That despotism
is madly counting Its doom which is afraid of the
light and cannot endure a free press.
This is no petty personal quarrel. 1t is "A con-
tiict of principles. 1t is a question which con-
Germs us more than subsidies, or reciprocity, or
horse tax. Or internal improvements. Shall the
press be free?-or shall it be declared by law, or
without law, that certain subjects shall not he
discussed?
Shall = Legislative Assembly or a Ministerial
Cabal. give proof of a cheap patriotism, by de-
claring that certain subjects may be discussed ON
one side in the Government press. hut that no
answer shall be permitted to appear in the Gov
eminent organ or anywhere else? Such a method
Of controlling public opinion can only work dam
age to the Kingdom and it is the blacklist disloy-
Atty to the King, and the people, for it prctends
in their name, to perpetuate a nonstrous crime
lgdinSt oriG=diiOH. We give fair notice to any
nan, who may aim with Jesuitical bigotry to
lrive us back tn the dark ages, that We don't
in that direction.
The racks and thumb-screws of a censorial in
or of a star-chamber Court, trying men
n hearing, may be hard to bear. but we
will bear it all before We will voluntarily put on
dog collar and trot about like a puppy at the
bidding of this or that man in power. IL IS eGsy
nOEgh 10 make a martyr Of a man but PRINCIPLES
70 NOT DIE! An editor may be crushed Gut a free
'reSs sZrrIces' Men may BE Imprisoned; bui
IDEAS ARE NOT BOUND
What little money we have earned in our
'onest endeavOr to perpetuate the institutions Of
the land of our birth, may be taken from lis
T the Ministry or their satellites are mean enough
0 rob us of it, by legal fctions or arbitrary en-
etments. We may be fined, imprisoned, giJ5eted
r draIcn and quGrfered, to appease the wrath of
hose who cannot endure a free press; but Olr
which is little, our liberty which is some
hat. and our hte which is hardly more to US,
re all, Dnsed 6e, Siaked upon fhis issue.