The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-03-02

has several times done us the honor to
attribute our modest efforts to place his
position rightfully before the public, to the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs The pride
winch we might be expected to feel in this,
Is certainly somewhat chastened by the
well-known fact, that his reason for
thus attributing our writings to another,
is for the purpose of adding one more
attack TO the hundreds he has already
made against that Minister He is like
the boy conquered in battle of fisticuffs,
who exclaimed, well, if cant whip you,
III make mouths at your sister" So if
he cannot beat us in an argument, or make
good his assertions as facts, he can say
something about the Minister-no mat
ter how irrelevant it is-or whether in
point Of fact, the Minister was within five
thousand miles. Of the matter suggested
against him Some say that it is unwise for
this paper to pay any attention to such at
tacks upon the members of the Government,
or 10 similar attacks upon our most worthy
and honorable citizens, in private life. We
are sometimes told, that there is no use in
defending the character of any man against
the ISLANDERS of those who do not feel,
the least moral responsibility as journa-
lists. who. when man disagrees with
them, Immediately denounce him as vii
lain, and if rebuked for it, redouble their
accusations and insinuations. We can
not agree with this view of our duty to
the public, in the position we now occupy.
Nothing. In our view of the case, has done
more to retard the progress of this country
than the causeless fauli-fnding and slam
ders Of certain newspaper writers against
tations of the press, here, which boasts
Of It's independence; that, and that
alone, has engendered and kept alive dis
satisfaction among some good people here,
and so long as II remains unrebuked, just
50 long viii its influence be damaging.
With this idea, we intend, so far as we
can, to rebuke II, and if its managers are
quite unequal to the understanding of
gentle language and polite reasoning, we
expect TO be obliged, in the future, as in
the past, sometimes, to use very plain Ian
guace: never intending, however, to de-
sceDd TO the scnrrilous blackguardism to
which they frequently do. Without ever
attacking them. we shall, when the most
respected members of our community are
slandered and viifed by them, raise our
voice IN their defence, and when it shall
seem necessary, we shall not let their
misrepresentation of the policy of this
Government. and the aims and objects of
It's members, pass without at once point
ing them out; and we do not promise, al
WAYS. 10 call them by so mild term as
. misrepresentation" We propose this
course for ourselves, because we deem it
our duty. Every person in this Kingdom
Is interested in having a stop put to the
constant carpings and Misrepresentation
Of these people
When We see them inclined to advocate
their vieWs-if they have any--in gen.
tlemanly manner, allowing those who dis
agree with them the privilege of doing so
without abusing and Safeguarding them,
no one viii rejoice more than we shall,
becsuse nothing can be more unpleasant
than to feel obliged, constantly, to be
engaged IN a combat, particularly when
there Is but little hope of reforming those
who are doing 50 much injury, and
whose only study and aim is to stir up
ssrife-where sll one can hope to do is
70 set masters IN a proper light before
the public. "A portion of whom are
always unconTinced, from the fact that
some people prefer TO believe that which
Is untrue 70 that which is true, when the
untrufh reflects upon the character of
neighbor. In making the above statement,
8et Us not be understood as counting con-
tention, but simply as ayOwing our pur-