The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-09-03
THE PACIFIC
Commercial AObettiser,
SEPTEMBER 3.
Law1ess Proceedings.

SA CbDA I , SER IAnDEh a.
LawIess Proceedings.
Two weeks since, a few Of the planters Of
Maui, met together at Waikiki, for the purpose
of taking concerted action against this paper
and it's publisher. After discussing their griey-
ances in an excited manner, resolutions were
passed, expressing a determination to stop the cir
~cuIation of the 80 ADVERTISER - and "KUoKoA,"
as far as in their power, and not to deal with any
person or persons who patronize these papers.
They ever went SO far as TO threaten merchants
in Honolulu, that if they continued to support
this paper, they (the planters) would withdraw
from them (the merchants) their trade and pat
ronage.
1t was rather a bigh-handed proceeding 10
combine together in such a manner for the sole
purpose of injuring a mans business. Admit
ting, for arguments sake, that We may have gone
to what some consider an extreme we ask any
candid man, is not this proceeding a much far
Their extreme than anything ever charged against
us? Several of the Maui planters, We are glad to
learn, had the manly independence to fatty
refuse cooperation, and to reply that they would
not be parties to any such proceedings ofqustion-
able ~propriety and legality. Still, the resolution
passed, and was sent to the Gazette for publi-
cation, while we were notified of the proceedings,
and referred to the above paper for further par
ticulars. The gentlemen to whom the subject
was referred here, gifted with more prudence and
legal knowledge than those concerned in the
affair, very discreetly had the record of the pro-
ceedings suppressed, and consequently they have
not been published.
TIT Ill - -,-.o kIo--H r-a houn tho
names of those concerned in the plot, for we have
no desire to retaliate on men who have been our
personal friends for nearly a quarter of a century.
1t seemed strange that men should SO far allow
their passions to get the better of their usual
sound judgment as to engage in a lawless pro-
ceeding OF this nature. Could it he possible
that, in this year of grace, eighteen hundred and
seventy, Americans could be found willing TO
together and apply the southern gag to
an editor, and attempt to Jorcibty suppress a
for advocating what a large majority
of the people of the Kingdom believe to be for
the best interests of the nation? Could it be
that Christian men who so bravely endured
hardships in the bloody struggle which Amer
ica has just passed through who so nobly con-
of their means in behalf of a war for
free speech, free presses and free labor,
Ihould so soon abandon the principles involved
n that great struggle?
1t was too true but we also learned that what
hey did was done chiefly under ~promptings from
arties i'm Honolulu. We might give more par
iculars in~this connection, which would create
'ublic surprise, and stir up wild indignation,
hat there are men in our midst lChO loiH StO0p 10
uch baseness as 10 inote Others 10 such LoD and
luc1ess proceedings, in order that they and their
usiness might thereby be profted. But, as we
lid before. we have no desire to retaliate, and
-ould rather suffer injustice and wrong, even
ON them.
But there is a phase of this matter, which
those who have been induced to take
art in it, have entirely overlooked. A law
4 our statute book declares that it is a
RIMINAL OFFENSE for any parties TO
ONSPlRE to injure any man in his trade or
,cupation. We refer the reader to the Penal
ode, Chapter %, on % Conspiracy"
The common law of America and England is
en more clear and stringent. Every man and
cry newspaper publisher has his rights, and
ey are protected under the law against such
nspiracies as has been made recently against
And every man who has taken part In 1T,
recly or indirectly, on Maui or in Honolulu, or
no seeks by threats to third parties to with
aw their trade from them, if by so doing they
jure our business, are cOnSpirdtorS, in the eyes
the law, and have laid themselves open to
RLMlNAL PROSECUTION.
We have no right to find fault with any man
T patronizing such papers as he chooses. But
hen it comes to Debating TO OTHERS what they
ALL do or shall NOT do, or forming conspiracies
damage another, it is quite another matter.
o man of spirit, much less any true American,
ever submit to be dictated to in that way.
rue manliness and independence will always
the respect and admiration of all but
rvlle lunkyism, nerer.
We may find it necessary to.refer to this sub
It again, to give more details, and to publish
G names of those concerned in it but We hope
- - - o-,-oIfoI - IL ~