The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-02-20

Judge provinces. of the Police Court. excludes
Chinese testimony in the case in which 1t was
sought to be introduced on the strength of the
Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, put
ting his decision on the ground that the amend
ment in question refers only to citizens. and was
not intended to interfere with or abrogate any of
the rules of evidence established by the laws of
the States. The language of the amendment does
not Justify this construction. as we understand 1t.
The first section of the amendment. after stating
who are citizens. and declaring that no State shall
make or enforce any law abridging the privileges
or immunities of citizens, concludes with these no.
Bile words: Nor shall any State deprive any per-
son mot any citizenl within its Jurisdiction the
eQUdl protection Of the lars" Now the Chinaman
whose testimony is excluded relative to a matter
involving his personal safety. Is a person within
the jurisdiction of the State. though not a citizen.
and the refusal to take his testimony for what 1t
may be worth is a denial of equal protection"
4 higher Court than Judge provinces must be
looked to for such an Interpretation of the amended
Constitution as accords with justice and sound
policy. Doubtless the same point will be raised at
the first opportunity before 4 superior tribunal
San Francisco Bulletin, Dec. Is.
We copy the following from the Boston Journal
of CHEMISTRY: THE error must not prevail that
Kerosene oil Of legal standard will ignite or burn
if a lamp containing 1t Is broken. Good oil. such
as should be used in families, will e%rtihguiSh flame
when brought in contract with it. Oil heated TO
the usual point while burning in a lamp in the
evening. should eXtinguish a lighted match when
thrust into it. If the reader is using in his family
unadulteTated kerosene. he may take off the cap
of the lamp, thrust in a lighted taper he may
turn it ont upon the floor, and apply flame and it
will not take FIRE or explode. Standard kerosene,
such as the law recognizes, is perfectly safe. We
wish to state and re-state this fact. as 1t would be
a great misfortune, especially to the poor. to have
the erroneous idea prevail that all kerosen. is dan
gerous. y cheap light is too great a blessing to
be deprived of through unjust prejudice. 1t is
only the wretched adulterated oils, the naphtha
fluids, that are dangerous"
The American Tract Society of Boston is perma-
naD+1~ san9r1ta1 in qptipn and fapliDn from tho
American Tract Society at New York. IN the re-
cent adjourned annual meeting, held at 364 Ire
mont street. DR.. Patton, editor of the AdcdHce, of
Chicago. was one of the speakers. The plain
truth is said he. " the Churches and ministers of
the West have lost all confidence in the New York
Society not on the ground of slavery alone, but
with regard to its whole characteristic policy. as
manifested in the manufacture and sale of books.
the treatment of cOlportage. the authorizations. and
tergivcTsations. and denial of debate, etc. Nothing
has occurred to restore confidence, and nothing
now can" Resolutions. declaring the former
agreement between the two societies dissolved,
We're passed with but two dissenting votes.